Results from a recent survey reveal young people have a real fear of crime in their day to day lives. The survey, conducted by Young NCB amongst their peers aged 14 and over in England, shows that over two thirds are concerned about being a victim of crime, (with this figure increasing to 75% in young females) and around 50% of young people are worried about actually witnessing a crime.
The survey showed that over 80% of the young people surveyed didn’t go out alone after dark with 87% feeling much safer when out with friends instead. Over 90%of respondents felt safe walking around their local area during the day, but this was not felt to be the case after dark, with half of young people feeling unsafe walking around at night.
The young people surveyed were also asked to identify specific problems in their area. Areas of concern included rubbish and litter lying around (63%); people being drunk or rowdy in public places (57%); people being bullied (58%) and others being beaten up (52%). The surveyed also identified real issues around perceptions of risk for young people. Although two thirds of young people in the survey are worried about being a victim of crime, research from the Home Office has found that the actual risk of being a victim of crime is less than 1 in 4 for young people aged between 10 and 15.
The young people were proactive in coming forward with ideas and recommendations to improve things. This included a more visible and active police presence on the streets, making the streets lighter at night and ideas on bringing their communities closer together.
The full report can be found on the Young NCB website.
Young NCB would like to hear from other youth groups and organisations who have looked at how crime can be reduced in their local area, and how children and young people can be made to feel safer in the neighbourhoods that they live.
Please let the Young NCB Advisory Group know what you have been working on by e-mailing them at info@youngncb.org.uk
Tue, 18/01/2011 - 15:49
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A new package to develop local staff to support and train young people to conduct objective assessments of local services and support recommendations for service improvements.
