The Visual Display of Information
Hartford, CT Homicides—unsolved cases
Only 27% of homicides were solved in Hartford CT in 2009. Using
statistics, probability theory and statistical thinking what information could
you offer the Department? RE: “Police Seek Help in Solving Homicides.”
The Hartford Courant, March 2, 2011. Is Hartford a safe city?
Location Map with Frequency Distribution
Interactive map: http://www.courant.com/community/hartford/hc-hartfordhomicides-2010,0,1258139.mapgallery
Activity
1.
2.
3.
4.
Have your group log on to the interactive map above
Can you discern a pattern to the crimes?
How could statistics help in solving homicides?
How does this pattern compare to British Murder stats (below):
a. Use the spreadsheet (Homicide) to calculate the Homicide Rate
(Offenses per 100,000 of population) and compare it to London
and Gloucestershire.
b. Which is the safer city measured by the Homicide rate?
5. What strategies could the Hartford police use in homicide prevention,
given the data above?
6. How do Hartford trends compare to UK?
Murder rate: the trends that solve the crimes
619 murders were recorded in England and Wales in 2009/10, see the stats that help to
solve crimes
• Get the data
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Murder
rates detailed: click image for graphic. Illustration: Mark McCormick for the Guardian
Statistics on homicide are vitally important as they aid investigations into hard-to-solve and unsolved
murders. Given the characteristics of the victim and the offence, the statistics can help police narrow
down a suspect group in the hunt for a murderer.
The Home Office publish an extensive "Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence " report.
The data in this report describes the recorded crimes in England and Wales over the past 50 years.
The Home Office figures tell us that last year 619 deaths were recorded as homicide in England and
Wales.
As Simon Rogers previously posted the mortality statistics, we can see that 318 deaths were caused
by assault. That accounts for about half of murders in 2009.
Now what extra detail does the homicide report show?

Two-thirds of homicide victims (68%) were male.

Female victims were more likely to be killed by someone they knew. Around three-quarters
of female victims knew the main suspect, compared with half (50%) of male victims.

Just over half of female victims aged 16 or over had been killed by their partner, ex-partner
or lover (54%, 94 offences)

The most common method of killing for both male and females continues to be by sharp
instrument. In 2009/10, as in each of the last eight years, male and female victims were both more
likely to be killed by a sharp instrument than any other method.

The second most common method for male murders involves hitting or kicking (113
homicides, or 27%)

The second most common method for females murder was strangulation or asphyxiation (41
homicides, or 21%).

There were 41 shooting homicide victims in 2009/10.

In terms of reoffender rates, two homicide offences recorded in 2009/10 were committed by
a suspect who had been convicted of a homicide on a
previous occasion.
Below is more detailed regional breakdown of murders by police force area.
Let us know what you think.
Data summary
Homicides England and Wales
Click heading to sort
Police force area
Number of
recorded
homicide in
2005/06
Number of
recorded
homicide in
2009/10
Offences per
million of
population
2009/10
source: Homicides, Firearm Offences and Intimate Violence report published by
the Home Office.
Cleveland
5
6
10.7
Durham
8
10
16.5
Northumbria
16
14
9.9
North East Region
29
30
11.6
Cheshire
14
8
8
Cumbria
2
-
0
Gtr Manchester
50
35
13.5
Lancashire
12
26
18
Merseyside
26
21
15.5
North West Region
104
90
13
Humberside
10
13
14.2
North Yorkshire
4
6
7.5
South Yorkshire
21
12
9.1
West Yorkshire
33
32
14.4
Yorkshire and the
Humber Region
68
63
12
Homicides England and Wales
Click heading to sort
Police force area
Number of
recorded
homicide in
2005/06
Number of
recorded
homicide in
2009/10
Offences per
million of
population
2009/10
Derbyshire
6
2
2
Leicestershire
6
13
13.2
Lincolnshire
4
6
8.6
Northamptonshire
10
5
7.3
Nottinghamshire
14
15
13.9
East Midlands
Region
40
41
9.2
Staffordshire
10
13
12.2
Warwickshire
8
11
20.6
West Mercia
5
15
12.6
West Midlands
49
27
10.2
West Midlands
Region
72
66
12.2
Bedfordshire
9
6
9.9
Cambridgeshire
10
8
10.3
Essex
20
10
5.8
Hertfordshire
9
6
5.5
Norfolk
11
7
8.2
Suffolk
5
10
14
East of England
Region
64
47
8.2
City of London3
2
2
..
Metropolitan
168
120
15.5
London Region
170
122
15.7
Hampshire
9
19
10.2
Kent
15
16
9.6
Surrey
10
8
7.2
Sussex
13
13
8.3
Thames Valley
19
14
6.3
South East Reqion
66
70
8.3
Homicides England and Wales
Click heading to sort
Police force area
Number of
recorded
homicide in
2005/06
Number of
recorded
homicide in
2009/10
Offences per
million of
population
2009/10
Avon and Somerset
9
16
10
Devon and Cornwall
12
16
9.6
Dorset
2
5
7
Gloucestershire
2
4
6.8
Wiltshire
7
4
6.1
South West Region
32
45
8.6
Dyfed-Powys
3
2
4
Gwent
4
18
32.1
North Wales
6
7
10.3
South Wales
9
16
12.8
Wales
22
43
14.3
British Transport
Police4
42
2
*
ENGLAND AND
WALES
709
619
11.3
Download the data