Crime & communities
Tackling fear of crime & disorder in the community
What is the problem?
Results from the British Crime Survey interviews conducted in 2003/04, indicated that 3.2% of households in England and Wales were victims once or more of burglary and that 4.1% of adults were victims of violent crime once or more. However, 13% and 16% of people, respectively, were very worried about becoming a victim of these crimes.
The BCS provides evidence that fear of crime is related to actual levels of crime. If concern about crime curtails freedom to a level beyond that appropriate to the actual risk of victimisation, this would make "fear of crime" a problem in it’s own right (as it is often said to be). However, the BCS has consistently shown that this is not the case for most people. For the vast majority, concern about crime may be a rational response to the risks and consequences of victimisation.
Why is it a Problem?
Fear of crime is something that may affect people from all walks of life at any stage of their lives. This makes it different from actual crime which tends to be concentrated on particular areas, victims and committed by a small number of offenders. Whether it is an older person who feels nervous about walking home, parents who feel anxious about sending their child up the road to buy sweets, or a shop keeper who tenses up everytime a customer enters their shop, if we let it, fear of crime can have a devastating effect on our quality of life.
Attempts to tackle the fear of crime can also have some unexpected outcomes. For example, lighting a dark area may reduce fear, but it may also enable criminals to see their targets better leading to an increase in attacks. Similarly, encouraging people into the town centre at night might create more opportunities for crime, and telling people that their fear is irrational may create complacency. So partnerships are encouraged to tread carefully when considering what action to take to try and reduce the fear of crime.
Last update: Thursday, October 19, 2006