Posted on 05/08/2006 6:06:08 PM PDT by traumer
The UK and France are perceived to have the worst problems with anti-social behaviour in Europe, a survey suggests.
People in six nations were asked where there were big or moderate problems.
Some 76% said the UK faced concerns, followed by France on 75%, with the Netherlands - cited by 44% - seen as the least-affected.
But the survey of 7,047 people by TNS for security firm ADT showed all nations saw themselves as having "significant" difficulties.
Criminologists said governments would need to scrutinise crime survey data and police records to determine whether the survey was reflective of a "real and growing" problem across the European Union.
Role models
Anti-social behaviour was seen as being on the rise by residents of France, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and the UK.
In Italy, residents saw it as a problem, although not a growing one.
When asked about the scale of the problem in their own country, people thought it was worse than other countries believed it to be.
PERCEIVED LEVEL OF PROBLEM UK: 76% France: 75% Germany: 61% Italy: 52% Spain: 51% The Netherlands: 44% Percentage classifying the concern as big or moderate
The under-25s were most associated with anti-social behaviour such as vandalism and rowdiness, with most respondents feeling parents were responsible for making sure their children did not become involved.
Overall, lack of discipline and absence of positive role models were seen as the most significant contributing factors to anti-social behaviour.
After that, the respondents, who were aged between 16 and 64, gave varying reasons.
Some 68% of UK respondents saw alcohol as a factor, while Germans mentioned unemployment, and social or cultural tensions were highlighted in France and the Netherlands.
Germans were the likeliest to confront vandals, but UK respondents were the most wary with 64% indicating they would be reluctant.
Overall, some 48% of the people surveyed said they would not challenge a group of 14-year-old boys vandalising a bus stop.
Professor Gloria Laycock, Director of the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science University College London said the finding was "worrying".
"Given that there is general consensus that the better way to deal with crime and disorder is through methods of informal social control, rather than the criminal justice system, there is a pressing need for further work to follow up this result," she said.
Of course, being tough on crime is not a strong point for "progressive" governments.
The chickens have come home to roost.
But they're healthier than US Americans, right? /sarc
Not a single mention of immigration or Muslims, but then that would probably be a hate crime over there.
What these countries need is a dose of "Dirty Harry" ;)
Well, well, well. But our media loves to pretend that we're the ugly face of polite society in the world.
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