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Communicating Crime Reduction |
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Considering fear of crime |
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Crime reduction partners There are a wide-range of existing agencies that have a responsibility for tackling crime. To be successful at addressing fear of crime communication issues all relevant agencies participate in the process. It is important to ensure that there is consistency in the way different agencies talk about crime, and the way in which they provide crime prevention advice. Contradictory messages from responsible agencies cause confusion about the real nature of crime and can heighten fear. Negative messages given out by practitioners to the public on a one-to-one basis can be particularly detrimental. When the police and other agencies give an impression that a local problem is ‘out of control’, that there’s ‘nothing we can do about it’ or that ‘crime is getting out of hand’, then fears are confirmed and likely to be repeated throughout a neighbourhood. Information about crime should always be honest – but that does not mean it must be negative. The positive side to recognising a local crime problem is that this is the first step to bringing it under control. Finding solutions may start with the basic crime prevention steps to make individuals and their property safer, and including finding ways to overcome deep rooted problems – be it better street lighting, more patrols or targeting known offenders. Public reassurance begins with responding positively to local concerns – not by giving the impression that ‘nothing can be done’. All crime reduction agencies should consider the language used by public-facing staff very carefully. It is also important to ensure that partners play a full part in engaging local communities on crime reduction and community safety issues. Partnerships should seek to ensure individuals and communities feel empowered to play an active part in making their neighbourhoods safer. This can only be so if local agencies invite community participation and are responsive to local concerns
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