Homicide clearance in Western Europe
| DOI | 10.1177/1477370818764840 |
| Published date | 01 January 2019 |
| Date | 01 January 2019 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/1477370818764840
European Journal of Criminology
2019, Vol. 16(1) 81 –101
© The Author(s) 2018
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/1477370818764840
journals.sagepub.com/home/euc
Homicide clearance in
Western Europe
Marieke Liem
Leiden University, The Netherlands
Karoliina Suonpää, Martti Lehti and
Janne Kivivuori
University of Helsinki, Finland
Sven Granath
Brå, Sweden
Simone Walser and Martin Killias
University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Abstract
This study provides an overview of homicide clearance in four West European countries: Finland,
the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland. Using data from the European Homicide Monitor,
employing similar definitions and uniform coding schemes, this study allowed for unique cross-
country comparisons in factors influencing differences in homicide clearance rates. Findings
based on homicides occurring in the period 2009–14 revealed overall low homicide rates in
all countries, with a wide variety in homicide clearance rates, ranging from 77 percent in the
Netherlands to 98 percent in Finland. Results further showed that both event-based as well
as victim-based characteristics significantly influenced the likelihood of homicide clearance,
suggesting that homicide clearance rates can, for a large part, be attributed to the prevalent types
of homicide in each of these European countries.
Keywords
Clearance, Europe, homicide, international comparison
Corresponding author:
Marieke Liem, Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, Institute for Security and Global Affairs, Leiden
University, PO Box 13228, 2501 EE The Hague, The Netherlands.
Email: m.c.a.liem@fgga.leidenuniv.nl
764840EUC0010.1177/1477370818764840European Journal of CriminologyLiem et al.
research-article2018
Article
82 European Journal of Criminology 16(1)
Homicide clearance
Homicide is a rare, but serious form of interpersonal violence, leading to shock and
incomprehension in society at large. The societal impact of homicide is exacerbated
when cases take a particularly long time to solve or even remain completely unsolved,
usually referred to as ‘uncleared’. An uncleared homicide typically means police have
not identified a suspect or do not have enough evidence for arrest. More generally, police
are simply missing essential information about the suspect(s), including the victim–
offender relationship, particularly when, for a period of time, the identity of the victim
remains unknown (Quinet and Nunn, 2014).
Outside Europe, homicide clearance rates currently range from 96 percent in South
Korea (Johnson, 2008), 95 percent in Japan (Roberts, 2008), to 24 percent in Trinidad
and Tobago (Maguire et al., 2010). In non-European Western countries, homicide clear-
ance rates vary from 91 percent in New Zealand (New Zealand Crime Statistics, 2015),
87 percent in Australia (Chan and Payne, 2013), to 75 percent in Canada (Mahony and
Turner, 2012) and 65 percent in the United States (Roberts, 2008). Prior research in
European countries has revealed 98 percent of homicides being solved in Finland (Lehti
and Kivivuori, 2012), between 88 and 94 percent in Germany (Polizeiliche
Kriminalstatistik, 2014), 87 percent in Switzerland (Bänziger and Killias, 2014), 85 per-
cent in England & Wales (Smith et al., 2012), and about 80 percent in Sweden (Granath,
2011) and in the Netherlands (Van Os et al., 2010).
One may question, however, the validity of these figures when making interna-
tional comparisons. Linking international homicide clearance rates is hindered by the
differential use of definitions. Further, some reports exclude homicides committed in
conjunction with a felony or other crime. In these statistics, homicides are coded as a
by-product of another felony – for example, a homicide committed in the course of a
robbery is coded as a ‘robbery gone wrong’ rather than a homicide (Finch, 2001).
Much of the homicide clearance literature to date relies on data from the United States
(Alderden and Lavery, 2007; Davis et al., 2014; Doerner and Doerner, 2012; Jarvis
and Regoeczi, 2009; Keel et al., 2009; Litwin and Xu, 2007; Quinet and Nunn, 2014;
Regoeczi et al., 2008; Riedel and Boulahanis, 2007; Roberts, 2007; Roberts and
Lyons, 2009, 2011; Schroeder and White, 2009; Taylor et al., 2009). So far, it has not
been possible to compare homicide clearance rates between European countries,
owing to differences in definitions, data sources and criminal justice procedures. To
overcome these limitations, for the purpose of this study we will make use of the
European Homicide Monitor, a unified data system including information on homi-
cide cases, offenders and victims in four European countries: Finland, the Netherlands,
Sweden and Switzerland.
The need to shed light on internationally comparable homicide clearance rates in
Europe is at least threefold. First, homicide is the most violent form of crime. The impact
and consequences of homicide are severe for the relatives, friends and acquaintances
involved. Unsolved homicides cause considerable psychological and emotional damage
for the bereaved. The uncertainty and the apparent lack of a motive for their deaths
inhibit adequate mourning (Poijula, 2010; Wijk et al., 2013). Unsolved homicides are
accompanied by feelings of insecurity, turmoil and injustice.
To continue reading
Request your trial