Homicide: Global and Local

Homicide in Europe



Europe does not have a long tradition of studying the trends, pattern and explanations of homicide. In light of this challenge, four recent initiatives have begun to systematically address homicide and homicide research in Europe. 

First, the construction of the European Homicide Monitor (EHM) is enabling comparisons and analyses among European countries. In this project, we are closely working with the Finnish National Research Institute of Legal Policy and the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Brottsförebyggande rådet - Brå). 

Second, the publication of the Handbook of European Homicide Research: Patterns, Explanations, and Country Studies provided the first large-scale systematic collection of information on homicide research in Europe and serves as a foundation for research on the topic moving forward. 

Third, a Special Issue of European Journal of Criminology represents yet another cornerstone to the growing field of European homicide research. The articles here range from theory-based contributions, to empirical work making use of macro-level or national data, to data related to specific types of homicide. 

Finally, through the European Homicide Research Group, we stimulate homicide research in Europe and promote contact between the various European researchers working on national homicide studies.

Homicide in the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, on average 223 persons per year die in a homicide. These homicides vary from domestic homicides, homicides in the context of an argument, criminal homicides, robbery homicides and sexual homicides. In this project, we offer coursework and carry out research on vital policy issues regarding homicide and the prevention of homicide.

Selected publications:

• Spangenberg, E. & Liem, M. (2016) ‘Seksuele doding in Nederland: Een voorlopig overzicht [Sexual homicide in the Netherlands: A preliminary overview] ’ Tijdschrift voor de Politie, 78, 16-19.
• ​Liem, M., Smit, P., Van Wilsem, J. & Nieuwbeerta, P. (2012) ‘De daling van moord en doodslag in Nederland [Homicide decline in the Netherlands]’ Tijdschrift voor Criminologie (54, 18-32). 
• Liem, M., Postulart, M. & Nieuwbeerta, P. (2007) ‘Moord-Zelfdoding in Nederland. Een epidemiologisch overzicht [Homicide-Suicide in the Netherlands. An Epidemiology].’Tijdschrift voor Veiligheid (2, 16-36).

.. or listen to an in-depth lecture series on homicidal violence at Home Academy.