Shock poll finds Brits turning to DIY Security and dogs amid fear of crime

• Four in ten UK adults install CCTV, stronger locks, alarm systems and camera doorbells in the past year alone due to fear of crime

• Some have even brought a dog in the past year amid concerns about local crime 

• Concerned local residents turning to joining their Neighbourhood Watch as 1.5 million crimes go unsolved across England and Wales in the first three quarters of 2022.

• Liberal Democrat Leader slams the Conservatives for creating “padlock neighbourhoods” where people don’t feel secure in their own homes. 

A new poll commissioned by the Liberal Democrats has found four in ten (40%) UK adults have installed new home security measures in the past year as a result of being worried about local crime. 

This includes one in six (17%) installing CCTV cameras, one in ten (11%) installing stronger door locks and a one in ten (10%) fitting their home with a new alarm system. The most popular home security measure has been a doorbell with a camera (19%). 

As well as home security measures, some Brits (6%) have even brought a dog because they are worried about crime in their area. 

Others have joined their local Neighbourhood Watch in the past year (7%).

A staggering one in five (21%) of adults have avoided leaving the house when it's dark because of fear of crime.

In the first three quarters of 2022, 1.5 million crimes went unsolved in England and Wales - including nearly 70% of burglaries, or 351 burglaries a day.

The Liberal Democrats are calling for a burglary response guarantee so that victims are visited by a police officer at the scene. The party is also calling for a return to proper community policing. 

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: 

“By leaving our streets unsafe, the Conservatives are creating padlock neighbourhoods where millions of residents are having to take security in their own hands. 

“It is a scandal that millions of Brits are turning to DIY security because the Conservative Government has completely failed to tackle crime on our streets. It’s a scandal and they should be ashamed. 

“People pay their fair share and at the very least expect proper community policing, where officers are visible on their streets. Instead, people have been left behind and taken for granted - leaving our neighbourhoods more unsafe."

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Methodology: Savanta interviewed 2,181 UK adults aged 18+ online between 21st and 23rd April 2023. Data were weighted to be representative of the UK by age, sex, region, and social grade.

Full data results here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GfdFn4gpof6D4jUNFbH2Tk_IK1iUsIfgM_TeKjfZRck/edit#gid=1180184178

 In the last year, which of the following, if any, have you done as a result of being worried about crime in your area? Base: All respondents (n=2, 181)