Safety

Perceptions of safety Property-related victimisations Child investigations Child abuse or neglect Family violence victimisations

Download complete Safety domain

Both our perception and experience of safety strongly influence wellbeing. People who hold fears for their personal safety and security are likely to have a lower quality of life and a decreased sense of wellbeing, and may find it difficult to participate fully in their community [1,2]. Where offending in a community is perceived to increase, or actually does increase, the community may become less appealing for new residents and for people who go there for recreation or other activities [3-5]. Communities with low levels of offending attract greater investment from the private sector, which in turn creates more employment opportunities and contributes to a higher quality of life, as the community is more stable and healthier [6-8].

Rates of child abuse and neglect are of particular concern in New Zealand [9]. International evidence emphasises that it is important to have a safe, secure and attached childhood. If a child experiences repeated abuse or neglect, this harms their development, progression and functioning [9]. Child abuse and neglect are risk factors for substance misuse, risky sexual behaviour, obesity, and criminal behaviour, and are associated with poorer child and adult mental health, as well as poorer educational achievement and employment outcomes [10-13].

Key trends within safety

In the Canterbury Wellbeing Survey, respondents from greater Christchurch indicated favourable levels of perceived safety across different locations and times of day (with the exception of Christchurch City centre after dark). The indicators also suggest that the number of family violence victimisations has remained relatively stable for greater Christchurch over the last four to five years. However, the indicators suggest that the number of property-related offences has shown an upward trend prior to falling substantially during the COVID-19 lockdown period. Oranga Tamariki reports of concern requiring further action, and findings of child abuse or neglect both increased for greater Christchurch/Canterbury in 2018.

Key equity issues within safety

The perceptions of safety indicator suggests that having a low income or long-term health condition or disability, or being female, older, or non-European are all associated with increased perceived risk of harm. No breakdown data are available for the remainder of the indicators (property-related offences, Oranga Tamariki notifications requiring action, child abuse or neglect victimisations, or family violence victimisations).

What this means for wellbeing

The relationship between safety indicators and wellbeing is complex. However, lower levels of personal exposure to harm or loss are generally relatable to improved levels of wellbeing. The data show differences in perceptions of safety for some groups (such as for females after dark in their neighbourhood and/or town/city centre, and for people with a long-term health condition or disability). Other indicators (property-related victimisations, Oranga Tamariki child investigations and child abuse or neglect) suggest that exposure to harm in these contexts has been relatively stable over recent years, although recent (2018 onwards) data suggest some increase in reported harm.

References
  1. Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform (2009) Fear of Crime in Ireland and its Impact on Quality of Life: A Report Commissioned by the National Crime Council Dublin: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
  2. Schweitzer J, Kim J, Mackin J (1999) The impact of the built environment on crime and fear of crime in urban neighbourhoods. Journal of Urban Technology 6: 59–73.
  3. Taylor R (1995) The impact of crime on communities. The American Academy of Political and Social Science 593: 28–45.
  4. Parkes A, Kearns A, Atkinson R (2002) What makes people dissatisfied with their neighbourhoods? Urban Studies 39: 2413–2438.
  5. Permentier M, Bolt G, van Ham M (2011) Determinants of neighbourhood satisfaction and perception of neighbourhood reputation. Urban Studies 48: 977–996.
  6. Porter M (1996) The competitive advantage of the inner city. In: Gate RL, Stout F, editors. The city reader. 5 ed. Oxford: Routledge.
  7. Turner R (1999) Entrepreneurial neighborhood initiatives: political capital in community development. Economic Development Quarterly 13: 15–22.
  8. McGahey R (1986) Economic conditions, neighborhood organization, and urban crime. Communities and Crime 8: 231–270.
  9. Waldegrave C, Waldegrave K (2009) Healthy families, young minds and developing brains: enabling all children to reach their potential. Wellington: Families Commission.
  10. Currie J, Widom CS (2010) Long-term consequences of child abuse and neglect on adult economic well-being. Child Maltreatment 15: 111-120.
  11. Springer KW, Sheridan J, Kuo D, Carnes M (2003) The Long-term Health Outcomes of Childhood Abuse. Journal of General Internal Medicine 18: 864-870.
  12. Gilbert R, Widom CS, Browne K, Fergusson D, Webb E, et al. (2009) Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries. The Lancet 373: 68-81.
  13. Infometrics Ltd. (2008) The nature of economic costs from child abuse and neglect in New Zealand: A report by Infometrics for Every Child Counts (ECC discussion Paper 1, June). Wellington: Every Child Counts.
  14. Ferraro KF (1995) Fear of Crime: Interpreting Victimization Risk. Albany, State University of New York: University of New York Press.
  15. Jewkes Y (2011) Key approaches to criminology. Los Angeles ; London: SAGE.
  16. Pink B (2011) Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC) Australia 2011 (Third edition). Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics.
  17. Kelley BT, Thornberry TP, Smith CA (1997) In the wake of childhood maltreatment. Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice.
  18. Oranga Tamariki (2018) Oranga Tamariki notifications assessments: Total and distinct children and young people with reports of concern requiring further action, by notifier type, for last two financial years www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/statistics/cyf/investigations-and-assessments.html. In: Ministry of Social Development, editor.
  19. Gilbert R, Fluke J, O'Donnell M, Gonzalez-Izquierdo A, Brownell M, et al. (2012) Child maltreatment: variation in trends and policies in six developed countries. The Lancet 379: 758-772.
  20. Gilbert R, Kemp A, Thoburn J, Sidebotham P, Radford L, et al. (2009) Recognising and responding to child maltreatment. The Lancet 373: 167-180.
  21. Gilbert R, Widom CS, Browne K, Fergusson D, Webb E, et al. (2009) Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries. The Lancet 373: 68-81.
  22. MacMillan HL, Wathen CN, Barlow J, Fergusson DM, Leventhal JM, et al. (2009) Interventions to prevent child maltreatment and associated impairment. The Lancet 373: 250-266.
  23. Gulliver P, Fanslow J (2012) Measurement of family violence at a population level: What might be needed to develop reliable and valid family violence indicators? Auckland: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, the University of Auckland.
  24. Gulliver P, Fanslow J (2013) Family violence indicators: Can administrative data sets be used to measure trends in family violence in New Zealand? Wellington: SuPERU.
  25. Lauritsen JL, Rezey ML (2018) Victimization Trends and Correlates: Macro- and Microinfluences and New Directions for Research. Annual Review of Criminology 1: 103-121.
  26. OECD Family Database (2013) SF3.4: Family violence. In: OECD - Social Policy Division - Directorate of Employment LaSA, editor.
  27. Bachman R, Saltzman L (1995) Bureau of Justice Statistics Special Report: violence against women: Estimates from the redesigned survey (NCJ-154348). Washington, DC: Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics.
  28. Bowes L, Arseneault L, Maughan B, Taylor A, Caspi A, et al. (2009) School, neighborhood, and family factors are associated with children's bullying involvement: a nationally representative longitudinal study. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 48: 545-553.
  29. Hipp JR, Bauer DJ, Curran PJ, Bollen KA (2004) Crimes of Opportunity or Crimes of Emotion? Testing Two Explanations of Seasonal Change in Crime. Social Forces 82: 1333-1372.
Find out more
  • NZ Police data
    This interactive website produced by New Zealand Police presents Recorded Crime Victims Statistics (RCVS) and Recorded Crime Offenders Statistics (RCOS) and Demand and Activity data.
  • Family violence data
    The New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse collates a wide range of information about family violence.
  • Oranga Tamariki data
    This Ministry of Social Development webpage provides links to data relating to what is now under the responsibility of Oranga Tamariki.
  • Integrated Safety Response
    This New Zealand Police website provides information about the intersectoral response to family violence operating in Christchurch.
  • Safer Christchurch Strategy
    This interagency collaboration is governed by multiple agencies who are working together to make Christchurch a safer place in which to work, play, live and visit.