Czech town's security survey attests long-held stereotypical attitides of mistrust toward Roma

The official website of the Czech municipality of Frýdek-Místek reports that the Department of Security Risks and Crime Prevention at the Frýdek-Místek town hall conducted a survey of residents at the start of this year about security in the town. The aim of the survey was to determine what and whom citizens are most concerned about in order to most effectively design and implement crime prevention projects to increase security in the town and make citizens feel safer.

"The survey included a set of questions divided into seven areas. Through the responses, we have mapped out the places where the respondents believe criminal activity is taking place, their concerns about various forms of criminal activity, and their concerns about various groups in the population. We wanted to determine whether citizens were becoming crime victims and reporting those crimes to police, whether they are satisfied with the work of the municipal and state police, and what should be improved in the town with respect to security," Mayor Michal Pobucký said.

The data collection lasted a month and a half (from 1 March to 15 April). The survey was performed through trained interviewers. Local academic and technical high school students were asked to submit the survey questionnaire to their grandparents and parents for completion.

Other citizens, of course, could also participate. The questionnaires were available at municipal police stations, the reception area of the state police office, on notice boards in both buildings of the town hall, and in the town’s official newsletter. A total of 657 respondents participated.

"The survey shows that respondents are most concerned about sexual aggressors, drug addicts, and aggressive drivers. The form of criminal activity about which there is the most concern is mugging, followed by physical assault. When we asked about concerns over members of various ethnicities or nationalities, the long-held, stereotypical attitude of mistrust toward the Romani ethnicity was reported. Respondents said the localities of concern are predominantly Mír, ČSA and Slezská Streets, as well as the bicycle path around the river and the locality near the hockey stadium," said the head of the Department of Security Risks and Crime Prevention, Petr Lessy.

Police were surprised to learn that respondents claimed to make the most effort to avoid Mír Street, where rates of reported crime are at a minimum, but expressed no fear of Revoluční Street, which has the highest recorded crime rates in the town. "It is also surprising to learn that more than 70 % of respondents would like to expand the town’s CCTV system and almost 62 % of respondents would welcome more frequent monitoring of those speeding on the town streets," Mayor Michal Pobucký said.

The survey results have showed officials in which direction to aim their crime prevention projects. "We have already succeeded in establishing a project for crime prevention assistants and concierges, which is supposed to change the majority-society’s attitide toward the Romani minority, primarily on Mír street. We will also initiate, within the realm of financial possibility, better lighting in subterranean walkways, more cutting back of the vegetation on the grounds of housing estates and parks, an expansion of the town’s CCTV system, and more stationary radars to measure traffic speed," Lessy said.