Crime has gone up, according to British Columbians
Posted July 13, 2018 11:21 am.
Last Updated July 13, 2018 6:47 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It confirms what most of us already know: Crime is top of mind for many people in B.C.
A new survey finds almost two in five British Columbians feel crime has gotten worse in their community over the past four years.
What’s to blame? Mario Canseco with Research Co. says the majority of British Columbians (51%) point the finger at addiction and mental health issues.
“Particularly, when it comes to petty crime — someone breaking into a car, stealing a few coins — [people feel] they’re trying to find some money to buy drugs. That’s definitely part of the situation.”
Forty per cent blame gangs and illegal drug trade, while 36 per cent say our court system is too slow. About a quarter of respondents mention poverty and inequality as factors.
Canseco adds there appears to be a divide between perception and reality. While 38 per cent say crime has gotten worse, only 17 per cent report being the victim of a crime. “Ultimately, you’re basing your views on crime on what is being covered [on the news] and also the experience of your friends and neighbours, who may be have experienced crime.”
The survey found your perception on crime depends on where you live.
“If you’re in Vancouver, if you’re in Burnaby, if you’re on the North Shore, you’re more likely to be lower on the scale of whether criminal activity has gone up. But if you live in Surrey, you’re definitely more likely to believe that criminal activity is on the rise,” explains Canseco.
He adds the survey results had a generational divide. “Millennials — aged 18 to 34 — are more likely to fear becoming victims of crime, which I thought was interesting because it’s usually a more fearless generation.”
Canseco admits baby boomers are more likely to say that crime is a problem in their community. “But the one generation that is experiencing crime more is Generation X. If you’re 35 to 54, you’re more likely to have reported something that happened to you to the police.”
The three factors that were lowest-ranked, in terms of their contribution to crime in the community, were insufficient policing (19%), bad economy and unemployment (13%), and immigrants and minorities (8%)
