Keeping people safe & well
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Comparative Analysis of Banff Avenue Community
Community Safety Study
Conducted in July 2005 and in June 2006.
A total of 43 surveys were completed by residents of the Banff Avenue 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, 2006 and 2007.
Aggregate
Out of 118 households, a total of 43 residents participated in the study in 2005. 40 residents volunteered to participate in the survey in 2006 and in 2007, 55 residents volunteered to participate in the survey.
Age
2005
2006
2007
Age
2005
2006
2007
16-20
10
7
7
21-40
19
16
33
41-65
12
17
15
65-up
2
0
0
Gender Breakdown
Year
Number Surveyed
16-20 yrs
21-40 yrs
41-65 yrs
65 up
Total
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
M
F
2005
43
6
4
4
15
6
6
1
1
17 (40%)
26 (60%)
2006
40
1
6
3
13
6
11
0
0
10 (25%)
30 (75%)
2007
55
3
4
12
21
7
8
0
0
22 (40%)
33 (60%)
16-20 Yrs 21-40 Yrs 41-65 Yrs 65+ Yrs Knowledge of the community
44 percent of the respondents in 2005 survey and 35 percent in 2006 and 15 percent in 2007 survey have lived in the community for more than 6 years. 23 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
2007
Age
2005
2006
2007
< 1 yr
4 (9%)
4 (10%)
11 (20%)
1-3 yr
10 (23%)
13 (33%)
14 (25%)
3-6 yr
10(23%)
9 (23%)
22 (40%)
> 6 yr
19 (44%)
14 (35%)
8 (15%)
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, 35 percent of respondents felt safe in the community as compared to 30 percent who felt unsafe. We find almost the same proportions among those who felt very safe (16 percent) and very unsafe (19 percent).
In the 2006 study, 60 percent community members responded that they feel safe and 10 percent said they feel very much safe. Together they form 70 percent of the respondents – respondents who are in the “feeling safe” range. By comparison, in 2005 there were 51 percent respondents in this range.
Age
2005
2006
2007
Age
2005
2006
2007
Very much safe
7 (16%)
4 (10%)
11 (20%)
Safe
15 (35%)
24 (60%)
35 (64%)
Unsafe
13 (30%)
10 (25%)
6 (11%)
Very unsafe
8 (19%)
2 (5%)
3 (5%)
Now: 84% are in the “feeling safe” range in 2007.
In 2006: 70% were in the “feeling safe” range in 2006.
In 2005: 51% were in the “feeling safe” range in 2005.
Very Much Safe Safe Unsafe Very Unsafe Another improvement is that in 2005, 8 person of the community members reported to be feeling very unsafe, whereas in 2006, only 5 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?” 20 percent responded that they feel safer than they did a year ago. At the same time, 50 percent said they didn’t feel any more safer than an year ago. The 50 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, 2006 and 2007 because they think:
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “Police doing good job.”
· “It is normal here.”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “No problems”
· “The dder gang is gone and the ones left are not so bad”
· “Because there are not so much bad kids.”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “Things seem to have gotten calm.”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “Its quiet.”
· “There is no problem.”
· “Quiet these days”
· “The neighborhood is quieter.”
· “The gang is not around any more.”
· “Gang activity has decreased (Note: the respondent is 16-20 yrs old)”
· “secarity enters more otten ”
· “It is better”
· “The community improving”
· “Because the police is always around.”
· “Gangsters are away or scared.”
· “its safe.”
· “Didn't hear anything negative.”
· “criminal elements are scared”
· “It is improved.”
· “.”
· “.”
· “Police is watching all the time.”
· “No more drinking or gangs.”
· “n/a”
· “I have been living here ess than one year, so I am not sure about the situation.”
· “n/a”
· “Police Presence”
· “Not sure.”
· “There is more protection and police patrolling”
· “It is safer now.”
· “No more gangs hanging around.”
· “It is quiet.”
· “It is safe.”
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 2006, 0 percent considered Gang activity in their community as their prime concern.
Violent crimes of most concern
2007
2006
2005
2007
2006
2005
Violent Crime
11
7
3
Racial Slurs
13
2
1
Vandalism
5
13
6
Loud Music
11
3
7
Domestic Violence
7
2
5
Insufficient Street lighting
23
15
8
Drug Dealing
34
25
31
Burglary / Robery
5
10
8
Gang activity
21
28
24
Graffiti
2
7
16
In 2006, we see that concern regarding Gang activity in the community has become the prime concern with 0 percent. These concerns are followed by the concern about insufficient street lighting (37.50 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:
· “Broken glass and teens hanging out at parking lot close the the bank street.”
· “Smoking”
· “Garbage disposal”
· “Garbage”
· “People doing drugs around my house.”
· “No problem at all.”
· “Lack of police protection for anyone living in this project.”
· “Police patrol is very necessary”
· “Dogs”
· “Garbage disposal.”
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
2007
2006
2005
2007
2006
2005
Gang not a problem here
25
2
5
Fighting
9
15
8
Public Nuisance
10
14
11
Family disruption
11
2
8
Increase in violent crime
14
5
2
Increase in drug crime
21
21
21
Increase in weapon crimes
4
3
2
Increase fear of safety
12
24
22
With the exception of the concern that gangs lead to fighting in the community (0.00% in 2006 as opposed to just 16.36% in 2007), views of the community on the rest of the factor related to gangs remain almost the same. Majority of them (0.00%) 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 bear bottles on the road”
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.
2007
2006
2005
2007
2006
2005
School Problems
5
9%
6
15%
6
14%
Poverty
13
24%
5
13%
35
81%
Lack of activities
14
25%
22
55%
24
56%
Power
12
22%
11
28%
5
12%
Family/friends in gangs
27
49%
14
35%
13
30%
Protection
6
11%
3
8%
8
19%
Family problems
31
56%
12
30%
15
35%
Gang members move from other areas
12
22%
16
40%
9
21%
To feel sense of belonging
4
7%
7
18%
14
33%
In 2005, 81 percent believed gangs existed due to poverty, where as 56 percent believed it was due to lack of activities for youth. 35 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.
Lack of activities Family/Friends in Gangs Poverty Protection The sense of belonging Power The respondents added the following to the list:
· “Social housing communities are separated from othe”
· “n/a”
· “No work.”
· “No”
· “Police are the enemy. No legal protection”
· “lack of employment”
· “Extreme lack of dicipline and teachings of right a”
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:
· “Teh parking lot close tot he Bank street.”
· “None yet.”
· “Ledbury”
· “Backyard area”
· “going to the store often 8pm”
· “albion road (strip mall area)”
· “No there isn't.”
· “All my area. I never go out at night. Banff and Ledbury are dangerous.”
· “Corner of Banff always gangsters stay there and have drugs.”
· “Down Banff and Ledbury itself, expecially parking lots.”
· “No”
· “None”
· “no”
· “The whole location”
· “Usually I avoid walking beside the corner on Banff and Ledbury because of gangsters.”
· “Ledbury”
· “Behind the 1225 block”
· “Well, sometimes gangs hand out close to my house and I don't fell to go out or to leave my house alone.”
· “No”
· “None”
· “Banff Avenue”
· “Heatherington and Elmvale”
· “The entire area at night”
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, 35 percent of respondents stated that their children are not involved with a gang. This number has increased to 90 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 0 residents in this age group, which means that in 2005, out of the 33 residents above the age of 20, 12 persons (30 percent) believed their kids are at risk of being involved in gang activity.
In 2006, only 2 persons didn’t respond to this question. It shows that compared to 2005, where 28 percent believed that their kids are at risk of getting involved in gangs, only 2 percent now believe their kids are at risk of getting involved.
Age
2007
%
2006
%
2005
%
Involved
0
0
0
Not Involved
51
93%
36
90%
15
35%
At risk of involvement
1
2%
2
5%
12
28%
Not sure
3
2
16
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 63 percent in 2006 and 65 in 2007. However, there is a substantial decrease in the number of those who identified working hours. Contrary to 25 percent of respondents selecting day time/working hours, only 5 percent identified day time as the time of most concern about crime.
Year 2007 2006 2005 2007 2006 2005
ð Working hours (day time) 11 10 12 ð Evening 22 15 13
ð late night 36 25 18 ð Early morning 1 2 0Problem 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.
The residents identified the following areas, which confirmed the responses to question 9.
· “They could be from this area or others.”
· “Parkinglot near Bank Street.”
· “They are at the park at night.”
· “Around the parking lots”
· “Behind fences”
· “stairs to the store back paking lot”
· “heatherington 1455”
· “Bank/ Ledbury”
· “Ist block of Ledbury.”
· “Right at workers shack.”
· “Behind the superintendent house.”
· “Parking lots and in between walkways.”
· “Behind and between the houses.”
· “Behind the superintendent house”
· “By the workshed.”
· “By the park”
· “Parking lots.”
· “Behind 1225 block and parking lot nearest to Bank Street.”
· “Well don't know where but I don't geel that safe in anywhere in the ocmmunity.”
· “The whole project is dangerous”
· “Work Shed and Valous corners”
· “All of Ledbury and Banff”
· “Russell Road side”
The residents gave the following reasons for considering these areas dangerous:
· “They don't care for others.”
· “Guys are often drinking alcohol and breaking the bottles”
· “They make so much noise.”
· “No surveillence”
· “high or drunk,maybe believe they rule the project”
· “gangs”
· “Drugs activities”
· “A lot of gangs and drugs violence, prostitution also.”
· “Teens always hang out there.”
· “Gangsters having drugs and making noises and coarse language.”
· “People can hide there.”
· “Not lighted well and they are secluded.”
· “Gangsters do drugs there.”
· “Not enough lighting.”
· “This is where gangs hang out.”
· “Because I see gangs a lot hanging out there.”
· “Gangs (punks)”
· “black and white”
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 2006, only 25 percent have highlighted Noise as a major concern that effect the quality of their life.
Quality of Life Crimes Study Area Residents are most Concerned about
Year 2007 2006 2005 ð Prostitution 17 (31%) 18 (45%) 22 (51%) ð Loitering 17 (31%) 14 (35%) 23 (53%) ð Public Drunkenness 18 (33%) 9 (23%) 26 (60%) ð Noise 13 (24%) 10 (25%) 28 (65%) ð Vandalism 5 (9%) 16 (40%) 11 (26%) ð Burglary 11 (20%) 10 (25%) 11 (26%) ð Car Theft 11 (20%) 7 (18%) 16 (37%)
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2005-07 South-East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community
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