Yob culture is a far greater concern among Britons than violent crime,
vandalism or burglary, a survey said today.
The number of people worried about anti-social behaviour and the threat it
poses to their personal safety leapt sharply from 18% in January to 23% in July
this year, the poll for Legal & General insurers said.
Among 5,300 people questioned by YouGov, nearly four out of 10 (38%) said
declining morals are a risk to their safety.
Meanwhile, 34% feel unsafe due to a lack of police presence, up from 32% in
January.
It also found that 34% believe crime is on the increase, despite Government
survey data which suggests crime levels are at their lowest since records began
in 1981.
The company's Safety Uncovered Index tracks Britons' perceptions of safety by
asking which crimes had caused them the most concern in the previous three
months.
More than half (56%) had worried about crime in the period and one in three
had witnessed at least one act of anti-social behaviour.
People's top safety concerns, according to the poll, are:
1 Anti-social behaviour or yob culture - 23%
2 Identity theft or fraud - 9%
3= Personal safety as a result of violent crime - 6%
3= Vandalism to car - 6%
5= Vandalism or graffiti in neighbourhood - 3%
5= Burglary - 3%
7= Vandalism to property - 2%
7= Having bags stolen or pickpockets - 2%
9= Car theft - 1%
9= Crime when abroad or on holiday - 1%
Legal & General's Elaine Parkes said: "Despite official Home Office figures
suggesting crime is on the decrease, our research shows people still clearly
feel we live in an increasingly unsafe environment.
"It appears to be a growing yob culture upon which they're founding their
fears.
"Thankfully it appears many aren't experiencing threats to their safety first
hand. Instead, more observational factors such as lack of policing or
neighbourhood watch seem to be influencing people's attitudes towards crime and
safety."
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