Feelings and functions in the fear of crime: Applying a new approach to victimisation insecurity
Open accessAbstract
This paper presents a new definition of fear of crime that integrates two conceptual developments in this enduring field of criminological enquiry. Our measurement strategy differentiates first between specific worries and diffuse anxieties in emotional responses to crime, and second between productive and counterproductive effects on subjective well-being and precautionary activities. Drawing on data from a representative survey of seven London neighbourhoods, these distinctions are combined into an ordinal scale that moves from the ‘unworried’, to low-level motivating emotions, to frequent and dysfunctional worry about crime. We demonstrate that different categories of ‘fear’ have different correlates and explain different levels of variation in public confidence in policing. We conclude with a call for more longitudinal research to uncover the dynamic nature of fear of crime over the life course.
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Numerous studies have questioned whether findings from surveys and phrasing of questions reflect actual perceived safety or fear of crime.
“Numerous studies have questioned the appropriateness of surveys and the phrasing of questions to assess perceptions of safety, questioning whether the findings reflect actual perceived safety or fear of crime (Lee, 2001; Jackson, 2005; Gray et al., 2011).”
From Women's perceived safety in public places and public transport: A narrative review of contributing factors and measurement methods (2025) · cites this paper as Gray et al., 2011
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Cites
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Group-Based Modeling of Development
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Dubey, S., Bailey, A., & Lee, J. (. (2025) · Cities · doi:10.1016/j.cities.2024.105534 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
- Authors
- Gray, E., Jackson, J., & Farrall, S.
- Affiliations
- Keele University (GB)
- London School of Economics and Political Science (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Gray, E.
- Venue
- British Journal of Criminology
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2010-11-08
- Volume
- 51
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 75-94
- ISSN
- 0007-0955 (ISSN-L)
- 1464-3529
- OpenAlex
- W2148826680
- Cited by
- 235
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 9 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 13
- FWCI
- 35.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- The British Journal of Criminology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- London School of Economics and Political Science Research Online (London School of Economics and Political Science) (submittedVersion)
- London School of Economics and Political Science Theses Online (London School of Economics and Political Science) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime Patterns and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Law › Criminal Justice and Penology
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Policing Practices and Perceptions
- Keywords
- fear of crime, subjective well-being, preventive behavior, public trust in police, ordinal scale, life course
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