Susan Shepherd BSC Hons

1
West Devon Fear of Crime Survey 2001

• Susan Shepherd BSC (Hons)
• Lisa Veysey BSC (Hons)

2
Research Aims
To produce a broad and accurate picture of
community concerns about crime in the West
Devon area.

• Sample
• 1696 responses following a postal survey to a
  random sample of 5000 residents
• 114 responses from a targeted sample of 200
  students
• Representative of West Devon population by age
  and area
• Not representative by gender

3
The Questionnaire
Literature review of previous research into fear
of crime

• Content
• Demographics
• Experience of crime
• Opinion measures
• Worry about crime (self altruistic)

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Opinion of the Police

• Significant Factors
• Gender
• Previous experience of crime

5
Experience of Crime

• 250 reported being the victim of crime
• 198 (74) respondents reported the crime to the
  police
• 62 either fairly or very satisfied with the
  police
• Compares favourably to British Crime Survey 2000
  (58)

Strengths Politeness Helpfulness
Weaknesses Information Speed of response
6
Likelihood of Crime

• Significant Factors
• Previous experience of crime
• Relationship with opinion of police performance

7
Worry About Crime/Anti-social BehaviourSELF

• 53 of respondents had worries
• Age differences

8
Worry About Crime/Anti-social BehaviourSELF

• Majority worried just occasionally or some of the
  time
• Traffic Offences Dog Fouling over 50 worried
  most or all of the time

How Often

• Majority no particular time
• Nuisance Groups (57) Criminal Damage (27)
  between 6pm 2am
• Traffic Offences 25 between 7am 6pm

Time

• Vehicle Related Theft divided between
  roads/streets, car parks, and home
• Criminal Damage divided between roads/streets
  home

Place
9
HOTSPOTSWorry About Burglary Self
10
HOTSPOTS Worry About Criminal Damage Self
11
HOTSPOTS Worry About Traffic Offences Crime Self
12
HOTSPOTS Worry About Vehicle Related Theft Self
13
HOTSPOTS Worry About Nuisance Groups Self
14
HOTSPOTS Worry About Dog Fouling Self
15
Worry About Crime/Anti-social BehaviourFAMILY
FRIENDS

• 32 of respondents had worries
• Age Gender difference

16
Worry About Crime/Anti-social Behaviour FAMILY
FRIENDS

• Over 50 worried just occasionally or some of the
  time
• Between 31 49 worried most or all of the time

How Often

• Majority no particular time
• 7am-6pm Bogus callers, traffic offences
  robbery
• 6pm-2am Physical assault, robbery, sexual
  offences burglary

Time

• Physical assault roads/streets (52) followed by
  pubs/nightclubs schools/colleges
• Sexual offences roads/streets (59) followed by
  public places outdoors moorland

Place
17
HOTSPOTS Worry About Traffic Offences Family
Friends
18
HOTSPOTS Worry About Burglary Family Friends
19
HOTSPOTS Worry About Physical Assault Family
Friends
20
HOTSPOTS Worry About Bogus Callers Family
Friends
21
HOTSPOTS Worry About Robbery Family Friends
22
HOTSPOTS Worry About Sexual Offences Family
Friends
23
Contact Information
For further information please contact West
Devon Community Safety Partnership E-mail
communitysafety_at_westdevon.gov.uk