Crime Concern For Low-Income Older People

Help the Aged warns parties: ignore grey vote at your peril

New MORI research into older people on low income commissioned by Help the Aged reveals that crime and the fear of crime must feature in political parties' election campaigns if they are to secure the 'grey vote'. Crime is cited by 31% of those asked as the key priority for improvement in their local area. Money and pensions (17%) followed by public transport (13%) and health (9%) are also areas highlighted for improvement.

The survey found that:

• Over half of those asked (55%) feel that the level of crime had increased over the past four years
• At least half of those asked (55%) are afraid of intruders entering their home
• Sixty one per cent are afraid of their home being burgled
• Fifty per cent are afraid to go out at night alone
• Fear of crime is not concentrated amongst the over 75 age group: Women in the 65-74 age group are most afraid of being a victim of crime: 64% admitted that they felt afraid of going out at night alone, this is nearly twice as many as men in the same age group (34%) (see key findings).

Mervyn Kohler, Head of Public Affairs at Help the Aged, said: "Older people regularly raise crime as an important political issue - despite them being statistically less likely to be victims of crime. This survey implies that their perception is of a hostile world. Their fear of crime is likely to stem from degradation of the community in which they live as much as from the threat of violence."

"Help the Aged expects to see an approach from all political parties which is not just about turning houses into fortifications, but is about building a better environment where older people can enjoy their social activities and quality of life. The results of this survey send a strong message to all political parties that the concerns of older people cannot be ignored. Ultimately for older people this is about providing resources for the community including reliable and accessible public transport, better street lighting and visible policing."

MORI's latest poll for The Times shows that 61% of older people are certain to vote in the next General Election, compared with 47% of under 65s. The survey findings pose a real challenge to all parties to ensure that their policies properly address issues of concern for older people.

Professor Sir Robert Worcester, Chairman and Founder of MORI, said: "The over 55s have four times the political clout of the under 25s: there are twice as many of them and they are twice as likely to vote."

Help the Aged Manifesto for Active Ageing outlines challenges and policy recommendations for parliamentary candidates.

Case studies are available - please contact Rachel Harford at Help the Aged on 020-7239 1943

Technical details

• Five hundred and four telephone interviews conducted throughout the UK among a quota sample of adults aged 65+ living in households with an annual income of under 1636,500. All respondents had previously been interviewed by MORI using their general public Omnibus Survey and had agreed to be re-interviewed. The research method excludes older people on low incomes who do not have a telephone in their household.
• Seventy six per cent of the sample live alone. Forty five per cent are over 75 years old. Fifty nine per cent are female. Thirty one per cent receive income support.
• Nearly 49% are owner occupiers with the rest of the sample renting from Housing Associations, Local authorities or private landlords.
• The fieldwork was conducted between 9-17 March 2001.
• Figures for likelihood to vote are taken from the latest MORI poll for The Times newspaper. For this survey, MORI interviewed 1,013 British adults aged 18+. Interviews were conducted face-to-face in respondents homes on 22-27 March 2001 in 189 sampling points. Data are weighted to the known profile of the population.