The relationship between likelihood and fear of criminal victimisation: evaluating risk sensitivity as a mediating concept. .

No abstract

Much of the literature on fear of crime (FOC) has focused on the role of risk perceptions in understanding FOC, with little consideration given to psychological factors not directly related to crime, but that can impact the levels of FOC. This study introduces general fear (GF) as an explanatory factor in understanding FOC. A proportional random sample of 1,197 respondents was obtained from 406 enumeration districts across Trinidad. The results revealed GF as the strongest predictor of FOC across ethnicity, sex, age, area of residence, and victim status. Explanations and areas for further investigation are offered.

No abstract

A review of available international evidence indicates that crime features regularly in the media. New data shows that this is also true for Trinidad. Elsewhere, it has been shown that newspaper crime news concentrates heavily on infrequently occurring crimes involving sex and/or violence. Crime news on television and radio has not been subject to as much scrutiny, although it has been shown that televised crime drama is noticeably violent. Data from a representative sample of Trinidadian respondents (n = 705) undertaken in 2000 indicate no relationship between media consumption and fear of crime.