Measuring Fear of Crime by the Use of the CIS Barometers

Abstract

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.