DO NEIGHBORHOODS GENERATE FEAR OF CRIME? AN EMPIRICAL TEST USING THE BRITISH CRIME SURVEY*

The ‘fear of crime’ is a politically important measure, and much is made of year to year changes in levels when generated by repeat cross-sectional national surveys such as the British Crime Survey. Data from the first two waves of a longitudinal survey of the fear of crime undertaken in Trinidad indicate that identical year on year fear levels regularly conceal considerable gross changes in reported fear, many of which are mutually cancelled in the calculation of net year- on-year fear levels. These results question either or both of the stability of the fear of crime, and of measures used to assess it.

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Predicting Crime Rates, Fear and Disorder Based on Area Information: Evidence from the 2000 British Crime Survey

International Review of Victimology ◽

10.1177/026975800501200305 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 12 (3) ◽

pp. 293-311 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Chris Kershaw ◽

Andromachi Tseloni

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Fear Of Crime ◽

Regression Models ◽

Crime Rates ◽

England And Wales ◽

British Crime Survey ◽

Crime Types

This study discusses methods for predicting local crime rates, measures of fear of crime and measures of disorder that are based on regression models which make use of local census variables and regional dummies. The crime types for which predictions are made are personal crime, total household crime, burglary and vehicle crime. The information on crime, fear of crime and disorder is drawn from the 2000 British Crime Survey. The local census variables (relating to postcode sectors) are drawn from the 1991 England and Wales Census. The results show that the modelling of measures of fear and disorder is more robust than the modelling of crime. Therefore, it appears more possible to predict types of area where concern about crime and problems of disorder are likely to be highest than to predict those areas most at risk of crime.

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The Structural Determinants of Fear of Crime: An Analysis Using Census and Crime Survey Data from England and Wales

International Review of Victimology ◽

10.1177/026975809400300303 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 3 (3) ◽

pp. 211-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Chris Hale ◽

Pat Pack ◽

John Salked

Keyword(s):

Survey Data ◽

Empirical Model ◽

Fear Of Crime ◽

Structural Determinants ◽

England And Wales ◽

Individual Level ◽

Level Data ◽

Neighbourhood Level ◽

British Crime Survey ◽

Neighbourhood Structure

The research presented in this article develops the explanation of fear of crime beyond that which concentrates upon the characteristics and attributes of individuals to consider structural or neighbourhood level determinants. After reviewing the theoretical arguments for such an approach, an empirical model which combines neighbourhood level data constructed from the 1981 British Census with individual level data from the 1984 British Crime Survey is presented. The results support the contention that neighbourhood structure is an important factor when discussing fear of crime.

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