The fear factor: Examining the spatial variability of recorded crime on the fear of crime

• We gage the effect that crime at three different spatial levels have on fear of crime.
• The higher the crime in a neighborhood, the higher the fear of crime exhibited.
• Crime in surrounding neighborhoods of an individual is not related to fear.
• Crime in the broader spatial setting is negatively associated with fear.
• Fear of crime is contingent on the spatial context in which crime occurs.

Reported crime can significantly influence the fear of crime yet no studies have investigated whether recorded crime in surrounding neighborhoods or within the broader spatial region of the city may affect an individual's feelings of vulnerability in their own neighborhood. In this study we attempt to fill this gap by using multi-level hierarchical models to gage the effect that recorded crime at three different spatial scales (own neighborhood, surrounding neighborhoods, and broader region) has on fear of crime among adult New Zealanders. In the analysis we found that crime within an individual's own neighborhood influenced their fear of crime but crime occurring within neighboring communities had little or no effect on their feelings of safety and security. Crime occurring in the broader region of the individual's immediate neighborhood had a significant, negative relationship with fear. Possible explanations for the varying spatial effects of recorded crime on fear are identified and discussed.