West Mercia Crime and Safety Survey October 2007

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 2007 Annual Crime and Community Safety resident survey. The survey was posted to a random selection of 4300 district residents during June 2007. A sample of 851 residents successfully completed and returned the questionnaire, a response rate of 20%.

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, 40% of Bridgnorth residents said that the police were doing a good or excellent job in their local district. A further 35% believed that the police were doing a fair job, whilst 14% believed that the police were performing poorly.

The proportion who answered good or excellent was not significantly different statistically than it had been in 2006 (40% v 42%). The wards where residents were the most positive about the job done by the police included Bridgnorth Morfe (64%), Bridgnorth Castle (60%) and Much Wenlock (55%). In comparison, respondents in Alveley (24%), Worfield (22%) and Ditton Priors (8%) were the least positive.

It was positive to note that since 2006, the proportion that had seen a uniformed Police Officer or Community Support Officer on average at least once a month had increased significantly (60% v 52%). Over half also considered the frequency with which they saw Police Officers or CSOs to be acceptable, which was similar to 2006. By ward, the most positive residents again included Bridgnorth Castle, Morfe and Much Wenlock (all over 70%). Similarly, Highley, Ditton Priors and Alveley were
the least positive groups (all below 30%).

Fear of crime

Around half of respondents (53%) remembered at least one specific episode in the previous 12 months when they had worried about becoming a victim of crime, which was consistent with the force as a whole and the 2006 results. The most common concerns were:

  • Burglary dwelling (28%)
  • Drunken disorder (27%)
  • Vandalism/criminal damage (24%)
  • Theft from vehicle (22%)

Fear of crime was also more prevalent in Albrighton South and Shifnal Manor (both over 65%) than in areas such as Harrington (33%), Glazeley (28%) and Morville (19%). The vast majority of respondents felt safe in their neighbourhood or district during the day (98% and 95% respectively), as they had in 2006. The majority also continued to feel safe after dark (84% and 73% respectively). Residents of Shifnal Manor and Rural (67% safe) and Worfield (69%) felt a little more fearful in the neighbourhood after dark when compared to wards such as Ditton Priors, Morville, Glazeley, Stottesdon and Much Wenlock where 95% or more felt safe.

Experience of crime

The experience of crime amongst survey respondents was no different than in 2006 (12%), most common of which was vandalism or criminal damage (4% of the sample). There had also been a significant decrease in experience of theft from vehicle (0.2% v 1.1%).

Neighbourhood Issues

Respondents rated the following as problems in the local neighbourhood

  • Speeding traffic (76%)
  • Under age drinking (73%)
  • Groups of people loitering or hanging around in public places (71%)
  • Dog mess (65%)
  • Rubbish and litter lying around (65%)

Neighbourhood issues that emerged as priorities when residents were asked for the top three that needed to be addressed first were:

  • Speeding traffic (24%)
  • People dealing drugs (20%)
  • Underage drinking (20%)

It was also notable that far fewer respondents than in 2006 believed that tackling burglary (15% v 19%) or drunken disorder was a priority (12% v 17%). Speeding traffic was a higher priority in Stottesdon (43%), Shifnal Manor (40%), Harrington (39%) and Ditton Priors (38%). Drug dealing was a particularly high priority in a number of wards, with 30% or more respondents from Albrighton South, Bridgnorth Castle, Highley and Shifnall Idsall selecting it. Finally, tackling underage drinking was a higher priority in Bridgnorth East and West, Morville and Albrighton South (all over 30%)

Anti-social behaviour (ASB)

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) Under half of the sample believed that ASB was very or fairly serious in the district (45%), although only a quarter (23%) said that the same was true about their neighbourhood. Furthermore, neither of these measures were significantly different than the equivalent scores in 2006. ASB was a more serious problem in neighbourhoods such as Broseley West, Shifnal Manor, Shifnal Idsall, Albrighton South and Highley (all over 35%). However 84% of residents felt that people treat them with respect and consideration and 33% felt that they were informed about that is being done to tackle anti-social behaviour in their local area.

Illegal drugs misuse

A similar proportion also thought that illegal drug misuse was a serious issue in the district (44%), and this was again higher than the equivalent result for the local neighbourhood (30%), and also remained consistent with 2006. The most common reasons given for seeing it as a problem were local media coverage and people’s perception of the local area (both 47%).

Alcohol Misuse

34% of resident consume between 1-5 units, 17% consume between 6-10 units and 12% consume between 11-15 units of Alcohol in a week. 8% responded that they had done something that they would regret or felt embarrassed about after drinking alcohol.

Neighbourhoods

91% of residents surveyed are very satisfied with their neighbourhood as a place to live. 69% were fairly –very satisfied with the general cleanliness of their neighbourhood. Respondents again were fairly-very satisfied with the amount of parks and open spaces (56%) and the quality of the built environment (63%). 47% were satisfied with the level of cultural, recreational and leisure services delivered in the local authority area. 13% were satisfied with youth facilities (e.g. youth clubs, bike tracks, skate parks, ball-game parks).

Documents

West Mercia Crime and Safety Survey - Bridgnorth Results - June 2007

West Mercia Crime and Safety Survey - Children and Young People Results - Bridgnorth Summary 2007

West Mercia Crime and Safety Survey - Children and Young People Results - Shropshire Summary 2007