Crime in Russia: exploring the link between victimisation and concern about crime

During the past ten to 15 years, political, economic and social transformation has led to unprecedented increases in crime across countries in Eastern and Central Europe, including Russia, and this has resulted in widespread public concern. This article uses survey data to explore the relationship between victimisation and concern about crime among the Russian population. Both the extent and patterns of victimisation are investigated, as are people's concerns about crime in general and about specific types of offences. Having established which groups are more likely to be victimised in Russia and which are more likely to express concern about crime, the article discusses the extent to which victimisation influences people's concerns. It concludes by briefly considering how Russia could begin to tackle these two interrelated problems.