Towards a multifactorial framework of the Roma’s victimisation: Discrimination, risky situations, and acceptance of violence as correlates of physical assault and harassment

Abstract

The European Roma population faces violence and discrimination, but the causes of their victimisation are not well understood. This study used a multi-theoretical framework to analyse data from a representative sample of 2,913 Roma surveyed in European Union Minorities and Discrimination Survey II. The results showed that police stops perceived as ethnically motivated, exposure to risky situations, and acceptance of violence when insulted predicted physical victimisation and harassment. To reduce victimisation, recommendations include sensitising police officers, diverse police patrols, crime-reduction measures in neighbourhoods, and education on nonviolent communication. Further research is needed to understand other forms of victimisation among the Roma. The study highlights the usefulness of testing multiple risk factors from different criminological theories to address victimisation of the Roma ethnic minority.