Keeping people safe & well

 

Comparative Analysis

Community Safety Study

Conducted in July 2005 and in June 2006.

A total of 43 surveys were completed by residents of the Banff Community in 2005. The same survey was repeated in 2005 with 40 community members in 2006. A minor change was made to only one question in the questionnaire used in 2005 in order to gauge the change in community’s perceptions due to introduction of the No Community Left Behind initiative and related activities.

The questions were designed to gather information in a qualitative and quantitative fashion. Specifically, we wanted to know which violent and quality of life crimes residents are most concerned about, the time of day they are most concerned about crime, and the places they feel are the most crime-ridden. Results from the 2006 survey provided us with an opportunity to compare the data with the survey results from 2005 and come up with a comparative assessment and changes in the community’s perception about crime and fear in their community.

In addition, we wanted to know whether they have been the victim of a crime in the project area (along with the type and location of crime); whether they are involved in the Tenants Association (and if not, whether they would join and participate in its activities); and whether community initiatives would make them feel safer. We have included the raw number of responses as well as the percentage score for each question answered affirmatively. A sample copy of the survey is available in the Appendix 1.

Breakdown of Surveyed Residents

Break down of the residents surveyed in 2005 and 2006.  

Aggregate

Out of 118 households, a total of 43 residents participated in the study in 2005. In 2006, 40 residents volunteered to participate in the survey.

Age	2005	2006	Age	2005	2006
16-20	10	3	21-40	19	16
41-65	12	21	65-up	2	0

 Gender Breakdown

 

 Knowledge of the community 

Forty Five percent of the respondents in 2005 survey and 37 percent in 2006 survey have lived in the community for more than 6 years. Fifty-seven percent of the respondents in the 2006 study have lived in the community for more than three years. It shows that the respondents have a good knowledge of present and past community life.

Age	2005	2006	Age	2005	2006
< 1 yr	4 (9%)	3 (8%)	1-3 yr	10 (23%)	14 (35%)
3-6 yr	10(23%)	8 (20%)	> 6 yr	15 (44%)	0

 Perception of Safety

Assessing the feeling of safety was given priority in the survey. An attempt was made right from the fourth question in the questionnaire asking them how safe do the respondents feel in the community. According to our findings, in 2005, 50 percent of respondents felt safe in the community as compared to 48 percent who felt unsafe. We find almost the same proportions among those who felt very safe (16 percent) and very unsafe (18 percent).  

In the 2006 study, 50 percent community members responded that they feel safe and 10 percent said they feel very much safe. Together they form 60 percent of the respondents – respondents who are in the “feeling safe” range. By comparison, in 2005 there were 50 percent respondents in this range.  

Age	2005	2006	Age	2005	2006
Very much safe	7 (16%)	4 (10%)	Safe	15 (34%)	20 (50%)
Unsafe	13 (30%)	11(27%)	Very unsafe	8 (18%)	3 (7.5%)

 Now:      60% are in the “feeling safe” range in 2006.
In 2005:            41% were in the “feeling safe” range in 2005.

 

 Another improvement is that in 2005, 18 person of the community members reported to be feeling very unsafe, whereas in 2006, only 7 percent feel to be very unsafe.

However, in response to the next question, asking  if the respondents felt  safer now than two years ago, 65 percent responded ‘No’ in 2005. This year, we slightly changed the question in order to assess progress of the No Community Left Behind activities. The question this time was: “Do you feel safer in your community than you did a year ago due to introduction of the new crime prevention initiative within your community?”  Forty-two percent responded that they feel safer than they did a year ago. At the same time, 40 percent said they didn’t feel any more safer than an year ago. In 2005, 65 percent couldn’t see any improvement compared to the past two years. This year, only 40 percent believe so. The 25 percent margin reaffirms the earlier conclusion that more people are feeling themselves safe now. 

Participants were specifically ask to give reasons for their feeling safer or otherwise than before. Here are the comments we received:

Community members felt safer than in 2005 because they think:  

·   “Criminal elements are scared.”

·   “Police Presence.”

·   “Police is watching all the time.”

·   “No more drinking or gangs.”

·   “Gangs are away or scared.”

·   :Didn’t hear anything negative.”

·   “There is more protection and police patrolling.”

·  “Because the police is always around.”

The responded who responded they don’t feel safer than a year ago, gave the following reasons: 

·   “Not sure.”

·   “Still a lot of dope attract teens.”

·  “Living less than one year, therefore, not sure about it.”

·  “ Why would a sane person feel safer?”

Violent Crimes

Residents were asked to select their top three concerns from a list that ranged form violent crime to graffiti. The table below discloses the results to Question 6 on the survey, which asks the participating residents to pick the top three concerns that they have about your community. In 2005, 72 percent considered drug dealing in their community as their prime concern following by gang activity (55percent) and graffiti (37percent). 

Violent crimes of most concern
	2006	2005		2006	2005
Violent Crime	7	3	Racial Slurs	1	1
Vandalism	9	6	Loud Music	3	7
Domestic Violence	2	5	Insufficient Street lighting	16 (40%)	8 (19%)
Drug Dealing	20 (50%)	31	Burglary/Robery	8	8
Gang activity	21 (52%)	24	Graffiti	6	16 (37%)

In 2006, we see that drug dealing remains the second highest concern for the community but the number of residents choosing drug dealing as a concern has dropped from 72 to 50 percent. Simultaneously, concern regarding gang activity in the community has become the prime concern with 52 percent. These concerns are followed by the concern about insufficient street lighting (40 percent). This is also a sign that reduction in fear has given the community an opportunity to look at other problems as well.

Unlike last year, the community members took the liberty to add the following the to choices provided about crime-related concerns:

·  “Lack of police protection.”

·  “Garbage disposal.”

·  “People doing dope around my house.”

·  “Garbage.”

Gangs 

Participants who felt gangs were a problem, were further probed to find out what problems they consider the gangs present to the community. This question was also intended to understand community’s perception about gangs. Most of the young respondents do think there is a gang problem. The adults, however, believe there is. Their responses vary as we can see in the table below.

Problems Associated with Gangs
	2006	2005		2006	2005
Gang not a problem here	3	5	Fighting	17 (43%)	8 (18%)
Public Nuisance	12 (30%)	11 (25%)	Family disruption	2	8 (18%)
Increase in violent crime	4	2	Increase in drug crime	20 (50%)	21 (48%)
Increase in weapon crimes	3 (50%)	2	Increase fear of safety	21 (52%)	22 (51%)

With the exception of the concern that gangs lead to fighting in the community (43% in 2006 as opposed to just 18% in 2005), views of the community on the rest of the factor related to gangs remain almost the same. Majority of them (52%) still considers the sense of fear in the community as a result of the presence of gangs. Similarly, drug related problems are also attributed to the presence of gangs. 

The respondents added the following to the list of problems which gangs pose to the community: 

·  “Breaking beer bottles on the road and side walks.”

·  “Robbery.” 

Why Gangs

The next question (#8) further probed the respondents to find out the possible reasons for gang related activity. The participants were asked to pick three reasons why they believe gang activity exists in their community. The response was amazing, as we can see from the following table.  

	2006		2005			2006		2005
School Problems	6		7		Poverty	17	42.5%	35	81%
Lack of activities	15	37.5%	24	55%	Power	2		5
Family/friends in gangs	9	22%	15	34%	Protection	20	50%	8	19%
Family problems	8		13		Gang members move from other areas	21	52%	9	21%
To feel sense of belonging	8	20%	21	48%

In 2005, 81 percent believed gangs existed due to poverty, where as 55 percent believed it was due to lack of activities for youth. Thirty-four percent selected family problems. In 2006, majority of residents believe gang members move from other areas to the community. Only 21 percent believed so last year. Almost half of the respondents now believe that the problem of kids joining gangs is the result of their need for protection. If they don’t join, they are harassed and intimidated. The perception that poverty is the major cause for the existence of gangs has changed considerably. Almost half of the respondents changed their opinion. Lack of activities for youth is considered a major factor, which is also confirmed by the suggestions and recommendations offered to the last question in the survey. 

The respondents added the following to the list:

·  “Now work.”

·  “Unemployment.”

·  “Police are enemy, no legal protection.”

·  “Extreme lack of discipline and teaching of right and wrong to children.”

 

Areas in the neighborhood, which the community avoids to fear 

Residents were asked to identify areas in the neighborhood which they avoid due to fear of crime. The community came up with the following list:

·   “No there isn’t.”

·   “No/none.” ( (5 responses)

·   “The whole location.”

·   “Behind 1225 block and parking lot nearest to Bank street.”

·   “Usually I avoid walking besides the corner on Banff because of gangsters.”

·   “All my area, never go out at night.”

·   “Banff Avenue.”

·   “Heatherington and Elmvale.”

·  “ Well, sometimes gangs handout [hang out] close to my house and I do not feel safer to go out or to live [stay] in my house alone.”

·   “Corner of Banff always gangsters stay there and have drugs.”

·   “Ledbury.”

·  “Down Banff and Ledbury itself, especially parking lots.”

Risk of getting involved in a gang

In question 13, respondents were asked if they believed that their children were in a gang, at risk of being in a gang or not involved. In 2005, 34 percent of respondents stated that their children are not involved with a gang. This number has increased to 67 percent in 2006. in 2005, 28 percent believed that their child(ren) is at risk of getting involved, this has reduced to 5 percent, which is a great progress.  

In 2005, 16 respondents (37 percent) did not respond to this question, out of which 10 were in the age group between 16-20 years. In 2006, we have only three residents in this age group, which means that in 2005, out of the 33 residents above the age of 20, 12 persons (36 percent) believed their kids are at risk of being involved in gang activity.  

In 2006, only 10 persons didn’t respond to this question. It shows that compared to 2005, where 36 percent believed that their kids are at risk of getting involved in gangs, only 6 percent now believe their kids are at risk of getting involved. 
 

Age	2005	%	2006	%
Involved	0		0
Not Involved	27	67%	15	34%
At risk of involvement	2	5%	12	28%
Not sure	1		0

 

Times When Residents Are Most Concerned About Crime

Participants were asked to identify the time of the day when they are most concerned about crime. Later night was identified as the time when people most fear violent crime in the study area, garnering a 42 percent score in 2005 and 55 percent in 2006. However, there is a substantial decrease in the number of those who identified working hours. Contrary to 28 percent of respondents selecting day time/working hours, only 3 percent identified day time as the time of most concern about crime.  

Year                                          2006     2005                             2006    2005

ð   Working hours (day time)        1         12         ð  Evening          17        13
ð   late night                              22         18         ð  Early morning  2          0

Problem areas

In a follow up question, community members were asked if they considered some areas in the neighbourhood more problematic than others, and if so why.  In 2005, residents identified block 2070 as a problem area for drug related activity, and blocks 1271 and 1275 as areas where there is a prostitution problem.

In 2006, the residents identified the following areas, which confirmed the responses to question 9. 

·          Workshed and Valous (?) corners.

·          Right at the workers shake.

·          By the workshed.

·          The whole project is dangerous.

·          Banff community.

·          Behind and between homes.

·          Behind the superintendent house (2 respondents).

·          First block of Ledbury.

·          By the Park.

·          Not for me [the one who says gangs are not a problem]

·          Parking lots or into between walkways.

·          All of the Ledbury and Banff.

·          Well, don’t know where but I don’t feel safe anywhere in the community.

The residents gave the following reasons for considering these areas dangerous:

·          “A lot of gangs, drugs and prostitution.”

·          “Bad people.”

·          “Backstreets are not lighted well and they are secluded.”

·          “Gangsters do drugs there.”

·          “Because I see a lot of groups hanging out.”

·          “Gangsters having drugs and making noises and coarse language.”

·          “Not enough lighting.”

·          “Because gangs hang out behind 1225 block and parking lot nearest to Bank Street.”

·          “Gangs (punks).”

·          “Because they can hide in these locations.”

Quality of Life Crime

Question 12 of the Survey focused on the "quality of life" related crimes, listed below. Among secondary or "quality of life" crimes, surveyed residents were asked to pick only three. In 2005, the residents felt that noise was the biggest problem (65%). Public drunkenness was second on the list of priority concerns. Public drunkenness was a major concern in 2005 with 60 percent respondent pointed it out. In 2006, only 26 percent have highlighted this as a major concern that effect the quality of their life.

Quality of Life Crimes Study Area Residents are most Concerned about  

Year                              2006                 2005

  Prostitution                 4 (10%)             22 (51%)      
  Loitering                     12 (30)              23 (53%)
  Public Drunkenness     10 (25%)           26 (60%)
  Noise                         9 (24%)             28 (65%)
  Vandalism                  16                     11
  Burglary                     10                     11
  Car Theft                    6                      16

 

© 2005-08 South-East Ottawa Community Health Centre
Centre de Sante Communautaire du Sud Est D'Ottawa

Contact: Abid Jan Tel./ Tél: (613) 737-5115  Fax/Télé: (613) 739-8199

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