Demographics and trends:

Trends:

The British Crime Survey and RIDDOR are very different data sources which do not measure the same aspects of work-related violence. For this reason it should not be expected that the trend over the years is necessarily the same. However, over the past three to four years, both major sources indicate that levels of work-related violence have been fairly stable. Prior to this RIDDOR figures were rising while BCS figures fell. Although it is not possible to say with certainty, this could be due to improvements in RIDDOR reporting levels over that period.

Age and sex:

The age and sex distribution of RIDDOR reportable violent incidents are shown in Table RVIOL02. This generally indicates that the rate is slightly higher among males and that for both males and females rates are highest in the younger age groups. The highest rate in any group is for males aged 25-34. This is consistent with data from previous years.

Estimates in the BCS 2006/07 show that 1.9% of men were victims of violence in the 12 months prior to interviews, compared with 1.3% of women, a statistically significant difference. The highest risk age groups for both men and women was 25-34. All of these findings are consistent with the figures from RIDDOR.

Occupation and industry:

The occupation and industry distribution of RIDDOR reportable injuries due to violence at work are shown in Tables RVIOL03, RVIOL04 and RVIOL05. The highest estimated rates of injuries reported to HSE through RIDDOR were found in the minor occupational groupings of prison service officers below principal officer (1187 per 100,000 workers), police officers (sergeant and below) (478 per 100,000 workers) and bus and coach drivers (301 per 100,000 workers).

The industry breakdown of RIDDOR reportable injuries due to violence reflects this occupational distribution with by far the greatest number of reports in the broad industry group of services, and more specifically the highest number of reports being within Public Administration and Defence, which contains the two most high-risk occupations above.

The BCS reports use sub-major occupational groups and the group with the highest risk of assaults from combined 2005/06 and 2006/07 figures is protective service occupations with a rate of five times the risk of any other sub-major occupational group. Again this is consistent with RIDDOR findings.

The sources quoted on the definitions and additional sources page provide further information on some of the most high-risk occupations or industries. Note these should not be directly compared with each other as the definitions and data collection methods will vary.

Offender characteristics:

In 2006/07, the BCS estimates that in 40% of assaults at work, the offender was under the influence of alcohol in the opinion of the victim, while an estimated 31% of threats at work were made by someone under the influence of alcohol. In an estimated 16% of cases of assault at work, the victim believed the offender was under the influence of drugs. For threats, this figure is estimated as 14%.

The relationship between offender and victim is also investigated in the BCS. In 2006/07, an estimated 56% of assaults on workers were perpetrated by a stranger, with the next highest grouping being clients or members of the public known through work (17%). An estimated 67% of threats were made by strangers, with 14% by clients or members of the public known through work.