Defining and measuring crime (A01)

Problems in defining crime- 

• Cultural issues- what is considered a crime in one culture may not be considered as such in another. E.g. in the UK having more than one wife is the crime of bigamy, but in other cultures polygamy is practiced. 
• Historical issues- definitions of crime can change over time. E.g. a parents right to smack their child was outlawed in 2004 with the introduction of the Children's Act. Also, homosexuality was considered a crime in the UK until 1967, but there are still many African and Asian countries where homosexuality is classed as illegal (both cultural and historical).

Ways of measuring crime-

• Official statistics- goverment records of the total…