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Can Security Beget Insecurity?: Security and Crime Prevention Awareness and Fear of Burglary Among University Students in the East Midlands

NCJ Number
226445
Journal
Security Journal Volume: 22 Issue: 1 Dated: 2009 Pages: 3-23
Author(s)
Rosemary Barberet; Bonnie S. Fisher
Date Published
2009
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study examined the influence of student awareness of institutional security and crime prevention efforts on levels of student fear of burglary in university owned or operated accommodations.
Abstract
Results show that despite the well-intended efforts of universities to provide a safe and secure environment to their students, a substantial proportion of students, both men and women alike, are unaware of the efforts that the universities have made to protect them. The results show that being aware of the university’s security and prevention efforts to secure their residence halls does not always result in the intended effect of students having lower fear levels compared to those who are unaware. Security and crime prevention features may not always lead to a lessening of fear because fear of crime is an emotional response, as evidenced by the research that shows that past victimization and perceived risk are only partly related to fear. Security measures are a rational and reasonable response to a largely emotional response to the threat of a crime and cannot be expected to lessen fear. This is particularly evident in the results that show different levels of fear associated with various security measures. Those aimed at increasing the effort, specifically target-hardening, are associated with higher levels of fear than those aimed at increasing the risks, specifically utilizing place managers and strengthening formal surveillance. Data were collected from 134 students who lived in university accommodations. Tables and references

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