Fulham Crime Survey 2009 (Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats)

Hammersmith and Fulham Liberal Democrats <info@hflibdems.org.uk>

Fulham Crime Survey 2009

October 6, 2009 9:39 PM

Fulham Lib Dems have published preliminary results from Town Ward as part of their Fulham Crime Survey 2009. These suggest that fear of crime has increased in Fulham over the last year.

Paul Kennedy, Lib Dem candidate for the Town Ward by-election, commented:

"The Tories claim to have reduced crime, but our survey suggests there is significant under-reporting. There is a very real fear of crime in Fulham, resulting from neglect of activities for young people and other services. This survey shows the dangers of indiscriminate cuts in services, including the closure of youth clubs, and how dissatisfied many residents still are with the number of police patrols in their streets. If elected, I will press the administration to take action both to prevent crime and to find more activities for young people to keep them out of trouble."

The full results are:

41% of respondents said they felt more at risk than a year ago. 57% said they felt the same, and only 2% said they felt safer. Residents of Fulham Court and Barclay Road were especially likely to feel at greater risk.
34% of respondents felt not very safe or very unsafe when out after dark, and another 20% said they do not go out at all after dark;
42% felt unsafe at the bus stop or tube station, and 44% felt unsafe in local parks;
54% knew someone who had been a victim of crime in the last year, including murder, muggings, burglary and damage to cars and bikes, and 39% knew someone who had been the victim of anti-social behaviour, particularly from drunks and gangs of youths;
47% of those who had called the police rated their response as good, 33% average and 20% poor;
However 31% of those who had cause to call the police in the last year had not done so: reasons included not knowing the right number, taking too long, too late, thinking the police were too busy or wouldn't do anything, intimidation and fear of neighbours;
75% of respondents felt there were not enough police on patrol in their streets;
49% of respondents especially those from Fulham Court reported problems with litter and refuse - and many in Barclay, Shottendane, Elmstone and Harbledown Roads reported problems with parking and the use of their street as a high speed rat run;
Asked which crime prevention tools they would want to see improved, 62% of respondents wanted more activities for young people, 47% wanted better CCTV, and 29% wanted better street lighting.