Official statistics
Quantitative data collected by government and organisations (crime statistics, census data, school performance tables, employment figures), useful for large-scale analysis but subject to how they're collected and categorised.
Real World
Police-recorded crime statistics in England and Wales consistently undercount actual crime — the 'dark figure' — because offences like domestic abuse and sexual violence are heavily underreported, distorting the picture of crime patterns.
Exam Focus
Never treat official statistics as straightforward facts — always interrogate who collected them, for what purpose, and what categories were used.
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