Effects of community policing upon fear of crime: Understanding the causal linkage
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.
Keywords
Citation
Roh, S. and Oliver, W.M. (2005), "Effects of community policing upon fear of crime: Understanding the causal linkage", Policing: An International Journal, Vol. 28 No. 4, pp. 670-683. https://doi.org/10.1108/13639510510628758
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited