FEAR OF CRIME

Fear of Crime

Fear of Crime

Introduction

The fear of crime is the most critical issue across the globe that is a concern for society, as well as politics. Much of studies have concluded that fear of crime has a significant influence on individuals and communities and the negative impact is rising rapidly with the rise in the number of criminal activities. The fear of crime erodes well-beings, promotes precautionary measures, restricts movement, encourages movement from the most affected areas, and harms social trust, inter-group relationships, and the capacity of communities to exercise social control.

However, the criminal justice system somewhat helps in the reduction of crime, and to render justice in order to provide citizens with a sense of safety and comfort. The fear of crime is a serious issue other than the crime itself, which has raised some critical questions for the concerned authorities.

People, who are exposed to the direct or indirect experience of victimization or those living in sensitive areas, are found always in a worry to escape from the issue of crime. However, those who live in more protected areas such as middle England or Middle America, with less exposure to the experience of crime and less concern about neighborhood stability, fear is best displayed as a diffuse anxiety for them.

In addition to that, numerous studies have observed that the concern of the public about the threat of crime emerge when people lose faith in the local control over crime, in the shared communities and connections between people that hold communities together.

The following paper examines the impact of the fear of crime not only on individuals, but also on societies. In addition to that, it presents some important statistical evidence related to the problem of fear of crime. Moreover, some precautionary measures are also suggested in order to reduce crime and ultimately the fear related to the crime.

Discussion

Fear of crime is a response, which allows people to avoid danger, and many people who are fearful of criminal activities or are victims of such activities always limit their activities or take precautionary actions designed to avoid this danger, and thus reduce their fear. Fear of crime allows individuals not to travel at night, to avoid certain areas, which are considered dangerous, and to engage in avoidance behaviors and adaptive strategies.

Fear can be considered as a neutral or helpful emotion under certain circumstances. However, under the adverse circumstances, fear can restrict the freedom of the individual, constrain behaviors, and negatively impact the quality of life of fearful person.

Fear of crime is different from most hazardous situations of life because it is largely based on limited on inaccurate information about crime risk and realities. Since crime victimization has the potential to be catastrophic, many individuals often err on the side of caution, fearing crime far more than is necessary. As such, it is imperative that reliable information about crime and the potential for criminal victimization, as well as the personal and social ...