Country twice as safe as towns
17 October 2000
‘Country twice as safe as towns’
By FWi staff
DESPITE high-profile cases, people living in the countryside are far less likely to be victims of crime than urban dwellers, according to new research.
The British Crime Survey reports that rural dwellers are half as likely to be victims of some major types of crime as adults in urban areas.
Across the country between 1997 and 1999, figures for burglaries against domestic premises dropped by 21% to 1.284 million – the lowest figure since 1982.
In 1999 some 4.3% of households across the country experienced a burglary or attempted burglary, but in rural areas the figure was 2.6%.
Figures for violence dropped by 20% to 3.246m instances over the same period.
The average chance of experiencing violence was 4.2% nationally, but in rural areas the risk of being attacked was 2.7%
Between 1997 and 1999 the number of vehicle-related thefts dropped 15% to 2.956m.
While across the country 12.6% of vehicle owners were victims of vehicle-related crime, the figure in country areas was 9%.
Last summer, Norfolk farmer Tony Martin was jailed for life for murdering a 16-year-old burglar, Fred Barras, during a break-in on his farm.
In the furore which followed the verdict, concerns were voiced in many quarters about the vulnerability of country people.
Countryside organisations said the very remoteness of rural communities and the isolation of individual homes make them easy prey for burglars.
Overall, the British Crime Survey reported a 10% drop in crime between 1997 and 1999.
Interviews with 23,000 people were conducted for the British Crime Survey.