Some half, 52 per cent of Britons are more afraid of crime than they were ten years ago. Britons aged between 55 and 64 are the most concerned about crime yet figures suggest that overall crime rates are actually falling. This is according to research by security systems specialists Expert Security UK, who found that despite a statistical drop in crime in recent years, many people are increasingly worried.
The survey confirmed that older generations are the wariest of wrong-doing, with the 55 to 64-year-old category found to be the most on edge. Indeed, more than two-thirds (68 per cent) of this group said they are more concerned about crime in 2016 than they were a decade ago. On the flipside, the 25 to 34-year-old group are the least perturbed by crime, with a comparatively small 39pc stating that they are more afraid now.
Why are some more afraid? Danny Scholfield, Sales and Marketing Director at Expert Security UK, offered one theory as to why so many people are more concerned about becoming a victim of crime than they were.
“Increased media exposure certainly has a big part to play. The rapid emergence of social media has resulted in 24/7 reporting, with the impacts of crime being amplified. Not so long ago, certain crimes would have gone unreported or would have flown under the radar because of a lack of media coverage. In 2016, everyone has smartphones and are able to report on developing situations live. While this is a good thing on the one hand, it does make it seem like more crimes are happening, whereas the statistics suggest otherwise.”
Are we doing enough to protect ourselves? Danny Scholfield added that while it’s important that people don’t live in fear, it’s encouraging to see so many UK residents taking measures to protect themselves such as CCTV. “Whether crime rates are falling or not, it’s still important that we remain vigilant. There’s a fine line between the ‘Big Brother Effect’ and being proactive in your attempts to prevent crime. Having security measures in place can give you real peace of mind.”
Are businesses adequately protected? Danny Scholfield believes that businesses equally shouldn’t bury their heads in the sand. “There’s no harm in being prepared. For a lot of business owners, terror-proofing is a relatively new concept and so it’s understandable that they’re not sure of exactly what they need to do to protect themselves. That’s why we created a handy guide to give these people a solid starting point.”
