Longdill and Associates Public Perceptions of Safety from Crime in the Auckland Region Local Board Summaries Prepared for: Community Safety - Auckland Council March 2012 For further information please contact Judi Longdill (09) 534 125 Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1 Albert-Eden Local Board Summary ........................................................................................... 11 Devonport-Takapuna Local Board Summary ............................................................................ 16 Franklin Local Board Summary.................................................................................................. 22 Great Barrier Local Board Summary ......................................................................................... 27 Henderson-Massey Local Board Summary ............................................................................... 31 Hibiscus and Bays Local Board Summary ................................................................................ 38 Howick Local Board Summary ................................................................................................... 43 Kaipatiki Local Board Summary................................................................................................. 48 Mangere-Otahuhu Local Board Summary ................................................................................. 53 Manurewa Local Board Summary .............................................................................................. 59 Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board Summary ........................................................................... 65 Orakei Local Board Summary .................................................................................................... 71 Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board Summary .................................................................................. 76 Papakura Local Board Summary ............................................................................................... 83 Puketapapa Local Board Summary ........................................................................................... 89 Rodney Local Board Summary .................................................................................................. 94 Upper Harbour Local Board Summary ...................................................................................... 99 Waiheke Local Board Summary ............................................................................................... 104 Waitakere Ranges Local Board Summary ............................................................................... 109 Waitemata Local Board Summary ............................................................................................ 114 Whau Local Board Summary .................................................................................................... 121 Longdill and Associates Ltd March 2012 Public Perceptions of Safety from Crime in the Auckland Region Executive Summary This report documents the findings of a web-based and telephone survey of 2,211 Auckland Region residents seeking their views on safety from crime in the region. The research was conducted in October – November 2011. Note all figures are based on total sample unless otherwise stated. General perceptions of safety from crime 81% rated the Auckland Region as a place where people feel „very‟ or „fairly‟ safe from crime Burglary/theft and assault / mugging stand out as the main drivers of concerns about safety from crime Those living outside Southern Auckland tended to name that area in general as a place outside their own area where they would feel unsafe and their car would be at risk if left parked there, indicating a level of stereotyping Whilst 66% felt there had been no change in the level of perceived safety in the region over the last year, the balance of opinion was that the region had become less safe (19%) rather than more safe (12%) Experience of crime 26% said they, or a household member, had been the victim of crime in the Auckland region in the last year Crimes against property outweighed crimes against person by two to one 25% reported being the victim of harassment, intimidation or assault during the last year with this attributed more to perpetrator issues than anything to do with the background of the victim or the circumstances of the occasion 3% had been the victim of crime during the day and 4% after dark in „their‟ city centre in the last year (respondents selected one from Auckland City centre, Takapuna town centre, Henderson town centre or Manukau City centre) Impact of crime and safety on daily lives 48% said feelings about safety and crime had some (34%) or a big (14%) effect on what they do on a daily basis, such as the places they go and the things they do 17% reported being fearful that they or their family members would become a victim of crime on the previous day, although just 2% said they felt this fear at least once a month or more often 23% are categorised as having significant concerns about safety in at least one location, which affect the activities they undertake Those whose activities are impacted by safety concerns are twice as likely to be women as men, include a third of under 30s and between 35% and 40% of residents living in each of the Mangere-Otahuhu, Otara-Papatoetoe and Manurewa Local Board areas General perceptions of neighbourhood safety 85% see their neighbourhood as being a fairly or very safe place Burglary/theft is the main driver of neighbourhood safety concerns 67% feel that their neighbourhood is as safe as it was a year ago with the balance fairly evenly divided between feeling it is more safe or less safe Longdill and Associates Ltd March 2012 1 Public Perceptions of Safety from Crime in the Auckland Region Safety in particular neighbourhood locations Safety concerns rise after dark particularly when waiting for a bus at a neighbourhood bus stop. % who feel unsafe % who feel unsafe Location during day after dark Walking in neighbourhood streets 6 22 Walking through neighbourhood park 13 24 Visiting local shopping centre 7 14 Waiting for bus at neighbourhood bus stop 5 41 Safety concerns that impact on activities Residents who have safety concerns about a particular location that results in them feeling quite or very fearful at the time, are categorised as having such a level of concern that is likely to impact on what they do and where they go, that is, their participation in the community. % whose lives are % whose lives are Location impacted during day impacted after dark Walking in neighbourhood streets 2 9 Walking through neighbourhood park 4 12 Visiting local shopping centre 2 5 Perceptions of safety using public facilities on your own Safety concerns rise markedly after dark. % who feel unsafe % who feel unsafe Location during day after dark Public toilets at local shopping centre 12 48 Public toilets in local park 19 66 Visiting local beach 7 51* Waiting for ferry at ferry terminal (time of day not stipulated) 8 Waiting for train at train station (time of day not stipulated) 15 * no stipulation that respondent had to be on their own Perceived safety in the Auckland City centre (based on all who named this as „their‟ city centre) During the day After dark Percent who feel unsafe walking in city centre 5 24 Percent whose lives are impacted due to the level of concern 1 10 Wide range of locations identified as being unsafe People‟s behaviour and attitudes rather than environmental factors singled out as reasons for safety concerns Concerns about safety arise early in the evening – before 10pm Longdill and Associates Ltd March 2012 2 Public Perceptions of Safety from Crime in the Auckland Region Perceived safety in Takapuna town centre (based on all who named this as „their‟ city centre) During the day After dark Percent who feel unsafe walking in town centre 2 8 Percent whose lives are impacted due to the level of concern 0 3 Takapuna Beach singled out as main unsafe location People‟s behaviour and attitudes rather than environmental factors singled out as reasons for safety concerns Concerns about safety arise early in the evening – before 10pm Perceived safety in Henderson town centre (based on all who named this as „their‟ city centre) During the day After dark Percent who feel unsafe walking in town centre 11 20 Percent whose lives are impacted due to the level of concern 2 10 The town centre generally and outside the mall specifically singled out as main unsafe locations People‟s behaviour and attitudes rather than environmental factors singled out as reasons for safety concerns Concerns about safety arise early in the evening – before 10pm Perceived safety in Manukau City centre (based on all who named this as „their‟ city centre) During the day After dark Percent who feel unsafe walking in city centre 8 19 Percent whose lives are impacted due to the level of concern 1 9 The outside of Westfield Mall and the mall car park singled out as main unsafe locations People‟s behaviour and attitudes rather than environmental factors singled out as reasons for safety concerns Concerns about safety arise early in the evening – before 10pm Perceived safety in local shopping centres Although sample sizes for individual shopping centres were small, a number stood out as being perceived as less safe during the day than others: Avondale Otahuhu Otara town centre