Fear of crime and Anti-Social Behaviour
Fear of crime and anti-social behaviour can adversely affect the quality of life
of certain communities. 11
The British Crime Surveys for 1998, 2000 and 2001 tried to assess the impact
of the fear of crime on people's quality of life. Respondents were asked:
"How much is your own quality of life affected by fear
of crime, on a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 is no effect and 10 is
total effect on your family life?"
Impact of crime on people's quality of life
| |
Minimal impact (1-3) |
Moderate impact (4-7) |
Substantial impact (8-10) |
| 1998 |
49% |
43% |
8% |
| 2000 |
55% |
38% |
6% |
| 2001 |
59% |
35% |
6% |
Source: British
Crime Surveys
Figure 2: Fear of Crime (below) reveals that the effects of crime and disorder
are not evenly distributed. They are concentrated within certain communities, and
the most vulnerable people in society are affected.
Figure 2
Findings from the British Crime Survey (BCS) appear to have established a link between
disorder, fear of crime, and more serious crime. They show a correlation between
the level of physical disorder in an area and the level of victimisation of burglary,
vehicle theft and violence. The level of victimisation in areas of high disorder
was two and a half times higher for domestic burglary, and almost two times higher
for violence than that in areas of low disorder. 13
Proportion of victims of specific crimes, by disorder level
| |
Victims of
burglary |
Victims of vehicle
theft |
Victims of
violence |
| 1998 |
4.8% |
12.1% |
15.1% |
21.6% |
4.3% |
7.6% |
| 2000 |
3.5% |
11.1% |
12.0% |
20.0% |
3.8% |
7.9% |
| 2001 |
2.8% |
7.9% |
10.4% |
16.1% |
3.6% |
7.2% |
Source: British
Crime Survey 2001
Key:
|
Low disorder areas |
High disorder areas |
The measure of physical disorder was based upon the BCS interviewer’s perception
of the level of (a) vandalism, graffiti and Deliberate damage to property, and (b)
rubbish and litter in the area in which the respondent lived. The crimes specified
are: % of households experiencing at least one burglary (attempted or successful)
in 1997; % of households owning vehicles experiencing at least one vehicle –related
theft (theft of vehicle, theft from or attempted theft) in 1997; and % of adults victims
of some form of violence (wounding, common assault, robbery and snatch theft) in 1997.
Perceived levels of disorder
The British
Crime Survey (BCS) 2001
identified that levels of concern about crime and the fear of crime
were high in areas where the interviewer assessed physical disorder
to be commonplace. Respondents were also asked their views as to how
much of a problem various physical and social disorders were in
their area. Those who perceived high levels of disorder (teenagers
hanging around, vandalism or drug misuse) in their area were more
concerned about crime and their own safety. The survey also revealed
that those living in inner-city areas and council estates with high
levels of physical disorder are particularly concerned about crime
and the fear of crime.
|
Feelings of personal safety by type of
area (2001 BCS) |
| % feeling very
unsafe: |
Walking
alone in area after dark |
Alone in
home at night |
| Area Type |
|
|
| Inner-City |
16 |
2 |
| Urban |
15 |
2 |
| Rural |
8 |
1 |
| Council estate |
22 |
3 |
| Non-council estate |
11 |
1 |
| Level of physical
Disorder (Interviewer) |
|
|
| High |
24 |
4 |
| Low |
12 |
1 |
| Level of physical
Disorder (Respondent) |
|
|
| High |
28 |
5 |
| Low |
10 |
1 |
| Type of area |
|
|
| People help each other |
11 |
1 |
| People go their own way |
16 |
2 |
| Mixture |
11 |
2 |
| All Adults |
13 |
2 |
Source: British
Crime Survey 2001
In terms of regional variation, the British crime Survey 2001
found that concern was in general higher in London, the North and
the Midlands. It was lower in the South, Eastern region & Wales.
| Feelings of
personal safety, by region (2001 BCS) |
| Government Office
Region |
Walking
alone in area after dark |
Alone
in home at night |
| North East |
13 |
1 |
| North West |
16 |
2 |
| Yorkshire/Humberside |
14 |
2 |
| East Midlands |
11 |
2 |
| West Midlands |
15 |
2 |
| Eastern |
13 |
2 |
| London |
16 |
2 |
| South East |
11 |
1 |
| South West |
10 |
1 |
| Wales |
11 |
1 |
| All adults |
13 |
2 |
Source: British
Crime Survey 2001
|
