Keeping people safe & well
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Comparative Analysis of Russell Heights
Community Safety Study
Conducted in July 2006 and in June 2007.
A total of 24 surveys were completed by residents of the Russell Heights in 2006. The same survey was repeated in 2005 with 24 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 2006 and 2007.
Aggregate
Out of 75 households, a total of 24 residents volunteered to participate in the survey in 2006 and in 2007, 51 residents volunteered to participate in the survey.
Age
2006
2007
Age
2006
2007
16-20
8
10
21-40
12
31
41-65
3
9
65-up
1
1
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
2006
24
2
6
1
11
0
3
1
0
4 (17%)
20 (83%)
2007
51
3
7
8
23
2
7
1
0
14 (27%)
37 (73%)
16-20 Yrs 21-40 Yrs 41-65 Yrs 65+ Yrs Knowledge of the community
29 percent in 2006 and 22 percent in 2007 survey have lived in the community for more than 6 years. 4 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
2006
2007
Age
2006
2007
< 1 yr
7 (29%)
7 (14%)
1-3 yr
9 (38%)
12 (24%)
3-6 yr
1(4%)
21 (41%)
> 6 yr
7 (29%)
11 (22%)
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.
In the 2006 study, 29 percent community members responded that they feel safe and 25 percent said they feel very much safe. Together they form 54 percent of the respondents – respondents who are in the “feeling safe” range. By comparison, in 2006 there were 54 percent respondents in this range.
Age
2006
2007
Age
2006
2007
Very much safe
6 (25%)
3 (6%)
Safe
7 (29%)
33 (65%)
Unsafe
10 (42%)
10 (20%)
Very unsafe
1(4%)
5 (0%)
Now: 71% are in the “feeling safe” range in 2007.
In 2006: 54% were in the “feeling safe” range in 2006.
Very Much Safe Safe Unsafe Very Unsafe Another improvement is that in 2006, 1 person of the community members reported to be feeling very unsafe, whereas in 2007, only 9.80 percent feel to be very unsafe.
However, in response to the next question, asking if the respondents felt safer now than two years ago, 63 percent responded ‘No’ in 2006. 37.5 percent responded that they feel safer than they did a year ago. At the same time, 63 percent said they didn’t feel any more safer than an year ago. The 37.5 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 2006 and 2007 because they think:
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “compared to 2 year ago, it is a heaven.”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “Situation improved a lot.”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “got to know neighbours”
· “security officers are more prominent ”
· “because we have great security ”
· “because we have security”
· “because the security ”
· “because the security's ”
· “Security officers more prominent”
· “because i know people now”
· “because we have security”
· “because of security”
· “because the securitry is here for us.”
· “security enters more often”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “n/a”
· “I am never at home. I am at school all day.”
· “n/a”
· “I got to know the area better when you first move in here, its scary.”
· “police”
· “police”
· “because there is to many murders.”
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 Drug dealing in their community as their prime concern.
Violent crimes of most concern
2007
2006
2007
2006
Violent Crime
7
8
Racial Slurs
8
4
Vandalism
23
9
Loud Music
11
5
Domestic Violence
9
4
Insufficient Street lighting
9
7
Drug Dealing
27
20
Burglary / Robery
15
7
Gang activity
12
11
Graffiti
9
3
In 2006, we see that concern regarding Drug dealing in the community has become the prime concern with 0 percent. These concerns are followed by the concern about insufficient street lighting (29.17 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:
· “entering townhouse bacyard”
· “guns”
· “entering townhouse back yards”
· “Crowd of kids at stairs at late night.”
· “Garbage”
· “Garbage”
· “Mostly break and enters.”
· “jhjhfd”
· “guns”
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
2007
2006
Gang not a problem here
10
6
Fighting
22
10
Public Nuisance
14
11
Family disruption
21
3
Increase in violent crime
8
6
Increase in drug crime
24
14
Increase in weapon crimes
8
3
Increase fear of safety
26
9
With the exception of the concern that gangs lead to fighting in the community (0.00% in 2006 as opposed to just 43.14% 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:
· “influence on our children”
· “No gangs.”
· “Nothing seen here. The kids only fighting in the basketball court”
· “It is difficult for a woman to stand up in a group and say all of these things because I am afraid that my children could be a victim of that group.”
· “ghji'jg”
· “shootting”
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
2007
2006
School Problems
14
27%
4
17%
Poverty
31
61%
16
67%
Lack of activities
13
25%
8
33%
Power
31
61%
8
33%
Family/friends in gangs
7
14%
8
33%
Protection
27
53%
7
29%
Family problems
16
31%
7
29%
Gang members move from other areas
7
14%
7
29%
To feel sense of belonging
7
14%
9
38%
In 2007, 61 percent believed gangs existed due to poverty, where as 25 percent believed it was due to lack of activities for youth. 31 percent selected family problems. In 2007, majority of residents believe gang members move from other areas to the community. Only 29 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:
· “everything can be a reason”
· “No gangs”
· “Don't believe there is a gang here.”
· “Lack of knowledge”
· “nhhkh”
· “shooting”
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:
· “the neighbourhood basketball court”
· “behind front unite by the back stairs ”
· “tim hortons”
· “no”
· “st. lanrent and elmvale ”
· “NO”
· “the stairs at the store”
· “begind front units by the back stairs.”
· “basketball court, near the stairs by the store, and the back near tim hortons”
· “Tim hortons”
· “no”
· “going to the store after 8pm”
· “St. Laurent and Elmvale”
· “The stairs.”
· “Yes, street that leads to the convinient store.”
· “n/a”
· “none”
· “Stairs down to the store.”
· “NO.”
· “Yes, from Russell Road North of the first parking lot going to the second parking lot close to the stairs which go to the corner store. Between the houses under the trees where is no light.”
· “back of corner-store”
· “back of corner-store”
· “russell hieghts”
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 2006, 67 percent of respondents stated that their children are not involved with a gang. This number has increased to 76 percent in 2007. In 2006, 4 percent believed that their child(ren) is at risk of getting involved, this has increased to 16 percent, which is a great progress.
In 2006, only 7 persons didn’t respond to this question. It shows that compared to 2005, where 0 percent believed that their kids are at risk of getting involved in gangs, only 1 percent now believe their kids are at risk of getting involved.
Age
2007
%
2006
%
Involved
0
0
Not Involved
39
76%
16
67%
At risk of involvement
8
16%
1
4%
Not sure
4
7
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 83 percent in 2006 and 55 in 2007. However, there is a substantial decrease in the number of those who identified working hours. Contrary to 21 percent of respondents selecting day time/working hours, only 8 percent identified day time as the time of most concern about crime.
Year 2007 2006 2007 2006
ð Working hours (day time) 15 5 ð Evening 21 9
ð late night 28 20 ð Early morning 1 2Problem 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.
The residents identified the following areas, which confirmed the responses to question 9.
· “stairsto the store near backpath to timhortons as well as the basketball court”
· “bacic of community and all along abock fcnce by pariceng lot”
· “moshy at parking lost”
· “the fence on east side of comminity, with stats going (open) down to a small park lot vacated building [behind 1771-E russeell”
· “near parknt lot and behand community center”
· “In the alley ways behind the bak yards near the fence towards the store”
· “back of cummmunity center and all along back fence by parking lot”
· “Near the stairs to the store, near the back path to tim hortons, basketball court”
· “mostly parking lots”
· “The fence on the east side of community, with stairs (open) going down to a small parking lot of a vacated building behind 17771-E russel,”
· “Stairs to the store and back parking lot.”
· “Near parking lot and behind community center”
· “By the parking lot.”
· “Near stairs to store.”
· “Hanging at the stairs headed to the store.”
· “All places are dangerous.”
· “Near the Steps to the Store”
· “corner store”
· “corner-store”
· “corner store”
The residents gave the following reasons for considering these areas dangerous:
· “Insufficient street lighting and an area for gang members to deal”
· “people do dnigs ther is foghting”
· “tow do not know who belengs to the community lost boy doing buiness”
· “children may ibjure themselves on that fence (broken)”
· “i could see very often that bunch young men nere gathernt near parking lot at next and smoking and maky noises”
· “people hang out there, sell drugs.”
· “people do drugs and there is fighting”
· “to dark and everyone hangs around there”
· “You don't know who belongs to the community. Lots of boys doing business”
· “children may injure themselves on the fence which is broken.”
· “high or drunk people. Maybe they beleive they rule the project.”
· “i could see very often that bunch of young men were gathering near parking lot at night and somking and making noises.”
· “Peole are hanging there, drinking, mostly in the evening.”
· “Youth hang-out there.”
· “Teenagers hang around there.”
· “Late evening you can see boys and young adult males in groups, smoking drugs and leaving garbage around the area.”
· “Too many guys hanging out there.”
· “hobo kills who ever comes there.”
· “hobo's kill people”
· “hobo”
· “hobo kills who ever comes there.”
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 46 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 ð Prostitution 9 (18%) 5 (21%) ð Loitering 13 (25%) 10 (42%) ð Public Drunkenness 12 (24%) 11 (46%) ð Noise 6 (12%) 11 (46%) ð Vandalism 31 (61%) 9 (38%) ð Burglary 22 (43%) 11 (46%) ð Car Theft 6 (12%) 7 (29%)
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2005-07 South-East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community
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