Abstracts: June 3rd, 2009

The British Crime Survey for 2008, carried out by the Home Office, reveals that 46 per cent of adults agreed that the police and local councils were dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in the local area. The survey also showed that 42 per cent agreed that the police and local councils sought people’s views about anti-social behaviour and crime issues.

Respondents to the Survey displayed particular perceptions of the police and councils depending on age, sex, income, ethnicity and whether they had been a victim of crime. In general, older people, women, people on lower incomes and people who had not been a victim of crime in the last twelve months were more likely to agree that the police and local councils were dealing with the anti-social behaviour and crime issues.

People from Black and Minority Ethnic backgrounds were more likely to agree than those from White backgrounds, 53 per cent compared with 45 per cent. Respondents who had been a victim of BCS crime in the last 12 months were less likely to agree that the police and local councils are dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime in the local area than those who had not been a victim, 40 per cent and 48 per cent respectively.

The factors most strongly associated with agreement that the police and local councils are dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime were perceiving that the local police can be relied on to deal with minor crimes, perceiving that the police deal with people fairly and with respect and seeing a police officer on foot patrol.

The Crime Survey is available from the HO.
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs09/hosb0109supp.pdf