Elderly are ‘imprisoned’ by fear of crime
Many elderly people are effectively housebound because of a fear of street crime, the charity Age Concern has today claimed.
In the country’s largest ever survey of the fear of street crime amongst older people, 37% of over-50s and 47% of over-75s said they are too afraid to leave the house at night. Those living in the South West were most afraid, while elderly people in the North East were least likely to be deterred from venturing outside.
Gordon Lishman, Age Concern England’s director-general, commented: “Fear of street crime has trapped many older people inside their own four walls, putting them at risk of loneliness and isolation. It is not only older people who stand to lose out by being prisoners of fear, but also the wider community.”
The solution suggested by nearly two-thirds of the 4,000 people surveyed was more police on the beat. Other key factors to making them feel more secure included better street lighting, safer public transport, more CCTV surveillance and better relations between young people and the elderly.
Unlike other types of crime, street crime is on the increase in the UK. However, Age Concern has pointed out that the chances of becoming a victim of street crime in later life are slimmer than at any other time.
But the perception is very different from the reality, with two-thirds of older people believing that they are more likely to become victims as they grow older.
Age Concern has called action to address the problem by having specific policing and crime prevention initiatives that deal with older people’s concerns, having a more visible police and community warden presence, and co-operating with elderly people on Neighbourhood Watch schemes.
