Manual on Victimization Survey

This manual is the first attempt to develop methodological guidelines at the international level for the design of victimization surveys. The Manual provides a comprehensive source of information for developing national victimization surveys and will be particularly useful for those countries who may be embarking on a survey of this type for the first time. The ultimate goal of the Manual is to improve the comparability of victimization survey results. The Manual provides a minimum dataset of suggested key topics for inclusion in national crime victimization surveys that will further facilitate international comparability of crime survey results.

The Manual does not attempt to be prescriptive about which methods to use, but rather illustrates examples of the types of methodologies available, including the pros and cons of the various methods. It also illustrates the experiences encountered of countries with extensive experience in designing national crime victimization surveys. These examples will assist people to make informed choices to suit their particular circumstances.

This is the first step toward the broader long-term objectives of improving the international comparability of crime statistics in general and developing an integrated system of victim data collections alongside police, prosecution, court and corrective services statistics.*

The Manual has been endorsed by the Conference of European Statisticians.