Serbian Experience On Crime Statistics

and The Way Forward

Seminar on crime statistics, NY February 2012Seminar on crime statistics, NY February 2012

Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia

Crime Statistics in Serbia: the current situationCrime Statistics in Serbia: the current situation

Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS)Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia (SORS) - currently - currently produces and publishes data on produces and publishes data on minor and adult criminal minor and adult criminal offenders and responsible and legal entities that committed offenders and responsible and legal entities that committed commercial offencescommercial offences

Ministry of Interior/police - produces (but not publishes) data based on evidence of crimes and persons

Ministry of Justice - produces data on convicted persons and processes…

Republic Public Prosecutor’s Office, prepares annual report on work the Office and basic crime statistics

Crime Statistics in Serbia, Crime Statistics in Serbia, strengths and weaknessesstrengths and weaknesses

StrengthsStrengths

• Data on reported crime (conventional offences such as Data on reported crime (conventional offences such as homicide, robberies, thefts, etc.) are regularly produced and homicide, robberies, thefts, etc.) are regularly produced and publishedpublished

• Data on criminal justice system (arrests, prosecutions, Data on criminal justice system (arrests, prosecutions, sentence, detention, etc.) are regularly produced and sentence, detention, etc.) are regularly produced and published published

•Good technical/statistical capacity at SORSGood technical/statistical capacity at SORS

Crime Statistics in Serbia, strengths and weaknessesCrime Statistics in Serbia, strengths and weaknesses

WeaknessesWeaknesses

• Data on ‘dark figure’ of crime is not regularly available (no Data on ‘dark figure’ of crime is not regularly available (no victimization survey)victimization survey)

• Police data on crime/arrests are not always available Police data on crime/arrests are not always available

• Issues of data quality/reliability (lack of independence of Issues of data quality/reliability (lack of independence of data producers)data producers) • Issues of data consistency among different data sources Issues of data consistency among different data sources

• Data on hidden/complex crime not available (organised Data on hidden/complex crime not available (organised crime, corruption, money laundering, etc.) - crime, corruption, money laundering, etc.) - Only basic data

• Lack of analytical reports/publications Lack of analytical reports/publications

Crime Statistics in Serbia, strengths and weaknessesCrime Statistics in Serbia, strengths and weaknesses

Critical issues (reasons behind weaknesses)Critical issues (reasons behind weaknesses)

• Reluctance of line ministries to coordinate and use common Reluctance of line ministries to coordinate and use common statistical standards statistical standards

• Unclear role of SORS in this field of statistics, i.e. line Unclear role of SORS in this field of statistics, i.e. line ministries do not recognize SORS technical role ministries do not recognize SORS technical role • Lack of funding Lack of funding

• etc.etc.

A promising experience:A promising experience:

Corruption in SerbiaCorruption in SerbiaBribery as experienced by the populationBribery as experienced by the population

Basic notes The survey was conducted by the Statistical Office of

the Republic of Serbia (SORS), with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Commission

Full involvement of national stakeholders (meetings, consultations, launch events, etc.)

Leading role of SORS in developing methodology, conducting fieldwork and producing final report

Basic notes (cont.)

The Survey covered topics such as: corruption-related experience, Use and quality of public services Opinions/perceptions about corruption and integrity corruption reporting. In addition to corruption, module on crime victimizations

and citizens’ security.

In order to ensure comparability of results of the survey in the Western Balkans, the same questionnaire and methodology (defined by the UNODC) were applied in other countries.

32.0%

26.4%

17.1%

13.5%

5.5%

2.2%

1.0%

0.9%

0.5%

0.1%

0.8%

Unemployment

Poverty/Low standard of living

Corruption

Performance of Government

Crime and security

Building a functioning public administration

Conditions of infrastructure

Poor performance of education

Environmental degradation

Relation between ethic groups

Other

In your opinion, what are the most important problems that Serbia is facing today?

17.1% of the population believes that corruption 17.1% of the population believes that corruption is the biggest problem in Serbiais the biggest problem in Serbia

54.8%

38.5%

25.7%

15.5%

9.6%

6.6%

6.0%

4.4%

4.4%

3.7%

2.6%

1.3%

Doctors

Police officers

Nurses

Land registry officers

Municipal officers

Public utilities officers

Teachers/Lecturers

Customs officers

Tax officers

Car registration officers

Judges/Prosecutors

Social protection officers

Percentage distribution of bribe-payers who paid to selected types of Percentage distribution of bribe-payers who paid to selected types of public officials in Serbiapublic officials in Serbia??

52.2%

33.6%

6.6%5.2%

3.5%2.0%

Cash Food & Drink Other goods Exchange ofservices

Valuables Don'tremember

Percentage distribution of bribes paid by type of payment, Percentage distribution of bribes paid by type of payment, Serbia (2010)Serbia (2010)

49,0%

20,9%

12,9%

13,3%

3,9%

10 - 49 EUR

50 - 99 EUR

100 - 199 EUR

200 - 999 EUR

1000 + EUR

Percentage distribution of bribes paid by amount paid in EUR Percentage distribution of bribes paid by amount paid in EUR (Serbia 2010)(Serbia 2010)

153 EUR is the average amount of bribe paid in cash (last 12 153 EUR is the average amount of bribe paid in cash (last 12 months)months)

56.1%

19.7%

13.5%

8.4%

2.4%

Citizen made offer Public officialmade implicit

request

Public officialmade explicit

request

Third party madeexplicit request

Don't remember

Last time that you had to make such extra payment, gift or counter Last time that you had to make such extra payment, gift or counter favour, how did you understand that it was expected?favour, how did you understand that it was expected?

Prevalence of bribery in the Western BalkansPrevalence of bribery in the Western Balkans

12.5%

9.3%

19.3%20.7%

11.2%

9.7%

6.2%

Western Balkanregion

Serbia Albania Bosnia andHerzegovina

Croatia Montenegro The fYR ofMacedonia

Lessons learnt

Upgrade of SORS methodological skills in the field of crime statistics

Increased cooperation by institutions (Anti Corruption Council, Republic Public Prosecutor’s Office, Courts, SORS, Ministry of Interior...)

Recognition of SORS role by other government agencies/ministries

Increased visibility of SORS towards media, NGOs and general public

Increased credibility of SORS due to its involvement in this difficult and sensitive area

Increased cooperation with NSOs of neighboring countries

Etc.

• Stronger role of the SORS according to the Law of Official Statistics - in determining common statistical standards for all producers of crime data

• Improving coordination (among various institutions) - through establishment of a statistical committee/group on crime statistics

• Improved access to the data sources - through formal agreement with relevant line ministries/institutions

• Developing survey methodology for better measuring crime phenomena

• Improving analytical capacity - establishment of regular reporting system

• Using international experiences and standards

CHALLENGES AHEAD: