Crime Survey 2006

Finding’s from the West Mercia Crime and Safety Survey

West Mercia Constabulary, West Mercia Police Authority and all West Mercia Region Community Safety Partnership (CDRP’s/CSP’s) engaged Priority Research to conduct the 2006 Annual Crime and Community Safety resident survey. The survey was posted to a random selection of 3800 district residents during July 2006. A sample of 858 residents successfully completed and returned the questionnaire, a response rate of 23%.

The main objective was to assess current opinion regarding:

  • The Police
  • Fear of Crime
  • Perceived problems in peoples neighbourhoods
  • Experience of crime (inc reporting)
  • Anti-Social Behaviour
  • Drug misuse
  • Neighbourhood and community issues
  • Road safety
  • Keeping informed about the Police and Crime and Disorder issues

Experience of the police

Overall, 42% of Bridgnorth residents said that the police were doing a good or excellent job in their local district, compared to 36% in 2005. A further 35% believed that the police were doing a fair job, whilst only 11% believed that the police were performing poorly. There was some variation in these results by ward; with over 50% of those living in Bridgnorth Castle, Bridgnorth Morfe and Morville stated that the police do a good or an excellent job, whilst fewer than 30% of respondents in Alveley, Ditton Priors, Harrington and Much Wenlock felt the same.

The main reason given for these answers was given as a lack of perceived police presence or visibility. Since 2005, the proportion that had seen a uniformed Police Officer or Community Support Officer on average at least once a month, fell from 57% to 52%. Figures across the district ranged from over 70% in the more densely populated wards such as Shifnal Idsall, Highley and Bridgnorth East and Morfe, to less than 30% in the more rural areas of Alveley, Ditton Priors, Harrington and Stottesdon.

Across the district there had been a significant improvement in how many residents considered the frequency with which they saw a Police Officer or CSO to be acceptable, increasing from 45% in 2005 to 54% in 2006. Again, this figure
varied by a similar pattern, with Bridgnorth West (94%), Morfe (75%) and West (73%) being the most positive, compared to Alveley (24%), Claverley (35%) and Donington & Albrighton North (33%) who were the least positive.

Fear of crime

Around half of respondents remembered at least one specific episode in the previous 12 months when they had worried about becoming a victim of crime. This was more prevalent in Claverley (71%), Morville (68%) and Bridgnorth Castle (65%) than in the two Broseley wards, Stottesdon and Harrington (all under 40%) The most common concerns were:

  • Burglary dwelling (28%)
  • Drunken disorder (26%)
  • Theft from vehicle (24%)
  • Vandalism/criminal damage (23%)

Fear of crime had reduced significantly since the equivalent survey in 2005 by 23%, in particular in relation to property and vehicle crime. Nevertheless, amongst those who were fearful, 81% claimed that it had some impact on their life.

The vast majority of respondents (98%) felt safe in their neighbourhood and 96% felt safe during the day in the district, with the latter representing a significant improvement of 9% since 2005 (was 87%). Most respondents also still felt safe after dark (72% and 74% respectively). Residents of Donington & Albrighton North, Bridgnorth Castle (both 65%) and Shifnall Idsall (74%) felt more fearful in the neighbourhood after dark when compared to wards such as Alverley, Claverley,Bridgnorth Morfe and Broseley East where more than 90% felt safe.

Experience of crime

Amongst survey respondents, experience of crime had fallen significantly from 19% in 2005 to 11% in 2006. The most commonly experienced crime was vandalism/criminal damage (5.5%). Reported levels of victimisation were highest in Much Wenlock (29%) and Bridgnorth West (20%).

Community Priorities

Amongst survey respondents, the issues in their neighbourhood that were most commonly cited in the top four that needed to be addressed first were:

  • Speeding traffic (25%)
  • Burglary (19%)
  • Under age drinking (19%)
  • Groups of people loitering or hanging around (19%)

Speeding traffic was a particularly high priority in Harrington (44%), Shifnal Manor (46%) and Stottesdon (44%), whilst groups of people loitering or hanging around was a higher priority in Bridgnorth East (34%), Broseley East (35%),Shifnal Idsall (34%) and Shifnal Manor (42%). Finally, tackling underage drinking was a higher priority in Bridgnorth Castle (37%), Bridgnorth Morfe (34%) and Shifnal Manor (38%).

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

Around half of the sample believed that ASB was very or fairly serious in their district (46%), although only a quarter (26%) said that the same was true about their neighbourhood. ASB was a more serious problem in the neighbourhoods of
Bridgnorth East (57%), Highley (41%), Shifnal Idsall (41%) and Shifnal Manor (41%). However 85% of residents felt that people treat them with respect and consideration and 40% felt that they were informed about that is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in their local area.

Illegal drugs misuse

Similar proportions believed that illegal drugs misuse was a problem both in their District (45%) and their neighbourhood (30%). By ward, illegal drugs misuse was rated as most serious in Bridgnorth East (48%), Bridgnorth West (40%), Highley (60%), Shifnal Idsall (52%) and Shifnal Manor (61%). The main reasons given for these answers were local media coverage and their own personal perception and other peoples perceptions of the local area.

Alcohol Misuse

34% of resident consume between 1-5 units, 15% consume between 6-10 units and 13% consume between 11-15 units of Alcohol in a week.  6% responded that they had done something that they would regret or felt embarrassed about after drinking alcohol.

Neighbourhoods

94% of residents surveyed are very satisfied with their neighbourhood as a place to live. 76% were fairly –very satisfied with the general cleanliness of their neighbourhood, 73% again were fairly-very satisfied with the amount of parks and open spaces and the quality of the built environment. 52% were satisfied with the level of cultural, recreational and leisure services delivered in the local authority area

Documents

West Mercia Crime and Safety Survey – Bridgnorth District Results – October 2006

West Mercia Crime and Safety Survey – West Mercia Force Wide Results – October 2006

West Mercia Crime and Safety Survey - Shropshire Results - October 2006