'Fear of crime', vulnerability and poverty - Evidence from the British Crime Survey

This article is based on a study which employs the notion of vulnerability to explore perceptions of safety among people living in poverty. It is sugg ested that 'fear of crime' among poor people should not be seen in isolatio n from other insecurities which they may experience as a result of local, n ational, and international processes. Analysis based on the 1944 British Cr ime Survey demonstrates strong support for the view that some population gr oups-either because of their physical inability to defend themselves or soc ial and economic position-may feel less safe than others.