Abstract
This study was conducted against the background of Shenzhen city’s crime issues and did a comparison at the neighbourhood scale using
individual level data. The main purpose is to identify the criminogenic or crime-mediating conditions from individual opinions derived from
first-hand data, to make models on residents’ victimization experiences, perceptions about neighborhood safety, and their responses to crime,
and to further test the hypotheses derived from Western research into the fear of crime and routine activity theory [1]. Residents’ victimization
experiences model is built upon routine activity theory with the expectations that:
a) The routine activities of householders affect the availability of targets in time and space, influence the opportunities for them to be
exposed to potential offenders thus, overall, affect their risk of being victimized
b) Residents whose routine activities keep them near their home, will have a lower risk of victimization owing to the enhanced guardianship
from the family
c) Crime incidents are associated with residents’ routine activities and the availability of consumer goods that are easy to take.
Residents’ perceptions on neighborhood safety, also termed their fear of crime, is modeled following Western work on the fear of crime [2,3].
focusing on the correlations between fear of crime and “vulnerable” socio-demographic characteristics [4,5]. For example:
a) Demographic physical disadvantages, e.g. being elderly mean these groups are perceived as “vulnerable” to offenders due to their being
less able to protect themselves, “either because they cannot run fast, or lack the physical power to ward off attackers” [6]. so they are expected
to report higher levels of fear of crime [7].
b) Some empirical studies have found that people on lower salaries or with lower educational attainment, are more likely to report
higher levels of fear of crime [6]. [8]. [3]. because of the lack of protection, either by material or social support. So measures of socio-economic
disadvantage are included in the models;
c) Residents having higher neighborliness scores indicated a higher social efficacy, so they are more integrated into their neighborhoods,
and hence feel less fearful [3].
individual level data. The main purpose is to identify the criminogenic or crime-mediating conditions from individual opinions derived from
first-hand data, to make models on residents’ victimization experiences, perceptions about neighborhood safety, and their responses to crime,
and to further test the hypotheses derived from Western research into the fear of crime and routine activity theory [1]. Residents’ victimization
experiences model is built upon routine activity theory with the expectations that:
a) The routine activities of householders affect the availability of targets in time and space, influence the opportunities for them to be
exposed to potential offenders thus, overall, affect their risk of being victimized
b) Residents whose routine activities keep them near their home, will have a lower risk of victimization owing to the enhanced guardianship
from the family
c) Crime incidents are associated with residents’ routine activities and the availability of consumer goods that are easy to take.
Residents’ perceptions on neighborhood safety, also termed their fear of crime, is modeled following Western work on the fear of crime [2,3].
focusing on the correlations between fear of crime and “vulnerable” socio-demographic characteristics [4,5]. For example:
a) Demographic physical disadvantages, e.g. being elderly mean these groups are perceived as “vulnerable” to offenders due to their being
less able to protect themselves, “either because they cannot run fast, or lack the physical power to ward off attackers” [6]. so they are expected
to report higher levels of fear of crime [7].
b) Some empirical studies have found that people on lower salaries or with lower educational attainment, are more likely to report
higher levels of fear of crime [6]. [8]. [3]. because of the lack of protection, either by material or social support. So measures of socio-economic
disadvantage are included in the models;
c) Residents having higher neighborliness scores indicated a higher social efficacy, so they are more integrated into their neighborhoods,
and hence feel less fearful [3].
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of forensic science and criminal investigation |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
