Some results from a large survey (EU only) which in my eyes should be read more for amusement than for information. The basis for the data are self reports which of course suffer from selective memories and from a varying subjective threshold which minor crime to report in a survey.

The overall leader in self reported criminality is Ireland. More than 22 % report having been victim of a minor crime (theft etc.) during the last year (actually 2004). The runner up is Great Britain and the low ranks go to the South European countries. Funny, I personally always felt less sure in say Italy than in Ireland. Shows only my prejudices.

Ireland also leads in minor sexual infringements like unwanted touches etc.

Now, Italy would have been my favourite for having most pocket thefts but it ranks just fourth last.

The leader in car thefts is to my surprise Great Britain.

But I got the bicycle thefts correct. I would have predicted the Netherlands leading for there are quite simply more bicycles than any place else in Europe and so it is.

But would you have thought Belgium leads in hate crimes against immigrants?

Corruption has Italy below the mean, whatever that mean(s). Greece is the winner here with most corruption.

And which country is the safest in robberies? Italy, of course.

And which country is most content with its police force? Austria.

Wolfgang