Measuring Fear of Crime by the Use of the CIS Barometers

This paper explores whether the concern shown by the Spanish population about crime as being a problem for the country as a whole and a personal problem in the CIS barometers is a good measurement of the concept of fear of crime. Firstly, the dimensions of fear of crime are shown, and the conceptual and empirical basis for the concern that we have called the problematisation of crime is presented. Secondly, the theoretical relevance of adopting this concept as an indicator of fear of crime is evaluated. Thirdly, empirical data are provided to demonstrate its usefulness. The analysis concludes that the problematisation of crime, constructed on the basis of the barometers of the CIS, is a good measurement of fear of crime, in addition to having some advantages over those used by victimisation surveys