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Public Attitudes to Drug-Related Crime

NCJ Number
171409
Author(s)
S Grace
Date Published
1996
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report presents the findings of a survey that examined the British public's attitudes toward drug-related crime.
Abstract
The survey involved 1,686 adults in England who were interviewed in February 1996. Respondents were asked their views on various drug-related problems, including illegal drug abuse, being offered drugs for sale, people becoming ill or dying from drug abuse, people stealing to buy drugs, and crimes committed under the influence of illegal drugs. Respondents were also asked to gauge the extent to which particular crimes and various kinds of antisocial behavior are problems in their area. Survey findings show that illegal drug abuse was viewed by respondents more as a national problem rather than a local problem. Very few respondents viewed drug-related crime as a problem where they lived; they also had this view about other crimes as well. Overall, more respondents believed that both burglary and car theft were problems in their area than believed this about drug- related crime. Almost half of the respondents believed that crime had increased over the last 2 years in their area; only one-third believed that illegal drug use had increased over the same period. Those living in "Striving" areas (such as council estates) were most likely to view all forms of crime as a problem in their area, including drug-related crime. In contrast, those in "Rising" areas (such as city-center housing with comparatively large numbers of prosperous young adults) were least concerned about drug-related crimes, even though other research has indicated a comparatively high level of drug abuse in "Rising" areas. Younger people were apparently more aware of drug-related issues than older respondents. 4 figures and 2 references