Police Survey Shows low fear of crime

12.00.00am GMT Tue 26th Nov 2002

The latest police survey of public attitudes (for 2002/3) shows that 58% of local respondents do not fear crime (as against 16% in the rest of London).

The main reason for public concern is gatherings of young people associated with anti social behaviour, especially vandalism and graffiti.

There is some criticisms of the lack of police foot patrols.

The latest police figures also show big improvements in crime figures for street crime in the period April to October 2002 over the same period - 2001 (down 23%) and burglary (down 2%) - while recorded graffiti incidents more than halved (from 233 to 110) but there was an increase in car theft (21%) and a big rise in domestic violence (80%).

Vincent Cable said: "the relatively low level of fear of crime is reassuring but not a reason for complacency."

"There is still a substantial degree of anxiety about the lack of police presence on the streets and about anti social behaviour. But the police deserve congratulations for their recent results."