Sexual Orientation, Criminal Victimisation, Worry and Perceptions of Risk: Using the British Crime Survey to Research Sensitive Questions With Sexual Minorities.

Purpose: First, to examine the relationship between sexual orientation and criminal victimisation; and second, to examine if sexual orientation improves the prediction of victim status, worry about victimisation, perceptions of future risk of victimisation, and avoidance and protective behaviours.

Methods: British Crime Survey non-victim form data from 2007-8, 2008-9 and 2009-10 were used. A series of multinomial logistic regressions were used to analyse individually weighted responses from the three surveys cross sectionally. Respondent sexual orientation, gender, age, ethnicity and education were used to regress general victim status, and general perceptions of risk, worry about victimisation, and avoidance/protection behaviours.

Results: Consistent with existing research, being male and of younger age were significant predictors of general victimisation. Also, individuals were more likely to report being a victim of any crime in the previous 12 months if they were gay or lesbian (e.g. BCS 2009-10) or "other" sexuality (BCS 2009-10) than if they were heterosexual or bisexual. Interestingly, although the interaction between sexual orientation and gender was not significant (e.g. BCS 2009-10), the interaction between gender and "other" sexuality did attain significance (BCS 2009-10). Furthermore, victimisation significantly predicted general perceived risk, and greater worry about general victimisation. However, inconsistent with existing research sexual orientation was not significant for these variables. Data on individual crimes will be available at the time of the presentation.

Conclusion: Sexual minority status significantly predicts general victimisation but not perceptions of general risk or worry about victimisation. The findings potential implications for understanding the how sexual minorities react to victimisation and for conducting research on victimisation amongst sexual minorities are considered.