Keeping people safe & well

 

Banff Avenue Community in Year 2006

 

Result of Gender

Result of Age     Knowledge of the community 35 percent of the respondents have lived in the community for more than 6 years. 23  percent of the respondents have lived in the community for more than three years. Together they form 58 percent of the respondents respondents who have a good knowledge of present and past community life.   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, 60 percent of respondents feel safe in the community as compared to 25 percent who feel unsafe. We find almost the same proportions among those who feel very safe (10 percent) and very unsafe (5 percent). However, in response to the next question, asking  if the respondents felt  safer now than two years ago, 50 percent responded ´No.´ This indicates a shift in perception when community members are asked to consider their beliefs about safety over a specific period of time. Community members felt safer than 2 years ago because they think: October 06, 2006 ·   “Because the police is always around.” October 06, 2006 ·   “Gangsters are away or scared.” October 06, 2006 ·   “its safe.” October 06, 2006 ·   “Didn't hear anything negative.” October 06, 2006 ·   “criminal elements are scared” October 06, 2006 ·   “It is improved.” October 06, 2006 ·   “.” October 06, 2006 ·   “.” October 06, 2006 ·   “Police is watching all the time.” October 06, 2006 ·   “No more drinking or gangs.” October 06, 2006 ·   “n/a” October 06, 2006 ·   “I have been living here ess than one year, so I am not sure about the situation.” October 06, 2006 ·   “n/a” October 06, 2006 ·   “Police Presence” October 06, 2006 ·   “Not sure.” October 06, 2006 ·   “There is more protection and police patrolling” October 06, 2006 ·   “It is safer now.” October 06, 2006 ·   “No more gangs hanging around.” October 06, 2006 ·   “It is quiet.” October 06, 2006 ·   “It is safe.”   Violent Crimes Residents were asked to select their top three concerns from a list that ranged form violent crime to graffiti. Table 2 below discloses the results to Question 6 on the survey: Please pick the top three concerns that you have about your community, if there are any. 63 percent consider drug dealing in their community as their prime concern following by gang activity (70 percent) and graffiti (18 percent). Violent crimes of most concern The community members took the liberty to add the following the to choices provided about crime-related concerns: October 06, 2006 ·   “Garbage disposal” October 06, 2006 ·   “Garbage” October 06, 2006 ·   “People doing drugs around my house.” October 06, 2006 ·   “No problem at all.” October 06, 2006 ·   “Lack of police protection for anyone living in this project.” October 06, 2006 ·   “Police patrol is very necessary” October 05, 2006 ·   “Dogs”   Gangs  Participants who felt gangs were a problem were asked to choose their top three concerns. Responses varied from a majority of them (60 percent) saying due to gang activity there is an increased fear for safety, to 53 percent saying it leads to increase in drug crimes, to 35 percent considering it a source of public nuisance. Problems Associated with Gangs   The respondents added the following to the list of problems which gangs pose to the community: October 06, 2006 ·  “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 graph. 13 percent believed it is due to poverty, where as 55 percent believed it is due to lack of activities for youth. 30 percent selected family problems and 35 percent of the respondents indicated that the involvement of family or friends in gangs was a factor. 8 percent indicated that the need for protection was a factor in the existence of gang activity in their neighborhood. Reasons of Gang Existance   The respondents added the following to the list: October 06, 2006 ·  “n/a” October 06, 2006 ·  “No work.” October 06, 2006 ·  “No” October 06, 2006 ·  “Police are the enemy. No legal protection” October 06, 2006 ·  “lack of employment” October 06, 2006 ·  “Extreme lack of dicipline and teachings of right a”   Violent Crime Types Participants were asked to identify the type of violent crime about which they are most concerned. 17 said Rape is the violent crime about which they are most concerned. 5 said Murder is the violent crime about which they are most concerned. 20 said Gang Related is the violent crime about which they are most concerned.     Crime Types Participants were asked to identify the types of crime about which they are most concerned. 18 said Prostitution is the crime about which they are most concerned. 10 said Burglary is the crime about which they are most concerned. 14 said Loitering is the crime about which they are most concerned.     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. 90 percent of respondents stated that their children are not involved with a gang. 5 percent believed that their child(ren) is at risk of getting involved. 2 respondents (5 percent) did not respond to this question.     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 63 percent score. However, 25 percent of respondents selected day time/working hours, substantiating anecdotal accounts of drug activity occurring in broad daylight. Table 2. Time Residents Are Most Concerned with Crime   Corinthian   Total Percent Morning 10 25% Working Hour 15 38% Evening 25 63% Late night 2 5%   Victim of Crime Resdidents were asked that have they been the victim of crime. According to our findings, 15 percent of respondents answered 'YES' while 85 percent answered 'NO' .     Tenant Association Resdidents were asked that are they involved in tenant association. According to our findings, 8 percent of respondents answered 'YES' while 93 percent answered 'NO' . Like to be involved in Tenant Assosciation       Feedbacks Q. Is there a particular street or block you prefer to avoid when traveling to and from the community? The entire area at night ---------- Heatherington and Elmvale ---------- Banff Avenue ---------- None ---------- No ---------- Well, sometimes gangs hand out close to my house and I don't fell to go out or to leave my house alone. ---------- Behind the 1225 block ---------- Ledbury ---------- Usually I avoid walking beside the corner on Banff and Ledbury because of gangsters. ---------- The whole location ---------- no ---------- None ---------- No ---------- Down Banff and Ledbury itself, expecially parking lots. ---------- Corner of Banff always gangsters stay there and have drugs. ---------- All my area. I never go out at night. Banff and Ledbury are dangerous. ---------- No there isn't. ----------   Q. Have you ever been the victim of a crime in this neighborhood? What type of crime were you the victim of? Are you comfortable with describing what happened? Where did this crime occur? I don't know. - ---------- NO - In our home ---------- Vandalism. We asked the police and Ottawa Housing to do something about this son of a volunteer destroying car, legally parked in the parking area and got got told to park the car somewhere else. - ---------- Car was taken and found in a ditch. total loss. Evidence showed that kids did it. - Parking lot ---------- They stole many times bicycles from my backyard. - Backyard. ---------- Once they try to rob my house and they stole my daughter's bicycle. - In my house ----------   Q. If you think there are dangerous areas in your community, where are they? Why dangerous? Russell Road side - black and white ---------- All of Ledbury and Banff - Gangs (punks) ---------- Work Shed and Valous corners - ---------- The whole project is dangerous - ---------- Well don't know where but I don't geel that safe in anywhere in the ocmmunity. - Because I see gangs a lot hanging out there. ---------- Behind 1225 block and parking lot nearest to Bank Street. - This is where gangs hang out. ---------- Parking lots. - ---------- By the park - Not enough lighting. ---------- By the workshed. - ---------- Behind the superintendent house - Gangsters do drugs there. ---------- Behind and between the houses. - Not lighted well and they are secluded. ---------- Parking lots and in between walkways. - People can hide there. ---------- Behind the superintendent house. - Gangsters having drugs and making noises and coarse language. ---------- Right at workers shack. - Teens always hang out there. ---------- Ist block of Ledbury. - A lot of gangs and drugs violence, prostitution also. ----------   Q. What types of recreation programs, family-oriented activities, or other activities would you like to see in the community? Sports ---------- - Keep teens busy (6 respondents) - Community get together (3 respondents) - More activities for children and adults. - Whatever the house can afford for all ages. - Activities for ages 3-5. - More activities for children and their families. - Sports (5 respondents) - More activities for 3-6. - Girls only programs the way it used to be. - Guys programs. - Community outings to bring people together. - Activities for children and family. - Camping activities. - Basketball tournament (three respondents) - Dances (3 respondents) - Football (4 respondents). - Have a boy scout and Grownie (?) group one night a week. - More activities and sports for youth. - Educational programs. - First aid lessons. - Summer programs for kids. - Festivals. - Activities for youth, not just younger children. ----------   Q. What type of activity do you think will be suitable for bringing the community out for meeting on weekly basis? BBQ ---------- - Should have curfew as well. - Video surveillance. Get some cameras and charge the drug dealers, thieves and others that seem to be above the law in this area of Ottawa. - I don?t attend any functions anymore because of health related problems. I have done my share at the beginning. After 27 years of being here, I think I have done and seen it all. ---------- Camping activities Basketball tournments ---------- sports ---------- Soccer (Youth compitition) Festivals. ---------- Video surveillance. Get some cameras and charge the drug dealers, thieves and other that seem to be above the law in this area of Ottawa. ---------- Sports. ---------- Girls-only programs (the way it used to be) Guys Program Sports Communtiy Outings to bring people closer. ---------- Well, something for youth, not just for younger children, because it is not fair. The youth need more help so they don't start getting into trouble or get involved with gangs. So the youth in these communities start getting along and making friends. I will be a little bit more free and they will start having fun. So the youth start fresh and get their mind out of gangs and drugs. Activities are needed for girls and guys. ---------- Festivals. ---------- Don't know. ---------- Sports ---------- Programs for kids (Camps and other activities). Soccer or other sport teams or groups so that kids can have somehting todo in summer or when the schools are on. ---------- Summer programs for children. ---------- Activities for children and families. ---------- Pre-school programs in French Language. ---------- More activities for children and their families. ---------- Whatever the house can afford for all ages. ---------- Community get-together. More activities for children. ---------- Dances, sports - basketball and football. Have a night for movies. Have a boy scout one night a week. ---------- I do not attend any functions anymore because of health related problems. I have done my share at the beginning after 27 years of being here, I think I have done and seen it all. ---------- Community events. ---------- Need to engage youth. ---------- Teen activities, e.g. basketball, dances, shoul dhave curfew as well. ---------- More activities and sports for youth or educational programs. First aid lessons. ---------- More activities for age 3-6. ----------

2005-07 South-East Ottawa Centre for a Healthy Community
Centre du sud-est dOttawa pour une communaut en sant

Tel./ Tl: (613) 737-5115 Ext. 2403  Fax/Tl: (613) 739-8199  TTY/ATEM: (613) 739-819

All rights reserved | Tous droits rservs