Ipsos Reid Gang Violence Poll

Seriousness Of Gang Violence Problem

Q1. In your opinion, how serious a problem is gang violence in ...?

Comments: Nearly all residents think gang violence is a serious problem in the Greater Vancouver region, including six-in-ten who rate it as a "very serious" problem for the region.

The results are less dire when residents think about their own local community. About half rate gang violence as a serious problem in their local community, including two-in-ten who rate it as a "very serious" problem.

There are age differences in the responses to both questions. Older residents (45+ years) are more likely to rate gang violence as a "very serious" problem in the Greater Vancouver region and are more likely to rate it as a serious problem (very or somewhat) in their local community).

Perceptions Of Change In Gang Violence Problem

Q2. Over the past five years, would you say there has been an increase or a decrease in the amount of gang violence in ...?

Comments: Nine-in-ten residents think gang violence has increased over the last five years in the Greater Vancouver region, including seven-in-ten who say it has "increased a lot".

Six-in-ten residents also say that gang violence has increased in their own local community over the last five years, including nearly three-in-ten who say it has "increased a lot".

Perceptions of an increase at both the regional and local level are stronger among older residents.

Comparing Greater Vancouver To Other Major Cities

Q3. Do you think gang violence is a bigger problem here in Greater Vancouver or in ...?

Comments: Overall, residents think the gang violence problem in Greater Vancouver is no worse than in other major Canadian or US cities.

Only one-quarter say the problem here is worse than in other major Canadian cities like Toronto and Montreal.

Fewer than one-in-ten say the problem here is worse than in major US Cities like New York, Los Angeles and Miami.

Worry About Gang Violence

Q4. How worried are you that ... could be hurt as a result of gang violence?

Comments: Four-in-ten residents say they are at least somewhat worried that they could personally be hurt as a result of gang violence, although only one-in-ten say they are "very worried".

About half of residents say they are at least somewhat worried a friend or family member could be hurt as a result of gang violence.

Older residents (45+ years) are more likely to be worried that they or their family/friends could be hurt as a result of gang violence.

Changing Behaviour Because Of Gang Violence

Q5. In the last 12 months, have you ever changed your behaviour because you were worried about the possibility of gang violence?

Comments: Two-in-ten residents say they have changed their behaviour at some point in the last 12 months because they were worried about the possibility of gang violence.

Older residents (45+) are twice as likely as younger residents to report changing their behaviour.

The main behavioural changes (asked in a follow-up open-ended question) include the following:

• Avoiding areas known to have gang activity, especially at night. This includes many mentions of downtown Vancouver and Surrey.
• Not using transit or SkyTrain alone in the evenings.
• Not going out at night.
• Less frequent visits to bars and nightclubs, especially in downtown Vancouver.
• Less frequent visits to restaurants, especially late at night.

Performance At Dealing With Gang Violence

Q6. How would you rate the performance of each of the following at dealing with gang violence in Greater Vancouver?

Comments: Residents give the police generally favourable reviews for dealing with gang violence in Greater Vancouver. Two-thirds say the police are doing a good job, compared to three-in-ten who say the police are doing a bad job.

The reviews are very poor for all levels of government and the court system in dealing with gang violence. Only two-in-ten say local/municipal governments are doing a good job and only one-in-ten give favourable reviews to the federal government, provincial government or the court system.

Methodology
These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Global BC. The poll was fielded October 26 to 29, 2007 with a representative sample of 400 adult residents of Metro Vancouver. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 1774.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population of Metro Vancouver been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Metro Vancouver population according to 2006 Census data.

The polling was conducted using Ipsos Reid's "Voice of the West Interactive Forum" - an online panel of more than 1,600 British Columbians who have been randomly recruited to match the overall characteristics of the adult residents of the province

For more information on this news release, please contact:
Kyle Braid
Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(778) 373-5130
[email protected]

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Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

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