The Perception of Safety and Life Quality in the City of Čakovec

Koncepti sigurnosti i kvalitete života široki su te se pojavljuju u različitim segmentima života pojedinaca i zajednica. Unatoč dugoj tradiciji i istraživanjima koja se javljaju već 70-ih godina prošlog stoljeća, do danas ni jedan od navedenih koncepata nije iznjedrio sveobuhvatne, univerzalne definicije i teorije. Unatoč nastojanjima da se kroz prevenciju kriminaliteta poveća percepcija sigurnosti, a samim time i kvaliteta života, nije provedeno sveobuhvatno istraživanje kojim bi se obuhvatila ova dva koncepta te iz kojih bi proizašla univerzalna politika djelovanja. Razlog tome su i specifične kulturološke i lokalne razlike stanovništva, a veliku ulogu igra i politička volja vladajućih. Svrha ovog diplomskog rada je pružiti detaljan prikaz koncepta sigurnosti i kvalitete života te ukazati na njihovu važnost s kriminološkog i prevencijskog aspekta. U okviru rada provedeno je istraživanje s ciljem analize prisutnosti problema i potrebe za provedbom preventivnih aktivnosti te identificiranja odgovornih aktera za osiguravanje i održavanje visoke kvalitete života građana Čakovca. U istraživanju su sudjelovali građani i policijski službenici (N=270). Rezultati ukazuju da ispitanici količinu kriminaliteta i remećenja javnog reda percipiraju prosječnom, a rizik viktimizacije u Čakovcu niskom. Nadalje, kao najveći problem percipiraju nezaposlenost, problematično ponašanje mladih (konzumacija droga i alkohola) te imovinske delikte. Ulaganje u mogućnosti zaposlenja, smanjenja prilika za počinjenje kriminalnih aktivnosti te bolja komunikacija i suradnja između građana, policije i lokalne uprave istaknule su se kao aktivnosti koje građani smatraju prioritetnim za provedbu. Kao odgovorne aktere za postizanje i održavanje sigurnosti smatraju na prvom mjestu policiju, ali i same građane, dok za kvalitetu života najodgovornijim smatraju građane i Gradsko vijeće grada Čakovca.The concepts of safety and quality of life have widely emerged in the different segments of life of individuals and communities. Despite the long tradition and research that has emerged in the seventies of the 20th century, none of those concepts has demonstrated comprehensive, and universal definition and theorie. Although the effort was put into increasing the perception of safety, including quality of life, no comprehensive research has been conducted that would encompass these two concepts and result in action policy. This is also due to the specific cultural and local differences of population, as well as the political will of the ruling. The purpose of this graduate thesis is to provide a detailed overview of the concept of safety and quality of life and point to their importance from the criminal and preventive aspect. In the framework of this thesis, research has been carried out to analyze the presence of the problem and the need for the implementation of preventive activities, as well as to identify the responsible actors for ensuring and maintaining the high quality of life of the citizens of Čakovec. Respondents in this research were citizens and police officers (N = 270). The results indicate that respondents perceive the amount of crime and the turmoil of public order to be average, and the risk of victimization in Čakovec to be low. Furthermore, unemployment, the problematic behavior of young people (drug and alcohol consumption) and property delicts are perceived as the biggest problems. Investing in job opportunities, reducing opportunities for criminal activity, better communication and cooperation between citizens, police and local government were highlighted as activities that citizens consider to be a priority for implementation. Responsible actors for achieving and maintaining security are primarily the police, but also the citizens themselves, while the citizens and the City Council of the town of Čakovec are the most responsible for the quality of life