Crime Maps

Recently, for example, Groff et al. (2005) studied the impact of crime maps on the public’s perception (As cited in Quinton, 2011). To determine such an impact the researchers looked at whether different ways of presenting the data had an effect, which resulted in crime maps being found to be no worse, and in certain cases, better than traditional statistics reducing the citizen’s fear of crime within a community (As cited in Quinton, 2011). Geoff et al. (2011) did conclude however, that the type of crime map used might be able to make a difference, as the findings concluded that maps which mask variations and concentrate in a crime that is local, might make more individuals more fears when in comparison to other examples (As cited in Quinton,

2011).
Wünsch and Hohl (2009) and Hohl et al. (2010) provided evidence, which did in fact suggest that newspapers which provide web-based information about neighborhood policing can have a detrimental impact as the perceptions of the police declined in both the trial and comparison site (As cited in Quinton, 2011). The research also suggested that not only did the public want the newspapers to be clear, concise, locally relevant and easily identifiable, they also demonstrated how they were interested in receiving specific information about the neighborhood policing initiative such as, how the police tend to deal with present issues in their community and how the public could get involved (Quinton, 2011).
According to Wünsch (2009) the research indicated that if such newsletters do not meet the public expectations it could have a detrimental impact on the publics’s perceptions, however, if delivered and demonstrated in the correct measures, information booklets according to Singer and Cooper (2008) which seeks to ‘educate’ individuals or address gaps in the public perception could have a positive impact on the community (As cited in Quinton, 2011).

It also became evident that the way in which the booklets were delivered to the citizens was crucial as the booklets handed out to individuals to people at their doorsteps was found to have a bigger impact on the citizenry’s confidence in comparison to if the booklets were to be sent by the mail (Quinton, 2011). Quinton (2011) suggested that through satisfactory informal contact, such as face to face contact with the police, the National Reassurance Policing Program suggested that it can positively affect one’s confidence in the police and their services. It is evident, as suggested by the research above, that while providing information can have a few setbacks. Recent studies, however, have indicated that the content and way information is delivered has the potential to make people safer, more secure, and lessen their fear of crime; therefore, it is important that certain strategies and tactics be used in the future when police are trying to deliver information to the

public.
Other Variables and Fear of Crime
As indicated by the above literature, while there appears to be a connection between certain strategies and tactics used in community policing and fear of crime, the evidence remains to be inconclusive. Such vulnerabilities, according to Bennett (1994) can often be explained by issues mentioned above, which include differences in where the studies were conducted and the way measurements were operationalized and measured. Factors, such as, media reporting practices, housing characteristics, and the propensity of the population to take the necessary measures to protect themselves against crime, were all measures, according to Krahn and Kennedy (1985) which can be used to the fear of crime within a community. It was also indicated by Baumer (1985) that age and perceived adequacy of the police, as discussed above, were key factors effecting the fear of crime within urban and sunburn areas, but not in small town and rural areas (As cited in Bennett, 1994).