The Repercussions Of Soham Murders

The deaths in Cambridgeshire of schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman have affected the way parents in the UK feel about the safety of their children, according to new research from the MORI Social Research Institute.

19 September 2002

Crime, Justice, Police

The project -- commissioned by the NSPCC -- looks at how both adults with children, and those without, now view child safety. Most parents (71%) are now more fearful for their children's safety, and a similar number (68%) feel more intense pressure to supervise their children. The research also shows three in five parents (60%) are now less likely to let children out of their sight to play or see their friends.

Just over half of non-parents under 45 years old (52%) now worry more about bringing up children in this country, with one in eight (12%) saying it has made them think again about having children.

More than four in five adults (84%) -- parents and non-parents -- say they are now more likely to keep an eye out for possible child abuse or the safety of children.

Topline Results

Results are based on an initial sample of 1,002 interviews with adults aged 16+.
Questions were highlighted as of "a sensitive nature" (to avoid any possible embarrassment or annoyance), and 59 respondents declined to answer.
Interviews were completed by telephone between 13 -- 16 September 2002.
Data are weighted to the national population profile
A '*' indicates a value of less than half of one percent, but greater than zero
Where results do not sum to 100, this is due to computer rounding or multiple answers

Q1 As you may know, 2 girls (Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman) were recently killed in Cambridgeshire. In the light of this, how strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Base: parents only (351)

	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
I am now more worried about the safety of my children	56	15	5	12	10	2
I'm less likely to let my children go out (to play, to see friends etc) because I know I can't keep an eye on them	40	21	8	20	10	2
I feel under more pressure to supervise my children	46	23	5	19	6	1
I am more likely to keep an eye out for possible child-abuse or the safety of children	61	24	5	6	4	1
I haven't changed my behaviour at all	25	20	5	24	25	1

Q2 As you may know, 2 girls (Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman) were recently killed in Cambridgeshire. In the light of this, how strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Base: all non-parents under 45 (216)

	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable	Don't know
	%	%	%	%	%	%	%
It makes me think again about having children	8	4	8	25	52	1	2
It concerns me, but it wouldn't put me off having children	45	31	7	7	9	1	*
I worry more now about bringing up children in this country	26	26	6	20	20	1	1
I am more likely to keep an eye out for possible child-abuse or the safety of children	51	33	4	8	2	1	1

Q3 As you may know, 2 girls (Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman) were recently killed in Cambridgeshire. In the light of this, how strongly do you agree or disagree with the following statements?

Base: all non-parents aged 45+ (375)

	Strongly agree	Tend to agree	Neither agree nor disagree	Tend to disagree	Strongly disagree	Not applicable
	%	%	%	%	%	%
I worry more about how children are brought up in this country	53	19	6	9	8	5
I am more likely to keep an eye out for possible child-abuse or the safety of children	61	23	8	5	2	2

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