Effects of community policing upon fear of crime

TLDR

Despite abundant research on community policing, little attention has been given to the causal process linking community policing activities to reduced crime fear in communities. The study aims to identify intervening factors linking perceptions of community policing to reduced fear of crime among citizens. Using 1998 Criminal Victimization and Perception of Community Safety data, the study analyzed respondents’ demographics, crime experiences, neighborhood crime perceptions, and satisfaction with local police. The study finds that perceived incivilities and dissatisfaction with life‑quality mediate the link between community policing and fear of crime, while vulnerability variables do not, illustrating how community policing reduces crime fear.

Abstract

Purpose To identify intervening factors between perceptions of community policing and reduction of crime fear among citizen, which can provide a better understanding of the causal linkage between these two variables. Design/methodology/approach The present study employs the research data from the 1998 study “Criminal Victimization and Perception of Community Safety in 12 United States Cities,” which was conducted as a supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). This study used only the personal data, which included information on respondents' demographic characteristics, personal crime and victimization experiences, perceptions of neighborhood crime, and experience and satisfaction with local police. Findings The finding reveals that while vulnerability variables (indirect victimization model) do not affect the relationship between community policing and fear of crime, the perception of incivilities (perceived disorder model) and the dissatisfaction with life‐quality (community concern model) in the neighborhood intervene between community policing and fear of crime. Originality/value Despite the abundant research in the area of community policing, less attention has been paid to the causal process between community policing activities and its presumed effect, reduction of crime fear in communities. This study helps us to understand how fear of crime is reduced by the implementation of community policing.