NCJ Number
140906
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The first and second British Crime Surveys examined factors that contributed to the fear of crime and revealed that knowing crime victims or being a victim clearly contributed to anxiety.
Abstract
The results also suggested that fear of crime might result from selective media coverage that emphasizes serious crime. The survey concluded that the most effective way of reducing the fear of crime was to provide accurate information, particularly about the offenses that cause the greatest anxiety. Thus, people's anxieties might be more realistic if it was known that mugging is rare, usually does not involve injury, and rarely involves elderly women as victims. Similarly, fears of burglary might be reduced if it were understood that the criminal is often an adolescent, usually involves a small amount of easily disposable goods, and involves offenders who avoid confrontation and are eager to flee. The survey also suggested that other measures to reduce fear of crime might include police action on crimes that worry people most and crime prevention measures such as more foot patrols, improved street lighting, and the installation of telephone entry systems in groups of apartments. The surveys were conducted in 1982 and 1984 and produced findings that were reinforced by such local surveys as the Islington Crime Survey of 1986. Table