NCJ Number
82559
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1982) Pages: 49-62
Date Published
1982
Length
14 pages
Annotation
The paper presents findings of a survey of 145 English retirees which focused on fear of crime and its social determinants and correlates.
Abstract
The survey was undertaken in a large East London borough which is part of the Greater London area. Respondents were randomly selected from among those residing in sheltered housing (48) and nonsheltered housing (97). The interviews took place in the respondents' own homes during the first 3 months of 1981. A total of 94.5 percent felt that it was unsafe to be out on the neighborhood streets after dark. Respondents in sheltered housing were less likely to express a fear of crime, whereas occupants of nonsheltered housing were more likely to feel that people were not safe in their houses at night. Of the study sample, only 19 respondents reported being the victim of a crime within the last 2 years. Of these incidents 10 concerned burglary and the remainder were purse or bag snatches. Due to the small sample of victimized respondents, it was impossible to determine if indirect victimization was a more powerful predictor of fearfulness than personal victimization. However, the survey did find that knowledge of others' victimization was an important factor in relation to concern over crime. The survey found that residents in sheltered housing benefited from a stronger, more cohesive social support network. Tables and about 30 references are provided.