PERCEPTIONS OF THE RISK OF CHILD ABDUCTION OR LOSS AND THE UTILITY OFCHILD ELECTRONIC SECURITY DEVICES

Perceptions of the susceptibility of young children to becoming lost o r being abducted, and of the potential usefulness of child electronic security devices, were examined via a questionnaire. Data were provide d by 41 volunteers, most of them from a local government office centre . The questionnaire asked for demographic data, and then for the risk of a child being abducted or lost when under the supervision of differ ent caregivers and in different situations. The probable effectiveness of three common abductor ploys was also addressed. The questionnaire concluded with 10 questions about child electronic security devices. R espondents viewed mothers, fathers, and grandparents as equally respon sible caregivers and young adults/babysitters as the least responsible . These effects diminished as the age of the children increased. The g arden at home was judged to be the most secure environment for childre n of all ages, while an amusement park was judged the least secure env ironment. Children were perceived to be more at risk of an abduction w hen a stranger asked for physical assistance or to take them to the ho spital because their parents were hurt, than when asked for directions . Furthermore, the respondents expressed a moderately strong need for child electronic security devices, and viewed parents who use them as more responsible than those who do not.