Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
England and Wales are reviewed by Harvey and
Pease (1989) and between European countries by
Pease (1994). Geographical perspectives on the
death sentence in the USA are mapped out by
Harries (1993).
actual threats. These are loosely termed incivilities
and include rubbish, drunks, noisy neighbours,
loitering youths, even speeding cars and dogs not
under control. Fear of crime at the
neighbourhood level is profoundly connected
with social disintegration and disadvantage,
feelings of isolation, alienation and powerlessness,
and the lack of local resources in coping with
crime. These connections highlight the social
perspective on fear that sees the impact of crime
and fear located firmly with community life as
well as individual perceptions. Where you live is
therefore as important to fear as it is to crime itself.
There is moreover a dynamic to the fear-
community relationship. Fear of crime is not just
a product of local conditions but is itself a
determining factor in the decline of an area. So
area regeneration is not just a matter of improving
the physical environment; it needs to address the
social disruption of community life.
Individual factors in fear of crime focus on
vulnerability—people's feelings about their ability
to protect themselves or cope with the
consequences. Killias (1990) suggests that there are
three key factors in vulnerability: exposure to risk,
loss of control (ability to defend, protect, escape),
and anticipation of serious consequences.
Vulnerability is also mediated by lifestyle and
Fear of crime
It is ironic to leave discussion of fear of crime to
last, as anxiety about crime is much more prevalent
and may cost more than crime itself. Everyone,
every day, employs crime-avoiding behaviour.
Securing person and property has become so
routine that victimisation comes as a shock. And
like other aspects of crime, fear is unevenly
distributed. Women fear more than men, older
people fear more than young, inhabitants of inner
cities fear more than rural dwellers. Studies of fear
suggest that there is an important distinction to be
made between general worries about crime and
specific concerns about personal safety. Fear in a
general sense is connected to perceptions of crime
derived from the media (Plate 32.1), from indirect
experience conveyed within the neighbourhood,
and from environmental cues such as graffiti and
vandalism. There is a growing body of evidence of
the intimate links between fear of crime and other
problems in the local area seen as symbolic or
Plate 32.1
Media images of
crime. Since most people do
not become the victim of crime
as it is still a rare event, the
media, particularly local
media, are important as a
source of information about
the risks of crime. Media
images are often distorted by
selective or partial reporting
and can lead to contradictions
between perceptions and
realities of crime
(photograph:
University of Hull)
.
