Which term describes a pattern of crime data over time?

• A. Deviance
• B. Local Authority
• C. Incidence of Crime
• D. Crime Statistics

Answer: (D)

The pattern of crime data over time is captured by crime statistics. This term covers how crime data are collected, organized, and analyzed to reveal trends, patterns, and changes across different periods. It lets us see whether crime is rising, falling, or fluctuating with seasons or years, and it supports comparisons over time and across places. Deviance is about behavior that violates norms, not data trends. A Local Authority is just an administrative body, not a description of data patterns. Incidence of crime refers to the number of new crimes occurring in a given period, which is a component you’d find within crime statistics, but the broader idea of patterns over time is described by crime statistics.