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Public Safety

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III. Public Safety

IndicatorDo you agree: ‘Parents should feel confident letting their children play in the streets around their homes’

FindingThe vast majority of the 151 people who responded to this question either agree or strongly agree with this statement; the overall proportion is 76.8%.

On the other hand, just 9,3% of the respondents disagree or strongly disagree with this statement; the proportion of people who don’t have an opinion about or did not respond to the question is 13.9%.

It’s worth noting that several people highlight ‘should’ in the question’s text; this could mean that some of the respondents think that in theory there should be the opportunity to let children play in the streets, but this is not currently an option due to other reasons.

Theoretical assumptionThis indicator is useful to assess the community feelings about street safety and to inform the future proposals regarding road layout changes and playing opportunities in the area.

SourceStreet Survey, hard-copy and online questionnaires (September 2015); residents respons-es.

Not sure/don’t answer

Disagree

AgreeStronglyAgree

StronglyDisagree

41% 36% 14% 5% 4%

Parents should feel confident letting their children play in the streets around their homes

(151 responses)

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III. Public Safety

IndicatorDo you agree: ‘I feel safe walking through the neighbourhood after dark’

Finding55.3% of the 152 people who responded to this question confirm to feel safe in walking through the neighbourhood even after dark; on the other hand, 22.4% of the respon-dents disagree or strongly disagree with this statement.

The proportion of people who didn’t have an opinion about it or who didn’t answer the question is 22.4% as well.

Theoretical assumptionThis indicator is useful to understand the community’s attitude towards safety in Camley Street and Elm Village.

SourceStreet Survey, hard-copy and online questionnaires (September 2015); residents respons-es.

Not sure/don’t answer DisagreeAgreeStrongly

AgreeStronglyDisagree

11% 44% 22% 15% 7%

I feel safe walking through the neighbourhood after dark

(152 responses)

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IndicatorDo you agree: ‘There is a problem with reckless driving in the area’

FindingThe 152 people who responded to this question have very different opinions about the impact of reckless driving in the Camley Street and Elm Village area.

The questionnaires’ answers highlight the predominance of people who either disagree or strongly disagree with this statement, make up 38.2% of the total responses.

It’s worth noting than there are more people who either don’t have an opinion about or didn’t answer to the question (31.6%), in comparison with people who agree with the statement (30.3%).

Theoretical assumptionThis indicator assesses community attitudes about street safety and may inform future proposals regarding road layout modifications and traffic calming measures.

SourceStreet Survey, hard-copy and online questionnaires (September 2015); residents respons-es.

Not sure/don’t answer DisagreeAgreeStrongly

AgreeStronglyDisagree

5% 25% 32% 33% 5%

There is a problem with reckless driving in the area (151 responses)

III. Public Safety

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IndicatorDo you agree: ‘Anti-social activity is a serious problem in the area’

Finding151 people responded to this question and a slight majority of the respondents either strongly agree or agree with this statement, meaning that they consider anti-social be-haviours a serious problem in the area; they make up 37.1% of the total answers.

On the other hand, people who either strongly disagree or disagree with this statement are 35.8%, while 27.2% of respondents either don’t have an opinion about or they didn’t respond to this question.

Theoretical assumptionThis indicator highlights local residents’ concerns and opinions about anti-social be-haviours in the area and how these can be tackled throughout appropriate interventions.

SourceStreet Survey, hard-copy and online questionnaires (September 2015); residents respons-es.

Not sure/don’t answer DisagreeAgreeStrongly

AgreeStronglyDisagree

10% 27% 27% 32% 4%

Anti-social activity is a serious problem in the area (151 responses)

III. Public Safety

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IndicatorReported crime per 1,000 residents

FindingFrom 2013 to 2014, the average crime rate of the Camden - St. Pancras and Somers Town Ward (the one of Camley Street) was 89.6, higher than the London average (82.8), but considerably lower in comparison to the Camden figure (124.4).

The comparison with Camden figures shows a smaller proportion of Robbery (2.6 vs 4.1), Theft and Handling (40.6 vs 67.1), Criminal Damage (6.0 vs 6.9) and Drugs (4.5 vs 9); on the other hand, Violence against the person (24.0 vs 20.2) and Deliberate fires (0.4 vs 0.3) data are higher in Camley Street.

Theoretical assumptionThe actual incidence of crime is a useful comparator for people’s perception of crime in their area.

SourceWard Profiles (London Datastore, 2014).

Camden - St. Pancras and Somers Town Camden London England and Wales Source:

Crime rate - 2013/14 89,6 124,4 82,8 65,3 Metropolitan Police ServiceViolence against the person rate - 2013/14 24,0 20,2 18,2 11,1 Metropolitan Police ServiceRobbery rate - 2013/14 2,6 4,1 3,3 1,0 Metropolitan Police ServiceTheft and Handling rate - 2013/14 40,6 67,1 35,7 32,4 Metropolitan Police ServiceCriminal Damage rate - 2013/14 6,0 6,9 6,7 8,9 Metropolitan Police ServiceDrugs rate - 2013/14 4,5 9,0 5,9 3,5 Metropolitan Police ServiceDeliberate Fires per 1,000 population - 2014 0,4 0,3 0,5 n/a London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority

III. Public Safety

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IndicatorDo you have any comments you’d like to make about public safety?

Finding82 people respond to this open question and and, on the right, you can see the out-comes of a keyword analysis.

Residents in the neighbourhood have a particular concern about fast driving by motor-ists and moped drivers. Camley Street itself is regarded as an unfriendly place for pedes-trians, and unsuitable for children’s play. There is also a problem with abandoned cars, particularly as this contributes to the atmosphere of urban decay may trigger other forms of criminal and anti-social activity.

People also feel unsafe at night as a result of inadequate street lighting; this is true for Camley Street, Barker Drive and around the Elm Village open space and under the bridge by the garages.

In terms of local crime, ‘low-level’ drug dealing is the issue most often cited. This is linked to people’s concern about poor lighting as it creates dark corners where transactions can take place. Their presence undermines residents’ sense of safety.

Theoretical assumptionThis indicator sheds light on the community-feeling regarding Camley Street and Elm Village safety.

SourceStreet Survey, hard-copy and online questionnaires (September 2015); residents respons-es.

Public Safety - Keyword analysis (82 responses)

x21

x18

x15

x15

x9

Drivers

Lighting

Safe

Speed

Drug dealing

x8

x7

x6

x6

x5

Street sign

Camera/CCTV

Dark

Police

Unsafe

III. Public Safety

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