Closing The Gaps
Crime has fallen, but people don't believe it - and they've lost confidence in the government. This report looks at the reasons for this "perception gap" and what we can do to close it.
" ... invaluable reading for policy makers and all those interested in the battle against crime ... "
Crime has been a major focus for the government over the past decade, with a raft of new legislation implemented since 1997. And this has given people a lot of what they asked for -- there are more police and they are more visible, sentencing is tougher and there are more people in prison. Overall, crime has fallen significantly.
But there are major gaps between these measurable facts and public perception. In particular the public still think that crime rates are soaring and that personal safety has declined -- and they blame the government. This is a serious challenge, as we know that rating of competence on dealing with crime is a key driver of overall views of government, as well as citizens' quality of life.
This report explores why the gap between actual crime and the perception of crime exists and considers what government can do to improve public perceptions.
