University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Darryl Plecas outlines some results Tuesday from a recent public safety survey of 486 residents conducted by the Abbotsford Police.
Photograph by: Rochelle Baker , Abbotsford Times
A vast majority of Abbotsford residents said they feel safe in their homes, neighbourhoods, and the city indicates a recent survey by Abbotsford Police.
However, the department can make improvements around ratings from victims of crime and around specific traits demonstrated by APD officers.
A total of 97 per cent of the 486 residents in the APD public safety survey said they felt safe in their homes.
That number broke down into 71 per cent feeling very safe and 26 per cent feeling somewhat safe.
University of the Fraser Valley criminologist Darryl Plecas, who helped undertake the study for the APD, said those numbers were exceptionally high.
"I've never done a survey where the response is so positive," said Plecas.
"I'm not sure what Abbotsford Police could do to improve perceptions of public safety."
Additionally, 52 per cent of respondents reported feeling very safe in their neighbourhood while 41 per cent reported feeling somewhat safe.
Within the city itself, 29 per cent of respondents said they feel very safe and 59 per cent feel somewhat safe.
Plecas said one third of those questioned felt Abbotsford was safer than other Lower Mainland communities while close to two thirds thought it was equally safe to other cities.
Only four per cent of respondents felt Abbotsford was more dangerous than other municipalities.
The three top areas where residents don't feel safe walking at night are the Five Corners intersection in downtown Abbotsford (19 per cent), Mill Lake (seven per cent) and Clearbrook Road at South Fraser Way (four per cent).
When questioned about personal safety concerns, about half of the respondents identified drug issues, gangs and traffic safety as the top problems.
A third of the respondents suggested police focus attention on drug issues, traffic violations, and gang issues, which were followed to a lesser extent by problem youth and panhandlers.
The APD itself was rated as excellent by 17 per cent of those asked, above average by 48 per cent, average by 33 per cent.
Only a total of three per cent gave the department a below average or failing grade.
Plecas noted there was room for improvement for the police when it came to serving victims of crime.
Respondents that identified themselves as victims of crime tended to express lower rates of satisfaction with the APD than non-victims.
While two-thirds of non-victims polled rated the APD as either above average or excellent, 60 per cent of identified victims did the same.
Of non-victims of crime, 56 per cent believed almost all or all APD officers truly cared about victims.
When polled on other traits, a range of 58 to 62 per cent responded APD officers can always be trusted, respect citizen rights, be counted on or are helpful or friendly to citizens.
That number range dropped to between 46 and 58 per cent for respondents who reported being victims of crime.
Plecas said officer ratings always tend to be lower, but the APD wanted to identify how to better serve the public.
"It highlights the need of every officer to be attentive about the interface with the public," he said.
http://twitter.com/RochelleBaker1
http://twitter.com/abbytimes
