1. When there’s more than one assailant: understanding variations in victims’ needs

• In Event: Victimology Working Group Panel 2 Consequences of Victimization

Abstract

Previous research into co-offending has shown that crimes with multiple perpetrators are more often perpetrated by groups of men (Van Mastrigt, 2014; Lantz, 2020), and youths (Lantz, 2021). Multiple perpetrator violent events (MVPE) are often more severe and injurious to victims than single perpetrator violent events (SPVE) (Andresen & Felson, 2010; Carrington, 2002). However, limited research has been undertaken focusing on the victims of multiple perpetrator violence, with most research focusing on the perpetrators and the group composition.
This paper uses nine years of data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales to consider the profiles of victims of MPVE, comparing them to victims of single perpetrator violence, and finding that MPVE victims are more often male, younger, and belonging to a minority ethnic group. When considering victims’ needs, victims of MPVE were more likely to report to the police than victims of single perpetrator violent events. They were also twice as likely to receive treatment in hospital after the event, indicating a greater seriousness of these events. These findings highlight how victims of violent events with one perpetrator may well be underrepresented in records drawn from police, health, and specialist services.

Author

• Elouise Davies, Lancaster University