Survey reveals public fear towards crime

A Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator in Yeltham praised the survey “went far beyond anything of this sort attempted locally before” to reveal the fact that the public's fear towards the increasing crime.

The findings show 68 per cent of respondents worried about their car being broken into while 72 per cent were afraid of being burgled.

Gerald Parkins, chairman of the Lupsham Estate Community Association, Yeltham, said: “As a Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinator as well as association chairman, I welcomed this survey, which went far beyond anything of this sort attempted locally before.”

In order to reduce pensioners' fear of being robbed at their doorway while answering strangers, the Yeltham Neighbourhood Watch Federation and Yeltham Crime Prevention Panel have decided to organise a bulk purchase of 1,000 door safety chain, which will be fitted free to the front doors of pensioners who want them.

Jeffrey Steele, chairman of Yeltham Crime Prevention Panel, said: “The Neighbourhood Watch Federation had our full support for this survey, which was the most thorough of its sort ever undertaken in Yeltham.

“It highlighted the fears of some of our widely varying communities and has allowed us to identify one particular problem where we believe we can help.”

Some residents also expressed their concern on vandalism, noisy youngsters hanging about on street at night and creating problems, as well as fear of being attacked and robbed when going out alone after dark in their own community.

The survey was undertook by the Federation in conjunction with Crime Prevention Panel.

The Federation links the 474 Neighbourhood Watches and each co-ordinator has responsibility for a Watch covering, which means about 9,500 householders are members.

Chief Insp Aantony Wardell, of Yeltham Police, said: “We shall be studying the results of the survey with considerable interest. Fear of Crime, as distinct from crime itself, is also an important issue because this can impact equally on people's lives. It is important to allay unnecessary fears.”

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