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Weapon Carrying as a Behavioural Consequence of Fear of Crime

NCJ Number
197614
Journal
International Journal of Police Science and Management Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: 2002 Pages: 169-181
Author(s)
Caroline Miller
Editor(s)
Ian K. McKenzie
Date Published
2002
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study was undertaken in 1997 to investigate the nascent "fear of crime" among young people in the south of England.
Abstract
One hundred and ten residents (53 males, 57 females) between 16 and 24 years of age, in and around a major city in the south of England, were surveyed by means of a questionnaire about their personal fear of crime and its consequences on their behavior. Weapon carrying was a particular focus, along with its association with gender, residential environment, and personal victimization experience being examined. It was found that females reported a greater fear of crime than males but were not more likely to carry weapons. However, women were more likely to carry a weapon based on a specific fear of sexual offence. Women were more likely to carry a defensive weapon than men. Factors having little effect on weapon-carrying behavior were residential area with incivilities and experience of previous victimization. Tables include: frequency of males and females carrying each weapon type, interaction effect between gender and weapon, and distribution of weapon carriers among male and females. References

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