Comparison of Crime Statistics Collection Method: Case Study between the Royal Thai Police’s Five-Group Crime Statistics Collection and the Crime Survey for England and Wales

Abstract

The purposes of the research are to study crime statistics collection method in England and Wales, study crime statistics collection method in Thailand, and to develop the Royal Thai Police’s Five-Group Crime Statistics Collection. This research employs the mixed method consisting of 1) Documentary Research, namely the studies of crime statistics compilation processes in England, Wales, and Thailand 2) Quantitative Research by means of collecting data from 400 police officers under the Metropolitan Police Bureau (total population of 1,764) 3) Qualitative Research by means of in-depth interviews of fifteen experts: five Ministry of Justice personnels, four Royal Thai Police personnels, and six experts on crime statistics collection. The conclusion of the research is that The existing Royal Thai Police’s Five-Group Crime Statistics should be revamped by changing both the number of offence groups and offences to better reflect current situation. This should be executed by applying England and Wales’ crime statistics collection method, culminating in a new grouping of crime statistics. This revised format of crime statistics shall consist of 103 offences in the following 8 offence groups: Group 1: Violence against the Person, Group 2: Sexual Offences, Group 3: Robbery, Group 4: Theft Offences, Group 5: Criminal Damage and Arson, Group 6: Drug Offences, Group 7: Public Order Offences and Group 8: Fraud Offences. Recommendations from the research include the establishment of an agency and development of personnels responsible for crime statistics preparation within the central agency of the Royal Thai Police and enlisting private agencies with expertise in statistics to help develop and refine the format of crime statistics.