Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2018/19: main findings

7. Public perceptions of crime and safety

In addition to measuring the extent and prevalence of crime, the Scottish Crime and Justice Survey (SCJS) also enables us to understand public perceptions of crime and safety and how these have changed over time. It is important to note that a variety of factors will influence perceptions of crime in local communities and the country as a whole, so opinions or concerns may not reflect wider trends in victimisation. Moreover, what respondents consider when asked about crime may go beyond the categories of victimisation captured by the SCJS.

How did the public think the level of crime in their local area had changed in recent years?

In 2018/19, just under three-quarters of adults thought the local crime rate had been stable or fallen in the previous two years, an improvement since 2008/09 and unchanged since 2017/18.

One of the indicators in the Scottish Government's National Performance Framework is the public's perception of the crime rate in their local area. The SCJS is used to evidence this indicator which tracks the proportion of adults who believe that the crime rate has stayed the same or reduced^[83] in the past two years in their local area^[84].

73% of adults in 2018/19 said that the crime rate in their local area had decreased or stayed the same over the last couple of years. This figure has risen from 69% in 2008/09 and is consistent with the finding in 2017/18, as shown in Figure 7.1 below.

Looking more closely at trends over time reveals that the growth in the 'less or same' combined measure over the last decade has been driven by more people believing the crime rate in their local area has 'stayed the same' which has consistently accounted for most of this group, rising from 60% of adults in 2008/09 to 65% in 2018/19. On the other hand, in the latest survey just under one-in-ten (8%) thought the crime rate had decreased, in line with the position in 2008/09.

Taken together, these findings mean that fewer people thought the amount of crime in their local area had increased in the two years prior to interview in 2018/19 (22%) than in 2008/09 (28%), again unchanged from 2017/18.

However, whilst the longer term picture is positive, comparing the latest results to the position in 2016/17 reveals a rise in people thinking crime has increased (from 19% to 22%), with fewer believing crime has fallen in the two years prior to interview. Therefore, this data will be important to monitor in the coming years.

Base: All adults who have lived in local area for two years or more – SCJS 2008/09 (14,210); 2009/10 (14,380); 2010/11 (11,700); 2012/13 (10,640); 2014/15 (10,050); 2016/17 (4,830); 2017/18 (4,770); 2018/19 (4,820); Variable: QS2AREA

A smaller proportion of females, victims of crime and those in deprived areas than those in comparator groups believed the local crime rate had been stable or fallen.

In 2018/19, most adults (typically around 70% or greater) in each population group thought the volume of local crime had stayed the same or reduced in the previous two years. However, the proportion in each group holding this view did vary – for instance:

• a greater proportion of men than women (78% compared to 69%)
• fewer victims of crime than non-victims (62% compared to 75% respectively)

Further breakdowns and time-series analyses are provided in Annex table A1.11. It reveals improvements in perceptions since 2008/09 across a number of population breakdowns, although the latest survey results were unchanged from the baseline position for those in the most deprived areas, victims of crime, those in rural locations and people aged 25 to 44 years old.

More recently, figures showed no change across most population groups between 2017/18 and 2018/19. However, there has been a decrease in the proportion of people believing the local crime rate had stayed the same or fallen in the 15% most deprived areas of Scotland (from 73% to 67%). This fall also means that in 2018/19 people in the most deprived areas were less likely to think the local crime rate was stable or had fallen than those living elsewhere (74%).

Scottish Surveys Core Questions

Whilst the SCJS is the preferred source for national results on perceptions of the local crime rate, this question is currently part of the Scottish Surveys Core Questions (SSCQ) which sees a selection of measures collected in the same way across the three large household surveys in Scotland – the Scottish Health Survey (SHeS), the Scottish Household Survey (SHS), and the SCJS. Results from the three surveys on the core questions are pooled together each year to offer a larger sample size, enabling more precise and granular breakdowns of results for equality groups and at local level. More on the SSCQ, including the latest results available on the local crime rate indicator from the three surveys combined can be found on the SSCQ website.

How did views on local and national crime trends differ in 2018/19?

As in previous years, adults were more likely to think crime had risen across the country as a whole than in their local area in the two years prior to interview.

Whilst the previous section looked at views on crime rates in respondents' local area, the SCJS also collects data on perceptions of national crime trends.

In 2018/19, almost half of adults in Scotland (46%) believed that crime had increased across the country as a whole in the two years prior to interview, whilst the SCJS estimates that the overall level of crime in Scotland has fallen by 20% since 2016/17.

The proportion of adults who thought crime had increased in the latest survey was smaller than the 52% who felt this way in 2009/10^[85]. However, this proportion has increased over the last few years – for example, from a low of 34% in 2014/15 and 41% in 2017/18 (Table 7.1).

Table 7.1: Public perceptions on how the national crime rate has changed in two years prior to interview

Percentage of adults holding view on change in national crime rate:	2018/19	Change since 2009/10	Change since 2017/18
A lot more / a little more	46%	from 52%	from 41%
About the same	36%	No change	from 40%
A lot less / a little less	7%	from 4%	No change
Don't know / Refused	10%	from 8%	No change
Combined: Less or same	44%	from 40%	from 48%
Number of respondents	5,540	16,040	5,480

Variable: QS2AREAS

Comparing local and national perceptions, the proportion of adults believing crime had increased in Scotland overall (46%) was much greater than the 22% in 2018/19 who thought the level of crime in their local area had grown in recent years^[86]. In other words, people were much less likely to say crime had been stable or fallen nationally (44%) than in their local area (73%). This variation in perceptions across geographic levels has been identified consistently by the SCJS over the years and by other surveys across the UK – most notably the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) and the Northern Ireland Safe Community Survey (NISCS).

Looking more closely, Figure 7.2 highlights that the difference in those believing crime has increased is mostly accounted for by people being much less likely to think the crime rate has been stable in Scotland overall.

Base: Local crime rate: All adults who have lived in local area for two years or more (4,820); National crime rate: All adults (5,540); Variables: QS2AREA; QS2AREAS.

Views on the national crime rate also varied by demographic characteristics. For example, groups less likely to think crime had been stable or fallen across the country as a whole in recent years included:

• women (39% compared to 48% of men) – similar to the pattern in views on the local crime rate
• those aged 60 and over (33% compared to 52% of 16 to 24 year olds, 52% of those aged 25 to 44, and 43% of those in the 45 to 59 age group)

In contrast to perceptions of the local crime rate, the 2018/19 SCJS detected no difference in views on the trend in the national crime rate between victims and non-victims. This was also true when looking at the combined proportions saying the crime rate was stable or had fallen by area deprivation (42% in the 15% most deprived areas compared to 44% of those living elsewhere). However, a closer look at the results reveals that a greater proportion in the most deprived areas thought the national crime rate had fallen (10% compared to 7% of those in the rest of Scotland), whilst more people living elsewhere said it had stayed the same in recent years (37% compared to 32% of people in the most deprived areas).

Further breakdowns and trends within groups over time are provided in Annex table A1.12.

How safe did the public feel in 2018/19?

More adults felt safe when walking alone in their local area or on their own at home during the night in 2018/19 than a decade ago.

To aid understanding about public perceptions of safety and fears about crime, SCJS respondents were asked how safe they felt when walking alone in their local area after dark. This question has also been used elsewhere, such as in the Crime Survey for England and Wales, to explore similar issues. An additional question also asked respondents how they feel when on their own at home at night.

In 2018/19, the majority of adults in Scotland said they felt very or fairly safe walking alone in their local area after dark (78%) and when in their home alone at night (96%). Both these measures of feelings of safety have increased from their 2008/09 baseline position, as shown in Figure 7.3 below. Over the shorter-term, a closer examination of the data shows that:

• the proportion feeling safe walking in their local area when alone increased from 2008/09 to 2016/17, but has been stable over the last couple of years
• although the vast majority continue to feel safe in their home at night, this proportion has fallen slightly but significantly since 2016/17, but has not changed since the 2017/18 SCJS

The Crime Survey for England and Wales found a similar proportion of adults (78%) felt safe walking alone at night in 2018/19 using the same measure as the SCJS^[87].

Base: All adults - SCJS 2008/09 (16,000); 2009/10 (16,040); 2010/11 (13,010); 2012/13 (12,050); 2014/15 (11,470); 2016/17 (5,570); 2017/18 (5,480); 2018/19 (5,540). Variable: QSFDARK; QSFNIGH.

Despite perceptions improving over the last decade, feelings of safety continued to vary by factors such as gender, age and area deprivation in 2018/19.

As shown in Figures 7.4 and 7.5 below, in 2018/19 the majority of adults in the population sub-groups examined reported feeling safe when walking alone in their local area after dark. There have also been improvements in feelings of safety within such groups since 2008/09 (such as in both deprived areas and elsewhere, as well as amongst victims and non-victims).

However, notwithstanding generally positive trends in groups over time, in 2018/19 there continued to be notable differences in relative feelings of safety amongst population groups as depicted. For example, whilst more women and people living in the most deprived areas of Scotland felt safe in 2018/19 than a decade ago, they were still less likely to feel safe than men and people living in the rest of Scotland respectively.

Furthermore, as improved perceptions have been experienced fairly equally amongst the population since 2008/09, the size of the relative gap in feelings of safety between comparator groups has typically shown little change over the last decade.

Base: All adults – SCJS 2008/09 (16,000); 2009/10 (16,040); 2010/11 (13,010); 2012/13 (12,050); 2014/15 (11,470); 2016/17 (5,570); 2017/18 (5,480); 2018/19 (5,540) Variable: QSFDARK

Turning to results by age, those aged 60 and over remained less likely to report feeling safe than those in other age categories in 2018/19. However, in contrast to the trend seen in other categories, the gap between this cohort and those in younger age groups has almost halved in size since 2008/09, as Figure 7.5 shows. In other words, feelings of safety when walking alone after dark have improved amongst older people at a faster rate than the rest of the population over the last decade.

Base: All adults – SCJS 2008/09 (16,000); 2009/10 (16,040); 2010/11 (13,010); 2012/13 (12,050); 2014/15 (11,470); 2016/17 (5,570); 2017/18 (5,480); 2018/19 (5,540) Variable: QSFDARK

Looking at perceptions when home alone at night, although more than nine-in-ten adults across all demographic and geographic categories reported feeling safe, again some differences exist amongst the population. For example, 91% of those living in the 15% most deprived areas reported feeling safe in their home alone (compared to 96% of adults living elsewhere in Scotland), as did 93% of women (compared to 98% of men). Unlike the measure exploring views when walking alone after dark, no difference was found between different age groups in relation to feeling safe when home alone.

Over the shorter-term, the SCJS detected no change in either measure of perceived safety between 2017/18 and 2018/19 amongst the population groups discussed above. Full results for both questions with breakdowns for key groups, including over time, are provided in Annex tables A1.13 and A1.14.

Using feelings of safety as an analytical variable

Responses to the question about whether adults feel safe walking alone in their local area after dark can also be used to categorise respondents into a group who felt 'safe' and another of those who felt 'unsafe'. These groups can then be used as an analytical breakdown for exploring other measures around perceptions of crime to understand how wider feelings of safety are associated with more specific concerns and opinions. Key findings utilising this breakdown are presented in the sections which follow and this analytical variable is also featured in all SCJS online data tables.

How common were specific crimes believed to be?

Most adults did not think a range of issues were common in their local area in 2018/19, with violence, anti-social behaviour and knife-carrying seen as less prevalent than around a decade ago.

As well as being asked about the local and national crime rates, respondents were asked how common they thought a range of crimes and behaviours were in their area. Table 7.2 shows the issues asked about and the results for 2018/19.

Overall, adults did not consider each issue to be a common occurrence in 2018/19, though some problems were seen as prevalent by a greater proportion of the population than others. Consistent with SCJS findings in recent years, drug dealing and drug abuse was the problem most frequently noted as being very or fairly common, with 42% of adults believing this to be the case in 2018/19. Around three-in-ten (31%) thought people behaving in an anti-social manner was common. In comparison, violence between individuals or gangs and people being physically assaulted were seen as frequent issues by around one-in-ten adults (both 11%).

Table 7.2 also indicates that adults were generally less likely to report problems as common in 2018/19 than when views were first collected on each matter, with perceptions showing stability since the previous SCJS in 2017/18^[88]. The most notable outlier in this trend is the perceived prevalence of drug dealing and abuse, which has shown an increase since the 2017/18 SCJS, with the latest figure in line with the 2008/09 position. The proportion viewing sexual assault as common in their local area was also unchanged compared to 2008/09, remaining at fewer than one-in-thirty (3%).

Another Scottish Government population survey, the Scottish Household Survey (SHS), also collects information on perceptions of a range of neighbourhood issues including further types of anti-social and nuisance behaviour, alongside a suite of measures exploring wider opinions on the local area. Relevant results are available in theSHS Annual Reportand have also found a relationship between increasing area deprivation and an apparent higher prevalence of neighbourhood problems, for example. As questions are asked in a different survey context, any similar measures should not be directly compared to SCJS findings.

Table 7.2: Perceived prevalence of various crime types in the local area

Percentage of adults who thought issue was very or fairly common in their local area	2018/19	Change since 2008/09	Change since 2017/18
Drug dealing and drug abuse	42%	No change	from 37%
People behaving in an anti-social manner in public	31%	from 46%	No change
People having things stolen from their car or other vehicles	12%	from 20%	No change
People being physically assaulted or attacked in the street or other public places	11%	from 19%	No change
Violence between groups of individuals or gangs	11%	from 26%	No change
People having their car or other vehicles stolen	8%	from 15%	No change
People being mugged or robbed	7%	from 10%	No change
People being physically attacked because of their skin colour, ethnic origin or religion	5%	from 7%	No change
People being sexually assaulted	3%	No change	No change
Percentage of adults who thought issue was very or fairly common in their local area	2018/19	Change since 2009/10	Change since 2017/18
People carrying knives	11%	from 22%	No change
Percentage of adults who thought issue was very or fairly common in their local area	2018/19	Change since 2012/13	Change since 2017/18
Deliberate damage to cars or other vehicles	17%	from 25%	No change
Deliberate damage to people's homes by vandals	9%	from 14%	No change
Percentage of adults who thought issue was very or fairly common in their local area	2018/19	Change since 2016/17	Change since 2017/18
People buying or selling smuggled or fake goods	12%	No change	No change

Base: All adults – SCJS 2008/09 (4,030); 2009/10 (4,000); 2012/13 (3,020); 2016/17 (1,390); 2017/18 (1,380); 2018/19 (1,400). Variable: QACO.

How concerned were the public about crime?

The SCJS also captures data on how worried the public are about specific types of crime and how likely they think they are to experience them. Whilst the analysis below summarises key findings from the questions on these topics, it is important to note that the impact of 'worry' and the perceived likelihood of victimisation will vary from one individual to another. Moreover, even if someone claims they are not worried about a particular crime or do not think they are likely to be a victim, it does not necessarily mean they believe that they are at no risk.

Fraud remained the crime the public were most commonly worried about in 2018/19, although worry about a range of different crime types has fallen in the last decade.

In line with findings in previous years, in 2018/19 the crimes which the public were most likely to say they were very or fairly worried about (from those asked about) were fraud-related issues^[89]. More specifically, half (50%) of adults said they were worried about someone using their credit or bank details to obtain money, goods or services, whilst 41% were worried about their identity being stolen. By comparison, just under a fifth (17%) were worried about being physically assaulted or attacked in the street or other public place, whilst around a tenth (11%) were concerned about being sexually assaulted.

Figure 7.6 (and Annex table A1.25) presents the results on worry about different crimes over time. It highlights that the proportion of adults who were very or fairly worried about experiencing each specific issue was lower in 2018/19 than the 2008/09 baseline. Looking more recently, all measures have been stable since the last SCJS in 2017/18.

Base: All adults (5,540); Variables: QWORR_04 – QWORR_11

In addition to the results shown in Figure 7.6 in relation to all adults, the survey also explores worry about vehicle-related crime amongst adults in households with access to a vehicle. The 2018/19 SCJS found that:

• 31% of adults (in vehicle-owning households) were worried about their car or other vehicle being damaged by vandals
• 22% were worried about things being stolen from their car or other vehicle
• 21% were worried about their car or other vehicle being stolen

A small change to questionnaire routing and the response options^[90] for the questions relating to worry about vehicle crime in 2016/17 means that this year now forms the baseline for these questions, with all three measures unchanged from this point. Prior to this questionnaire update, the three indicators had shown decreasing levels of worry between 2008/09 and 2014/15, as Annex table A1.25 shows.

Whilst half of all adults did not think they were likely to experience any crime in the year after interview, a quarter thought it was likely they would be victims of banking or credit fraud.

Building on the questions exploring worry about crime, SCJS respondents were also asked which of the issues covered, if any, they thought they were likely to experience in the following 12 months. In 2018/19, 50% of adults did not think they were likely to experience any of the crimes covered in the next 12 months, up from 48% in 2008/09 and unchanged from 2017/18.

This means that 47% of adults in 2018/19 thought they would experience at least one of the listed crimes in the year following their interview^[91].

Looking at specific issues, the crime type which adults thought they were most likely to experience was someone using their bank or card details to obtain money, goods or services, echoing the pattern seen in the results on worry about crime. Around one-in-four (26%) thought this would happen to them in the next year. This is up from 14% in 2008/09, though has been stable since 2016/17. Relatedly, 15% of adults thought they would have their identity stolen, an increase from 12% in 2008/09.

To put perceptions about fraud into context, looking ahead to the year following interview:

• around one-in-seven adults (15%) thought their car or other vehicle would be damaged by vandals^[92]
• one-in-twenty (5%) thought they would be physically assaulted in the street or other public place
• one-in-fifty (2%) thought it was likely that they would be sexually assaulted

Annex table A1.26 presents results on expectations around experiencing different crimes over time. It shows that (notwithstanding increased concerns about fraud), the proportion of adults who said it was likely that their home would be damaged by vandals, they would be mugged or robbed, or that they would experience violence in a public place has fallen since 2008/09. That said, there has also been a small but statistically significant increase in the proportion who thought it was likely they would experience sexual assault, from 1% in 2008/09 to 2% in 2018/19.

It is possible to contrast the results on the proportions who thought they would experience each issue in the year following interview with the crime victimisation rates from the 2018/19 SCJS. Whilst these results are not directly comparable (with one being forward and the other being backwards looking), they do offer some insight into the difference between concerns about crime and actual experiences of crime over a broadly similar period. Figure 7.7 shows that generally a larger proportion of people thought they were likely to experience each crime individually than the proportion of adults or households who were actually victims of such incidents.

For example, 5.1% thought it was likely that they would be attacked in the street in the next year, yet the prevalence rate for all assaults (including those which happened in public places, but also elsewhere) in the 2018/19 survey was 2.1%.

Base: All adults (5,540). Variables: QHAPP; PREVHOUSEBREAK; PREVMOTOVVAND; PREVASSAULT; PREVROB; PREVTHEFTOFMV; PREVTHEFTFROMMV; PREVPROPVAND.

Note: Estimates are shown to one decimal place to facilitate a comparison between prevalence rate for different crime types (proportion of adults/households who were victims) and the perceived likelihood of becoming a victim (usually presented as a rounded figure).

How did perceptions of crime vary amongst the population?

Women, people in deprived areas and victims of crime were among key groups who were relatively more likely to be concerned about crime and perceive issues to be prevalent in their neighbourhood.

This section brings together data on the perceived prevalence of crime, worry about specific crime and respondents' views on how likely they are to experience particular issues in the 12 months following interview to explore whether and how findings differ amongst population groups. In summary, it outlines that, where differences were detected, concerns about crime:

• were generally higher amongst women, people in deprived areas, victims of crime, adults in urban areas and people who felt unsafe when walking alone in their neighbourhood after dark than direct comparator groups
• showed a more complicated picture with regards to differences by age group

Each demographic and area breakdown is explored in more detail below.

Gender

Women had higher levels of concern about crime than men.

Where a difference was detected, women generally displayed a greater level of concern about crime than men in 2018/19, which is in line with the finding highlighted previously that females were less likely to feel safe walking alone in their neighbourhood after dark.

For example, more women than men were worried about experiencing all of the specific crimes respondents were asked about, with the exception of theft of items from a vehicle where no difference was found. Statistically significant differences are outlined in Figure 7.8 below.

Base: Questions on vehicle theft/damage only asked of those who have access to or own vehicle – male (1,980), female (2,180); all other questions asked of all adults – male (2,510), female (3,030); Variables: QWORR_04 – QWORR_14

Additionally, a greater proportion of women than men thought it was likely their home would be broken into (10% compared to 7% of men), they would be mugged or robbed (5% compared to 3% of men) and that they would be sexually assaulted (4% compared to less than 0.1% of men).

Fewer differences were found with respect to the perceived prevalence of different types of crime in the local area. However, women were more likely to consider people being mugged (9% compared to 6% of men), people being physically attacked in a public place, and people behaving in an anti-social manner in public as common issues.

Age

The 2018/19 SCJS found perceptions of crime and safety showed a complex pattern with respect to views by age groups across the range of issues explored.

Although those aged 60 and over were much less likely than other age groups to report feeling safe walking alone in their local area after dark as highlighted earlier, the relationship between age and concerns about specific crime types was more complex.

The 2018/19 SCJS did not find a particularly strong relationship between age and worry about most specific types of crime. That said, there were some differences in particular areas. For example, worry about sexual assault was highest amongst 16 to 24 year olds (19%) and around double that of other age groups, as shown in Figure 7.9 below. On the other hand, worry about fraud and identity theft:

• was lowest amongst 16 to 24 year olds
• increased with age to peak in the 45 to 59 age group
• fell again amongst those over 60 (but remained higher than the worry levels of those under the age of 45)

Base: 16-24 (360), 25-44 (1,560), 45-59 (1,410), 60+ (2,220); Variables: QWORR_09 – QWORR_11

Results also varied with respect to age across some issues when we turn to respondents' perceived likelihood of experiencing crime in the coming year, but not in all cases. For example, those aged 16 to 24 were more likely than those aged 45 to 59 and 60 and over to think they would experience physical assault (in the street or other public place) and vehicle vandalism, but again less likely than these groups to think they would be victims of fraud or identity theft.

Again following the trend seen in the data around worry about crime, people aged 16 to 24 years old were also most likely to believe it was likely they would experience sexual assault in the year after interview, with one-in-twenty (5%) thinking this would happen compared to 2% of those aged 25 to 44 and 1% of both the 45 to 59 and 60 and over age groups.

On the other hand, no difference was detected across the age groups in relation to the perceived likelihood of being a victim of housebreaking, vandalism to the home, or being mugged or robbed.

Finally, those aged 60 and over were often the group least likely to view crimes and related issues as common occurrences in their local area, with generally no difference found between those in younger age categories. For example, a smaller proportion of people aged 60 and over thought issues such as vandalism to houses and vehicles, violence, anti-social behaviour and drug dealing and abuse were prevalent issues in their neighbourhoods, compared to those in other age groups.

Area deprivation

Reported awareness of and concerns about crime were generally more common amongst adults in the most deprived areas of Scotland.

Where difference was detected, those living in the 15% most deprived areas were typically found to have higher levels of concern about crime than people living elsewhere in Scotland and were more likely to consider issues to be common in their local area.

For example, greater proportions of people in the most deprived areas were worried about experiencing physical violence, being mugged or robbed, and their vehicle being damaged. Those in deprived areas were also more likely to view these matters as common occurrences in their neighbourhood and think they were likely to experience them in the coming year. Figures 7.10 and 7.11 show the results.

Base: Worry and likelihood – Robbery – all adults: 15% most deprived (790), Rest of Scotland (4,750); Vehicle damage – vehicle owners: 15% most deprived (420), Rest of Scotland (3,740); Perceived commonness – all adults: 15% most deprived (200), Rest of Scotland (1,200); Variables: QWORR_06, 14; QHAPP; QACO_05, 13.

Base: Worry and likelihood – all adults: 15% most deprived (790), Rest of Scotland (4,750); Perceived commonness – all adults: 15% most deprived (200), Rest of Scotland (1,200); Variables: QWORR_07, 08; QHAPP; QACO_06, 07, 11.

However, there were some exceptions to the general trend of greater concern and awareness of crime being associated with increased deprivation, for instance in relation to:

• identity theft – where worry was no different between areas but the perceived likelihood of victimisation was higher in the rest of Scotland
• banking or credit fraud – where both the worry about the matter and the perceived likelihood of victimisation was higher outside the 15% most deprived areas

Furthermore, whilst the level of worry was greater in deprived areas, there was no difference in the reported commonness in the local area or perceived likelihood of experiencing sexual assault or motor vehicle related theft by area deprivation.

Looking at the perceived prevalence of wider issues in the neighbourhood, more than half of those living in the most deprived areas (53%) considered people behaving in an anti-social manner in public to be a prevalent issue. This was almost double the proportion of people living elsewhere in Scotland who believed this to be a common problem (27%). Likewise, drug dealing and abuse (64% compared to 38%) and knife-carrying (23% compared to 9%) were believed to be more prevalent in local neighbourhoods amongst those living in the 15% most deprived areas.

Rurality

Where differences were found, the perceived prevalence of and worry about specific crimes was higher in urban areas.

Respondents living in urban areas were more worried than those in rural locations about experiencing the range of crimes listed, with the exception of identity theft (which was of more concern to people in rural places) and banking fraud (where no difference was detected). Likewise, greater proportions of people in urban areas tended to think various crimes and problems were common issues in their local area. For instance, issues such as drug dealing and abuse (44% compared to 29%), people behaving in an anti-social manner in public (34% compared to 14%), and people being mugged or robbed (8% compared to 2%) were all seen as more common by people living in urban areas than in rural locations respectively.

Turning to the perceived likelihood of experiencing crime in the year after interview, similar amounts of people in both urban and rural areas thought they would not be victims of any of the issues covered (50% and 54% respectively – this apparent difference is not statistically significant). However, whilst this similarity held for views on the chances of experiencing fraud, identity theft, housebreaking and vehicle-related theft, those in urban areas thought they were more likely to experience some of the other issues listed, including violent crime and their home being vandalised. For example, in urban areas:

• 5% thought it was likely they would be mugged or robbed, compared to 2% of those living in rural areas
• 6% believed it was likely they would be physically assaulted or attacked in the street or another public place, compared to 3% of rural dwellers
• 4% said they thought they would be involved or caught up in violence between groups of individuals or gangs, compared to 1% of adults in rural locations

Victim status

Recent victims of crime were typically more likely to be worried about experiencing crime again in the future and think they were likely to do so, as well as view issues as common in their local area.

Across the range of measures those who had experienced crime in the 12 months prior to interview were generally more likely than non-victims to report worry about crime and that problems were common in their area. The one notable area where there was no difference between victims and non-victims in relation to worry about crime was in relation to concern about experiencing identity theft or banking fraud.

Recent prior victimisation also had a strong association with views on the likelihood of experiencing crime in future, with each comparison shown in Table 7.3 below representing a statistically significant difference. For example, whilst 53% of non-victims in 2018/19 said they did not think they would experience any of the listed crimes in the coming year, this was true for only 31% of victims. In other words, the majority people who had been victims of crime in the previous 12 months, expected to become victims (of some sort of crime) again in the following year.

Table 7.3: Proportion of adults who thought it was likely they would experience each issue in 12 months after interview, by victim status in 2018/19

Percieived likelihood of experiencing crime type	Victim in 2018/19 SCJS	Non-victim in 2018/19 SCJS
Your car or other vehicle will be damaged by vandals	35%	12%
Someone will use your credit or bank details to obtain money, goods or services	31%	25%
You will have your identity stolen	19%	14%
Things will be stolen from your car or other vehicle	17%	6%
Your home will be broken into	15%	8%
Your car or other vehicle will be stolen	12%	6%
You will be physically assaulted	11%	4%
Your home will be damaged by vandals	11%	3%
You will be mugged or robbed	8%	4%
You will be involved or caught up in violence between groups of individuals or gangs	6%	3%
You will be sexually assaulted	3%	2%
None of the above	31%	53%

Base: Results on vehicle theft/damage only includes respondents in households with access their own vehicle – victims (470), non-victims (3,700); all other results shown for all adults – victims (630), non-victims (4,910); Variables: QHAPP

Wider perceptions of safety

Feeling unsafe walking in the local area after dark was strongly associated with being more likely to consider specific crimes as regular occurrences in their neighbourhood and increased levels of concern about becoming a victim.

The SCJS found a strong association between more general anxieties about safety (measured by whether people felt safe or unsafe walking alone in their local area after dark, as discussed previously) and concern about specific types of crime.

Those who said they felt unsafe walking alone in their local area after dark were much more likely to worry about experiencing each issue covered by the SCJS than those who felt safe. For example, 42% worried about being mugged or robbed (compared to 12% of those feeling safe), whilst almost 4 times as many were worried about being physically assaulted or attacked in the street or other public place (41% compared to 11%).

Similarly, people who felt unsafe were typically more likely to view each issue as prevalent in their neighbourhood and were more prone to think they would experience specific types of crimes in the 12 months after interview. For instance, 15% of those who felt unsafe thought it was likely their home would be broken into during the following year, compared to 7% of those who reported feeling safe. That said, there was no difference in the perceived commonness or likelihood of experiencing fraud or identity theft between the 'safe' and 'unsafe' groups, whilst similar proportions also viewed people being sexually assaulted as a prevalent issue in their local area.

It is interesting however to note that despite those aged 60 years old and over being more likely to feel unsafe, they were often less likely to worry about or see criminal issues as prominent. The relationship would appear to be more consistent for women, those in deprived areas and victims of crime, as noted above.

How were people affected by their concerns about crime?

Most adults said their concerns about crime did not prevent them from doing things they wanted to do.

Following on from exploring worry about and perceptions of crime, the SCJS gathers information on the impact of such feelings on individual behaviour in order to help put findings in context.

Of those who reported being worried about experiencing some sort of crime, around three-fifths (62%) reported that it did not prevent them from doing things they otherwise wanted to do ('at all'). This has fallen from 66% in 2017/18, but is in line with the baseline position when this measure was first collected in 2012/13 (60%).

In the latest survey, three-in-ten (29%) said they were prevented from doing things 'a little', whilst 6% said it affected them 'quite a lot'. Only 2% said that it affected them doing things 'a great deal'.

Some groups were more likely than others to be affected. For example, women (57%), those in urban locations (60%), victims of crime (55%) and people living in the 15% most deprived areas of Scotland (50%) were all less likely than comparator groups to say that their concerns had not prevented them from doing things they wanted to. Likewise, whilst 71% of those who said they felt safe walking alone in their local area after dark reported their concerns did not prevent them doing things at all, this figure halved to 35% amongst those who said they felt unsafe.

What steps did people take to reduce their chances of experiencing crime?

The majority of adults took some sort of action in 2018/19 to reduce their risk of being a victim of crime, although take up of different precautions varied.

Respondents were asked which precautions (from a list of potential options) they had taken or had in place in the last year to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of crime, with results shown in Figure 7.12 below.

Three-quarters of adults (75%) reported adopting at least one preventative action in 2018/19, with 60% taking two or more actions. Just over a fifth (22%) said they had taken five or more of the listed actions, whilst around a quarter (24%) said they had not taken any of the listed actions.

As in previous years, the most commonly adopted precautions were concealing valuables to make them less visible (reported by 41%) and not leaving their home empty or leaving a light on (reported by 37%).

Base: All adults (1,400); Variable: QDONE

The proportion of adults reporting taking each action has been very stable in the last couple of years, although some actions are more commonly adopted than they were in 2012/13 when figures were first collected. For example, since 2012/13 there have been increases in the proportion of adults reporting:

• concealing valuables (from 27% to 41%)
• avoiding certain places (from 23% to 28%)
• not leaving their home empty or leaving a light on (from 26% to 37%)
• asking to see identification before allowing people into their home (from 21% to 31%)

What did people think about their local community and the collective effort to prevent crime in their neighbourhood?

People generally held positive views about the people in their local area and their contribution to help maintain a safe environment.

Respondents were also asked a series of questions which explored perceptions of neighbourhood cohesion and community support in relation to potential crime and safety issues in the local area.

As shown in Table 7.4 below, most adults gave a positive account of people in their area and their efforts to prevent crime. For example, the majority of respondents indicated they had people nearby they could rely on to keep an eye on their home and that people would call the police if someone was acting suspiciously.

Table 7.4: Adults' views on people and support in local area

Percentage of adults	Agree (strongly/ slightly)	Neither agree nor disagree	Disagree (slightly/ strongly)	Don't know / refused
If my home was empty, I could count on one of my neighbours or other people in this area to keep an eye on it	87%	3%	9%	1%
I have neighbours or other people in my local area I feel I could turn to for advice or support	81%	6%	12%	1%
The people who live in my local area can be relied upon to call the police if someone is acting suspiciously	81%	8%	8%	4%
People in this local area pull together to prevent crime	57%	22%	15%	6%
People in my local area cannot be trusted	14%	14%	69%	3%

Base: All adults (1,400); Variable: LCPEOP_01 – LCPEOP_05

Results for different demographic and area breakdowns are provided in the online data tables. They show, for example, that those in deprived areas were less likely to hold positive views than those living elsewhere across most of the indicators.

The Scottish Household Survey report chapterexploring perceptions of neighbourhood problems cited earlier also contains a range of information about views on community cohesion and similar matters which may be of interest for wider evidence in this area.

A further SCJS question asked respondents whether they thought broken glass in a park or playground would be removed fairly quickly. In 2018/19, 45% thought this would be the case with 30% disagreeing, and the remainder (25%) giving no clear view or saying don't know. However, whilst respondents are asked to consider how such a problem would be dealt with 'either by local agencies such as the council or residents', the question does not provide information on who respondents feel should be primarily responsible for dealing with this and therefore who they think should be responsible for maintaining or improving the situation described. The proportion agreeing in 2018/19 was in line with the baseline position from 2012/13 and the 2017/18 result.

How would people respond to witnessing crime?

The vast majority of people said they would phone the police and help to identify the perpetrator if they saw someone being robbed.

To explore potential individual level responses to witnessing crime and subsequent actions, survey respondents were asked how they would act in a scenario where they saw a man pushed to the ground and his wallet stolen.

Over nine-in-ten adults said they would be likely to call the police (94%) and willing to identify the person who had done it (91%) were they to witness such an event. A slightly smaller proportion, but still the vast majority, of people would be willing to give evidence against the accused in court (85%). All of these findings were unchanged compared to 2012/13, when these questions were first included, and 2017/18.

Though again most people gave positive responses, those living in the most deprived areas were relatively less likely than those living elsewhere in Scotland to say they would call the police (89% compared to 95%) or be prepared to identify the perpetrator (85% compared to 92%).