Older people are often afraid of becoming the victim of a robbery or other crime. But they don’t know that the younger generation is more likely to become victims. When are you more likely to become a victim? Or better said: what are the characteristics of victims?
Characteristics of victims
Research shows that part of society is more likely to become a victim of a crime than the rest of society. This does not mean that people consciously or unconsciously provoke their victimization, but that they have certain structural characteristics that make them more likely to become victims.
A number of features
- Residents of big cities: People who live in a big city are about twice as likely to be a victim of a crime than people who live in a small town. This mainly concerns theft, threats and vandalism, but people in the city are also more at risk for other crimes. Shops and catering establishments (secondary victimization) are also at greater risk of becoming victims in a large city.
- Men: men are more likely to become victims than women, regardless of age or place of residence. Only the victims of sexual crimes are usually women. Women are therefore less at risk of becoming victims, but more at risk of a sexual crime of which they are the victims.
- Young people: Younger people are more likely to become victims. Victim surveys showed that 51% of victims were under the age of 24. From the age of 65 and older there is less chance of becoming a victim of a crime.
- Companies: companies are 20 times more likely to become victims of burglaries than private individuals. Jewelers and businesses that sell expensive electronics are also at extra risk.
- Tourists: tourists have an increased chance of becoming a victim of crime. Of the foreign tourists who come to the Netherlands, about 11% become victims of a crime. This is often street robbery, because tourists often have valuables, quite a bit of money and expensive film equipment with them. Tourists are also often near entertainment areas in the big cities, where there is a greater chance of crime.
- Victims: another characteristic of the victim is that he or she has been a victim before. A victim runs an increased risk of becoming a victim again within a short time. In home burglaries, a victim is 4 to 5 times more likely than non-victims to be burglarized again. This may be because the house is in a certain neighborhood, in a city, or because it contains a lot of luxury items. Perpetrators also sometimes return to a place where they have had success (for example by stealing things). Becoming a victim again is called repeat victimization. Repeat victimization is common in violence against women by their partners, because after a while the man can become violent again against the woman.
- Other: there are even more reasons that there is an increased chance of becoming a victim. This may have to do with practicing a certain profession, your individual way of life and lifestyle or when someone belongs to a subculture.
Consequences of crimes on victims
Three quarters of crime victims experience psychological problems, such as anxiety, self-blame, nervousness, anger, shame, sleep problems and depression. If these emotional consequences of trauma last too long, there is a chance that the victim has suffered a mental illness. If this is not paid attention to, the disorder can become serious and progress to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Victims of serious violent crimes can suffer the same psychotraumas as victims of war or concentration camps. The symptoms of this are: flashbacks of the event at unexpected and unwanted moments, feeling of mistrust, problematic alcohol use. These are also characteristics of post-traumatic stress disorder.
If trauma is not properly processed by victims, there is a chance that the victims will commit crimes later in life that they once became victims of. This is a vicious circle of (sexual) violence. Van Dijk, professor of psychiatry, also has a system with several vicious circles. This is generally about addictions. You could also call a crime a kind of addiction, it happens again and again. If a victim were to commit the crime of which he himself was a victim, and the victim also committed the crime again, and the victim committed it again, then we would have a real vicious circle.
It is important that victims properly process their (possible) trauma and, if necessary, contact a victim support organization. Below are a few victim support organizations.
Victim support organizations in the Netherlands
Victim Support Netherlands
This organization has 75 offices where victims can turn for help. This help is free. The organization focuses mainly on the self-reliance and resilience of the victim.
www.slachtofferhulp.nl
Ikzitindeshit.nl (Netherlands)
This is an initiative of Victim Support Netherlands where people under the age of 18 are helped. Children and teenagers can contact the youth department of Victim Support Netherlands by telephone or e-mail.
www.ikzitindeshit.nl
Victim in Focus (Netherlands)
This organization forms a bridge between the victim and the perpetrator. They offer victims to get in touch with the perpetrator. They also want to make perpetrators aware of the consequences of their crimes. They do this through courses and victim-offender conversations.
www.slachtofferinbeeld.nl