NCJ Number
213812
Date Published
March 2005
Length
86 pages
Annotation
This report describes the methodology of the evaluation of 16 pilot programs of the United Kingdom's National Reassurance Project, which is designed to test the premise that certain signs of social or physical disorder in a community have a disproportionate influence on residents' fear of crime.
Abstract
In October 2003, an independent evaluator was commissioned by the Home Office to conduct 2 telephone surveys with representative samples of the adult (over age 16) population in the 16 pilot areas. Interviews for the first survey (Wave 1) were conducted in the pilot wards prior to the full implementation of the projects, so as to provide baseline measures. The second survey (Wave 2) was conducted approximately 12 months later, so as to provide comparable measures after the projects had been implemented. The two surveys were intended to show any changes in attitudes and perceptions of respondents as a result of project activities. In as many cases as possible, the same respondents were interviewed in the two waves. Both surveys covered the following topics: feelings of safety and security; confidence in the police force; satisfaction with the police force; visibility, accessibility, and familiarity of policing; and community engagement. In addition to the interviews in the pilot wards, interviews were also conducted in six control wards, which were selected to provide a reasonable match to six of the pilot wards across a range of area and demographic characteristics. Interviews were conducted in the control wards during both waves of the project. This report provides details on the sampling, the contact procedure, the questionnaire design and piloting, fieldwork, and the response rate. Appended questionnaire and coding of responses