Unreported Crime - GCSE Sociology Definition

Unreported crime refers to criminal incidents that happen but are not told to the police or authorities. There are many reasons why crimes might not be reported, such as the victim feeling scared, embarrassed, or believing that reporting won't help. Sometimes, people don't trust the police or think that the crime is too minor to report. Unreported crime is important to understand because it means the true level of crime in society might be higher than what official statistics show. In GCSE Sociology, learning about unreported crime helps students understand the difference between recorded crime data and the actual experiences of people in their communities.