Child murder and the media: A study of the reporting of child murder in The Times 1887–1990

Abstract

This study of The Times over a 103-year period (1887–1990) identified reports of 2,274 cases of murder of which 485 (or 21 per cent) involved minors as victims. The reports suggest that up to the First World War fathers killed the most, claiming nearly twice as many victims as mothers. In the inter-war years the reported numbers were few, but mothers outnumbered fathers as killers. After the Second World War, the major shift (particularly since the mid-1960s) has been the dramatic rise in the number of homicides of children and young persons committed by persons outside the family. It is suggested that this may be part of a trend that is now appearing in the overall homicide statistics.

Key Words:

• murder
• children
• victims
• media reportin