One in three people globally report increasing crimes in their neighbourhood, from vehicle theft and people using illegal drugs to assault and gangs.
Around half of all respondents report seeing or hearing of crimes like vehicle thefts (50%) and illegal drug use (50%). They also talked of vandalism (49%) and burglaries (45%) in their neighbourhood, said a new survey report from IPSOS.
Just over a third reported violence against women (40%), men (34%), or children (36%). On average, 39% say they have seen or heard about groups or people linked to drug trafficking. In their neighbourhood, while 32% say they have seen or heard about the presence of gangs in their communities. IPSOS conducted the survey in 29 countries.
PERCEIVED LEVELS OF VIOLENT CRIMES
Reported violence against women is most prevalent in South Africa (68%), Turkey (65%), and Peru (63%). Indonesia stood out among all 29 countries in terms of violence against minors, with 66% of people reporting violence against minors taking place in their communities. Violence against men is most reported in South Africa (55%), Brazil (55%), and Thailand (54%).
Countries with the highest levels of reported violence in their communities tended to be in South or Latin America. Meanwhile, Europe tended to have lower rates of perceived violence. In most of the 29 counties, reported violence against women is more likely to be reported by women. The perceptions of violence against men are more likely to be reported by men. Violence against children is more likely to be reported by women.
Japan stood out as an outlier for its lack of perceived criminal activity. In all the categories of crime asked, respondents in Japan are among the least likely, if not the least likely, to say that the crime occurred in their neighbourhood.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Around half are confident that law enforcement in their neighbourhood can stop violent (50%) or non-violent (48%) crimes from happening and find and arrest the correct criminal after a crime (53%).
Respondents in Singapore are by far the most confident in their law enforcement. They are confident in their law enforcement’s ability to stop violent crimes (76%) and non-violent crimes (78%). They also give a bigger hand to the officials in finding and arresting the correct criminal (78%), and treating all citizens with respect (80%). In contrast, South Africa ranks last among all 29 countries in respondents’ confidence in their law enforcement.
PRIORITIZING ISSUES
Most respondents across the 29 countries preferred that their governments prioritized creating jobs and boosting the economy (57%) or protecting local citizens’ health and environment (23%) rather than stopping or reducing crime (20%). The same was true in every other country, with the exception of Chile.
