Elderly suffer with crime increase

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 431, 7 April 1992, Page 4

Elderly suffer with crime increase

More than 100 community newspapers throughout New Zealand are right behind the 1992 national crime prevention week which is focussing on the very real fear of crime in their communities, particularly among the elderly. The President of the New Zealand Community Newspapers Association, Mr Brian

Neben, of Auckland, says most CNA member newspapers have willingly joined in this year's effort by the police to increase public awareness on ways to reduce the opportunities for crime. Inspector Roger Honan, national coordinator of crime prevention, says that fear of crime by New Zealand

residents has reached such epidemic proportions that some sectors of the community have totally changed their lifestyles "living in virtual misery." He adds that press reporting of particularly horrific crimes of violence such as murder, rape and armed robbery, coupled with crime statistics increasing by the year and violent television programmes lead people to think such crimes are happening on a much bigger scale than they actually are. "The elderly in particular appear to suffer from extreme anxiety

over crime, to such an extent that many lead lives under self-imposed curfews, cutting themselves off still further from a world which may have already grown more distant since the end of working life or raising a family," he says. He quotes statistics to show a greater chance each day of being injured in a car accident than of being murdered, raped or violently assaulted. On average there is one murder, 17 rapes or other sexual violations and 20 aggravated robberies every day of the week.

This represents a one in 56,800 chance of being murdered, a one in 3,820 chance of being raped or sexually assaulted, or a one in 3,280 chance of being subjected to aggravated robbery. In contrast there are 245 traffic accidents a

week and this represents a one in 266 chance of involvement. Inspector Honan says the police and traffic safety service merger makes sound logic in providing a formidable front to reducing crime and the road toll.

Crime Prevention is a practice which must reflect the reality of criminal behaviour, yet at the same time provide public awareness for ways to even further reduce the opportunities for crime," he adds.