NCJ Number
94469
Date Published
1984
Length
56 pages
Annotation
Drawing upon data from the 1982 British Crime Survey, this report examines fear of crime among citizens of England and Wales, focusing on what is meant by 'fear of crime,' who is afraid, why, and with what effect; suggestions are offered for reducing fear of crime among the citizenry.
Abstract
Using the electoral register as a sampling frame, the survey selected a random sample of households. Fieldwork was conducted in the first quarter of 1982, and interviews were completed with one person aged 16 or over in 80 percent of eligible households, yielding a sample of about 11,000. The first section of the interview schedule collected background information and determined if respondents or a member of their households had been criminally victimized since January 1981. Those who had been victimized were asked to detail the incidents. The third section of the schedule was administered to all crime victims and two-fifths of the other respondents and contained questions about lifestyles, attitudes toward crime, and contacts with the police. Burglaries and street crimes provoked the most fear, and worry about burglary is fairly widespread, though highest in urban areas where the risks are greatest. Fear of street crime was most prominent in urban areas, being mostly present with women and the elderly, who, though not generally at greatest risk of such crimes, are likely to be more apprehensive about the consequences of victimization. It is recommended that action to reduce fear of crime should focus on the most fearful groups, providing them with more accurate information about crime and how they might avoid victimization. Crime prevention programs and victim support programs can also help reduce fear. Tabular data and 31 bibliographic listings are provided.