NCJ Number
179609
Date Published
1999
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The Australian Bureau of Statistics conducts an annual survey of victims of crime in New South Wales (NSW), and findings on public perceptions of neighborhood crime in 1995 and 1996 are presented.
Abstract
The survey sought to examine regional variations in public perceptions of neighborhood crime and public nuisance problems and to identify variables that influenced public perceptions. On average, 53.4 percent of persons perceived a neighborhood crime or a public nuisance problem in 1995 and 1996. This percentage varied across regions, with a significantly lower proportion of persons in most country regions of NSW likely to perceive a neighborhood crime problem than persons in the Sydney area. Burglary was most likely to be considered the main problem by residents of all regions. Females were more likely than males to perceive a neighborhood crime problem, and persons aged 65 years and older were less likely to perceive a neighborhood crime problem than those under 25 years of age. Persons aged 25 years and older were more likely than persons under 25 years of age to identify theft as the main crime problem. An analysis of factors significantly affecting the likelihood of perceiving public disorder as the main neighborhood crime problem showed persons aged 25 years and older were less likely than persons under 25 years of age to cite disorder as the main neighborhood crime problem. Persons who had been recent victims of a household crime or a crime against the person were less likely than non-victims to identify disorder as the main neighborhood crime problem. 16 notes, 9 tables, and 3 figures