Reducing Fear of Crime through Occupational Presence

Abstract

Not all types of population activity can be expected to increase one's sense of safety in public places. Fear of crime in public places, however, may be reduced through a greater incidence of occupational presence. Some of the characteristics of occupational groups which reduce fear of crime are identified. In particular, persons in uniform and persons in the employ of government, working in a location in which they have a vested interest, are most effective in reducing fear. Demographic characteristics of the occupational person (age, race, sex) also were found to affect ability to inculcate a sense of safety. These findings suggest that increasing the number of members of certain occupational groups in public places (beyond what is warranted on grounds of private efficiency) may be justified by the improved sense of safety that they generate.