Straight talk! The Bosbach Column: What the police crime statistics tell us – and what they don’t

“I am somewhat sceptical about statistics. Because, according to statistics, a millionaire and a poor man each have half a million,” said Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States from 1933 to 1945. (For those interested in history: the limit on US presidential terms to just two came into force only in 1951). Whilst one need not approach the federal and state police crime statistics with the same scepticism – because, provided the recording criteria remain consistent, the trends are relatively meaningful – but the question ‘What can police crime statistics (PKS) achieve – and what cannot they?’ remains entirely valid.

Read the full column here: What the Police Crime Statistics tell us – and what they don’t