There is a sharp distinction between feelings of personal security for pedestrians during the day and after dark. During hours of darkness, however, people feel markedly less safe walking in their neighbourhood. In general, people living in urban areas feel safer in areas which are busy with people going about their daily activities. In contrast, those in rural areas tend to enjoy a greater sense of security in quiet and even secluded areas. However, personal security is still a concern for rural residents and this concern appears to be increasing as more villages become dormitory communities where fewer residents know their neighbours.
Women feel less safe than do men.
Women are more worried about being the victim of a street-based crime and worry more about sexual assault or rape and being stopped by kerb crawlers. Younger people are least likely to feel unsafe, while people over 45 years are more likely to either feel unsafe, or simply not go out after dark. Young women are still more likely than young men to feel unsafe walking alone and they are more fearful than older women of sexual assault or rape. Although the sample was comparatively small, and the findings should therefore be treated with caution, ethnic minority residents are more likely to feel unsafe walking alone in their neighbourhood than are their white counterparts. The most important factors which contribute to people s feelings of unsafety are people hanging about, poor lighting, and places for strangers to hide.