NCJ Number
54527
Date Published
1976
Length
28 pages
Annotation
THROUGH PUBLIC OPINION POLLS AND INTERVIEWS WITH MUNICIPAL MAYORS IN THE NETHERLANDS, THIS REPORT EXAMINES CITIZENS' FEAR OF CRIME AND DESIRE FOR GOVERNMENT COUNTERMEASURES.
Abstract
A RANDOM SAMPLE INCLUDING 180 MUNICIPAL MAYORS WERE ASKED TO EXPRESS: (1) THE EXTENT OF CONCERN ABOUT CRIMINALITY IN THEIR MUNICIPAL COUNCILS, (2) EVENTS WHICH ACTUATED THESE CONCERNS, AND (3) THE SPECIFIC CRIMES DISCUSSED. THE RESULTS WERE THEN COMPARED TO SURVEY RESPONSES BY 1,219 DUTCH MEN AND WOMEN WHICH FOCUSED ON CITIZENS' GENERAL FEELINGS ABOUT THE EXTENT OF CRIME IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AND IN THEIR HOMES. IN GENERAL, THE LARGER TOWNS SHOWED MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIMINALITY TO BE DISCUSSED IN THE COUNCIL AND GREATER LIKELIHOOD THAT THESE DISCUSSIONS WOULD BE ABOUT SPECIFIC INSTANCES OF CRIME. OF THE RESPONDENTS TO THE OPINION POLL, HALF INDICATED THAT CRIME WAS OF LITTLE OR NO CONCERN TO THEM AND MOST DID NOT FEEL AFRAID ON THE STREETS. PERSONS MOST CONCERNED ABOUT CRIME WERE MORE LIKELY TO BE FEMALE AND LIVE IN THE METROPOLITAN AREAS. STRONG FEELINGS OF INSECURITY WERE ALSO FOUND IN ANOTHER INQUIRY CONDUCTED AMONG 1,200 HOUSEWIVES BY THE DUTCH BUREAU OF STATISTICS. SINCE ONLY 7.5 PERCENT OF THE DUTCH MUNICIPAL COUNCILS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT CRIME, AND SINCE FEELINGS OF INSECURITY WERE NOT PROMINENT IN THE GENERAL POPULATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT CRIMINALITY DID NOT NEED SPECIFIC ATTENTION BY THE GOVERNMENT. FOR AN ENGLISH SUMMARY TRANSLATION, SEE NCJ-59507. --IN DUTCH. (MHP)