Project overview

This study explores the long-term drivers of change in the homicide rate in England and Wales; a topic that has been largely overlooked in the academic and policy literature. We will conduct high-quality research providing evidence-based and theoretically-informed insights into the ways in which individual and aggregate level characteristics are related to changes in contemporary homicide trends in England and Wales over a four-decade period (1977-2022). We will do this by using multiple robust datasets (in this case the Homicide Index (HI), the British Crime Survey/Crime Survey for England and Wales, and the British Social Attitudes Survey and disaggregating homicide subtypes.

The project aims/ objectives

This project aims to examine and better understand the patterns in fluctuating homicide rates in England and Wales over a period of four decades (1977-2022). We will do this by directing special attention to the following individual and aggregate-level characteristics, including:

(i) the demographic characteristics of victims/offenders involved in homicides (e.g. age, gender, ethnicity, and social background);

(ii) the circumstantial characteristics of homicide incidents (e.g. location, weapon use, alcohol use, relationship);

(iii) the (aggregate-level) characteristics relating to lifestyle patterns/routine activities;

(iv) the wider socio-economic conditions, regional inequalities, cultural values; and

(v) the role played by public perceptions and social attitudes in responding to homicide trends.

In particular, we will compare distinct homicide subtypes to scrutinize changes in homicide trends, using more comprehensive typologies based on offender-victim relationships and the motives/circumstances of the homicide; and (b) compare lethal violence with trends in non-lethal violence to allow for a more accurate and nuanced examination of violence in England and Wales.

To achieve the project's aims, we will draw on reliable, robust, large-scale datasets, including the Homicide Index (HI, 1977-2022), the British Crime Survey/Crime Survey for England and Wales (BCS/CSEW, 1981-2022), and the British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA, 1983-2022).

The project will be conducted by an interdisciplinary team of experienced researchers with (a) a background in criminology, sociology, social policy and economics, (b) an interest in homicide, violence and crime in general; and in processes of change, both at the individual level, and the societal level; (c) expertise in quantitative research methods, with particular experience in social statistics, and working with large-scale and sensitive datasets; and (d) a track record of undertaking a multitude of successful ESRC-projects using secondary data analyses to inform theory, practice, and policy.

Research activities

We will produce a series of research outputs including journal articles, presentations and hold a one-day conference in association with our project partners.

We are also planning a short animation and infographic resources for distribution to a non-academic audience.

Advisory Group

TBC

Events

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Code and Data

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Github Repository

Networks

Homicide Research Working Group

European Homicide Research (EHR)

Emotionally Demanding Histories Group

Resources

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