Keeping people safe & well

 

Comparative Analysis of Confederation Court

Community Safety Study

Conducted in July 2006 and in June 2007.

A total of 26 surveys were completed by residents of the Confederation Court in 2006. The same survey was repeated in 2005 with 26 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 135 households, a total of 26 residents volunteered to participate in the survey in 2006 and in 2007, 23 residents volunteered to participate in the survey.

Age	2006	2007	Age	2006	2007
16-20	6	1	21-40	13	15
41-65	7	7	65-up	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
2006	26	4	2	5	8	3	4	0	0	12 (46%)	14 (54%)
2007	23	0	1	6	9	3	4	0	0	9 (39%)	14 (61%)

16-20 Yrs

21-40 Yrs

41-65 Yrs

65+ Yrs

 

 Knowledge of the community 

8 percent in 2006 and 17 percent in 2007 survey have lived in the community for more than 6 years. 42 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	3 (12%)	6 (26%)	1-3 yr	10 (38%)	7 (30%)
3-6 yr	11(42%)	6 (26%)	> 6 yr	2 (8%)	4 (17%)

 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, 23 percent community members responded that they feel safe and 4 percent said they feel very much safe. Together they form 27 percent of the respondents – respondents who are in the “feeling safe” range. By comparison, in 2006 there were 27 percent respondents in this range.

Age	2006	2007	Age	2006	2007
Very much safe	1 (4%)	0	Safe	6 (23%)	4 (17%)
Unsafe	18 (69%)	12 (52%)	Very unsafe	1(4%)	7 (30%)

 Now:      17% are in the “feeling safe” range in 2007.
In 2006:     27% 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 30.43 percent feel to be very unsafe.

However, in response to the next question, asking  if the respondents felt  safer now than two years ago, 88 percent responded ‘No’ in 2006. 11.5384615385 percent responded that they feel safer than they did a year ago. At the same time, 88 percent said they didn’t feel any more safer than an year ago. The 11.5384615385 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”

·   “Two years ago, there were as a lot of gang fights.”

·   “Because there is not as much trouble.”

·   “t”

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	8	6	Racial Slurs	1	10
Vandalism	6	5	Loud Music	2	4
Domestic Violence	0	4	Insufficient Street lighting	8	5
Drug Dealing	21	23	Burglary / Robery	6	3
Gang activity	16	19	Graffiti	3	5

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 (19.23 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:

·  “Garbage dispostion”

·  “racialist community centre”

·  “Community Center racist.”

·  “Prostitution”

·  “t”

 

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	0	3	Fighting	8	7
Public Nuisance	4	7	Family disruption	4	3
Increase in violent crime	6	5	Increase in drug crime	15	18
Increase in weapon crimes	3	6	Increase fear of safety	14	20

With the exception of the concern that gangs lead to fighting in the community (0.00% in 2006 as opposed to just 34.78% 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: 

·  “Selling drugs to youth.”

·  “Selling drugs to youth”

·  “t”

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	2	9%	2	8%	Poverty	8	35%	5	19%
Lack of activities	12	52%	21	81%	Power	3	13%	7	27%
Family/friends in gangs	17	74%	6	23%	Protection	1	4%	9	35%
Family problems	13	57%	7	27%	Gang members move from other areas	2	9%	7	27%
To feel sense of belonging	0	0%	2	8%

In 2007, 35 percent believed gangs existed due to poverty, where as 52 percent believed it was due to lack of activities for youth. 57 percent selected family problems. In 2007, majority of residents believe gang members move from other areas to the community. Only 27 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:

·  “Single families (women without husbands)”

·  “Nothing else to do”

·  “t”

 

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:

·   “Parking lots, behind the units.”

·   “All over the ocmmunity. No place is safe.”

·   “The whole project.”

·   “Between blocks and parkings.”

·   “No”

·   “Between Brooks and parkings”

·   “Towards Russell road. Youth smoke dope there.”

·   “It's everywhere.”

·   “Back parking lot near the shack and Timy's store”

·   “Towards Russell Road in general ? Groups of youth smoke dope there.”

·   “Russell Heights”

·   “t”

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, 62 percent of respondents stated that their children are not involved with a gang. This number has increased to 52 percent in 2007. In 2006, 23 percent believed that their child(ren) is at risk of getting involved, this has increased to 26 percent, which is a great progress.  

In 2006, only 4 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 6 percent now believe their kids are at risk of getting involved. 

Age	2007	%	2006	%
Involved	1		0
Not Involved	12	52%	16	62%
At risk of involvement	6	26%	6	23%
Not sure	4		4

 

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 88 percent in 2006 and 70 in 2007. However, there is a substantial decrease in the number of those who identified working hours. Contrary to 19 percent of respondents selecting day time/working hours, only 4 percent identified day time as the time of most concern about crime.  

Year                                     2007   2006                         2007    2006

ð   Working hours (day time)    8         5    ð  Evening           14          15
ð   late night                            16        23    ð  Early morning   2          1

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.

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

·          “The whole project needs proper lighting and 24 hour security or police.”

·          “On the parking and around the park, separating the blocks.”

·          “Dark corners, Green boxes”

·          “The houses in the parking area facing Russell Road and close to the intersection of Russell and Walkley.”

·          “On the parking and around the paths speparating the blocks”

·          “The parking lot near the basket ball court with one net. People deal drugs there.”

·          “Dark corners, the green boves.”

·          “I don't know”

·          “The parking lot near the basket ballcourt with the one net.”

·          “t”

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

·          “Because there iare no lights.”

·          “Drug takers, sellers and pushers congregate in a well known house.”

·          “Because that is where they like to stay.”

·          “Because people deal drugs there.”

·          “t”

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 19 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	16 (70%)	17 (65%)
ð  Loitering	7 (30%)	6 (23%)
ð  Public Drunkenness	3 (13%)	7 (27%)
ð  Noise	6 (26%)	5 (19%)
ð  Vandalism	12 (52%)	8 (31%)
ð  Burglary	9 (39%)	5 (19%)
ð  Car Theft	2 (9%)	4 (15%)

 

© 2005-07 South-East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community
Centre du sud-est d’Ottawa pour une communauté en santé

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