ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on fear of crime, the experience of crime, who becomes a victim and how victimisation occurs. The general public are less likely to be concerned over such victims, and so, may be unwilling to come forward with information that may help the police. Fear of crime is an area that is increasingly studied, with some law enforcement agencies even aiming to reduce the fear of crime as well as the actual crime levels. The experience of property crime, physical assault or rape often introduces an increased feeling of vulnerability. There are a variety of circumstances in which assessment of the victim of a crime requires psychological expertise, instead of, or as well as, medical expertise. The assessment issues are very similar to those that would be required if a person had had an accident, rather than being the victim of a crime.
