An evaluation of factors relating to students’ fear of crime in Greater Manchester

The aim of this study was to evaluate factors that relate to fear of crime amongst students in Greater Manchester. Although research suggests that students are at high risk of victimisation, student fear of crime is under researched. A quantitative survey incorporating questionnaires, measured student participants fear of crime and precautionary actions and vignettes measured gang perception (N = 168). Data was analysed using correlations, regressions, t-tests and ANOVAs. Results revealed gang perception, precautionary actions, gender and age related to students’ fear of crime and relationships between the variables were found, however, district was not related to students’ fear of crime. Furthermore, results established that gang perception differed depending on the location that the youth groups were observed in and the gender of the youth groups in the scenario. Limitations suggest that the districts may have been too restricted, future research should use a range of districts across Greater Manchester. In order to improve the result’s validity, future researchers should utilise lie scales to test for socially desirable responding. This study extends the knowledge on students’ fear of crime and contributes findings to the under researched literature on gang perception