Homicide in Britain

Whilst the homicide rate in Britain is amongst the lowest in the world it is nonetheless challenging to understand or tackle, not least due to its diverse nature. Moreover, as in many other parts of the world, certain sections of society are disproportionately vulnerable to becoming victims of homicide, notably young males, infants under one year and members of the Black and Asian community. This chapter provides an overview of homicide in Britain. After a brief description of the British context, the legal framework of unlawful homicide and available data sources, the chapter describes historical and contemporary homicide trends and the main characteristics of British homicide. It then considers explanations for, and responses to, this uniquely harmful crime, focusing in particular on cultural and situational factors. Finally, directions for future research are highlighted.