Drugs, alcohol and a lack of discipline from parents were the three factors most commonly identified as major causes of crime in Northern Ireland in Safe Community Survey.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) today (26 March) published Research and Statistical Bulletin ‘Perceptions of Crime: Findings from the 2019/20 Northern Ireland Safe Community Survey’

It aims to understand perceptions of causes of crime, recent changes in crime levels and the extent of anti-social behaviour in the local area as well as levels of worry about crime and personal safety and perceptions of the effect of ‘fear of crime’ on quality of life.

Almost seven-in-ten (68 per cent) respondents thought crime levels in Northern Ireland had increased in the past two years, a “statistically significant increase” from 2018/19 (60 per cent) but lower than in 2003/04 (79 per cent).

71 per cent, felt that ‘fear of crime’ has a minimal impact on their quality of life, 24 per cent claimed it has a moderate effect, while the remaining five per cent stated their quality of life is greatly affected by their ‘fear of crime’.

80 per cent thought drugs, 56 per cent alcohol and 40 per cent thought lack of discipline from parents were the three factors most commonly identified respondents as major causes of crime in Northern Ireland today.

Only 9 per cent of respondents thought the level of anti-social behaviour (ASB) in their local area was high, a similar proportion to 2018/19 (10 per cent). Across the individual ASB categories, ‘people using or dealing drugs’ (31 per cent) and ‘rubbish or litter lying around’ (27 per cent) were most commonly identified as problems.