PLATH Questionnaire FINAL
Community Voice Survey
Community Safety - April 2010
The survey covers a range of topics related to community safety, including local crime, Policing, anti-social behaviour, fire safety and emergency planning. If there are any questions where you feel unable to comment please feel free to skip past these. We hope you find the survey interesting. If you have any questions or would like some help completing the form you can call Craigforth on freephone 0800 027 2245.
Crime and your local area
Q1 / How worried, if at all, are you that you will be a victim of crime in the next 12 months? Please circle ONE onlyVery worried / Fairly worried / Not really worried / Not at all worried / Don’t know
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Q2 / Have you, a member of your family or anyone you are aware of in your community been a victim of crime in the past 12 months? Please circle ONE for each
Yes / No / Don’t know
Yourself / 1 / 2 / 3
A member of your family / 1 / 2 / 3
Anyone in your community / 1 / 2 / 3
Q3 / How safe or unsafe do you feel in the following situations?Please circle ONE for each
Very Safe / Fairly Safe / Neither/nor / Fairly unsafe / Very unsafe / Don’t know/ Can’t say
In your own home during the day / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Out and about in your local area during the day / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Out and about in the nearest town centre during the day / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
In your own home after dark / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Out and about in your local area after dark / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Out and about in the nearest town centre after dark / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Q4 / Thinking about your local area, what sort of things make you feel unsafe?
…and what would make you feel safer?
Q5 / Do you have a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in your area?Please circle ONE only
Yes / 1
No / 2
Unsure / 3
If NO, would like there to be one in your area? Please circle ONE only
Yes / 1
No / 2
Unsure / 3
Police Community Support Officers
Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) are members of support staff employed, directed and managed by their Police Force. They work to complement and support regular police officers, providing a visible and accessible uniformed presence to improve the quality of life in the community and offer greater public reassurance.
PCSOs are not replacement police officers but are there to address some of the tasks that do not require the experience or powers held by police officers, which often take officers away from more appropriate duties.
Q6 / To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements:Please circle ONE for eachStrongly agree / Agree / Neither/ nor / Disagree / Strongly disagree / Don’t know/ Can’t say
The introduction of PCSOs in my local area has been a good idea / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
The introduction of PCSOs in my area has made me feel safer / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Confidence in your Police and Local Council
Q7 / It is the responsibility of the Police and local councils working in partnership to deal with anti-social behaviour and crime in your area. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Please circle ONE onlyStrongly agree / Agree / Neither/ nor / Disagree / Strongly disagree / Don’t know/ Can’t say
The police and local council are dealing with anti-social behaviour and crime issues that matter in this area. / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Q8 / Which of the following do you feel have the biggest influence on your level of confidence in Cumbria Police and your local councils? Please circle up to THREE choices
Lack of crime or Anti Social Behaviour incidents in your community / 1 / Television programmes (e.g. Cops with Cameras, Chopper Coppers) / 6
Local press & regional news / 2 / Internet e.g. local website / 7
Visible presence of Police in your community / 3 / Social network sites – Twitter / Bebo / Youtube / Facebook / 8
Meetings with your local Officer / 4 / Family / Friends experience / 9
Personal experience / 5 / Other (please write in below) / 10
Other…
Q9 / Can you briefly describe what might make you feel more confident in the police and your local councils in relation to crime and anti-social behaviour?
Q10 / Thinking about how confident you feel, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Please circle ONE only
Strongly agree / Agree / Neither/ nor / Disagree / Strongly disagree / Don’t know/ Can’t say
Cumbria Police provide good value for money / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Different crimes warrant different types of punishment, for example a fine for dropping litter or a prison sentence for a violent crime. In the question below are a range of different types of punishment. Some may be unfamiliar to you; there are some definitions below.
- Restorative justice brings victims, offenders and communities together to decide on a response to a particular crime. It is about putting victims’ needs at the centre of the criminal justice system and finding positive solutions to crime by encouraging offenders to face up to their actions.
- Community Payback is essentially the replacement for Community Service. Courts are given the power to sentence offenders of certain crimes to undertake between 40 and 300 hours of Community Payback. This work is unpaid and demanding and is aimed at forcing offenders to repay the community for the wrong they have done.
Q11 / Generally speaking, how effective do you think the following types of punishment have been at preventing re-offending? Please circle ONE for each
Very effective / Fairly effective / Neither/ nor / Not very effective / Not at all effective / Don’t know/ Can’t say
Fines / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Restorative justice / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Community Payback / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Rehabilitation / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Prison sentence / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Tackling serious crime
Q12 / How well informed do you feel about what the Police in Cumbria are doing to tackle the following types of crime:Please circle ONE for eachVery well informed / Fairly well informed / Neither/ nor / Not very well informed / Not at all informed / Don’t know/ Can’t say
Serious and organised crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Terrorism / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Dealing with dangerous offenders / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Q13 / How confident are you that the Police in Cumbria are dealing effectively with the following types of crime:Please circle ONE for each
Very confident / Fairly confident / Neither/ nor / Not very confident / Not at all confident / Don’t know/ Can’t say
Serious and organised crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Terrorism / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Dealing with dangerous offenders / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Q14 / Would you like to know more about what the Police in Cumbria are doing to tackle the following types of crime:Please circle ONE for each
Yes / No / Don’t know
Serious and organised crime / 1 / 2 / 3
Terrorism / 1 / 2 / 3
Dealing with dangerous offenders / 1 / 2 / 3
Keeping in touch with the Police
Q15 / How would you prefer to receive information from the Police about a) what they are doing in Cumbria as a whole and b) what they are doing in your local area? Please circle up to THREE for eachCumbria / Local Area
Website / 1 / 2
Local meetings with the Police / 1 / 2
Meeting Police Officers on the street / 1 / 2
Discussing with police on your doorstep / 1 / 2
Social networking sites: Twitter / Bebo / Facebook / 1 / 2
Local newspapers / 1 / 2
Newsletter through the door / 1 / 2
Text messaging / 1 / 2
Other (please specify) / 1 / 2
Q16 / What do you think are the best ways for the police to find out about the issues that affect you most in your community? Please circle up to THREEoptions
Local meetings with the residents / 1 / Encouraging residents to come into their local police station / 5
Speaking informally to local people on the street / 2 / Inviting feedback via social networking sites: Twitter / Bebo / Facebook / 6
Discussing with residents on their doorstep / 3 / Text messaging / 7
Questionnaires like this one / 4 / Other (please write in below) / 8
Other…
Q17 / Last August all households in Cumbria were sent a copy of the “Cumbria Constabulary Local Annual Summary”. How interesting and useful did you find the document? Please circle ONE only
Very useful & interesting / Useful & interesting / Do not recall receiving booklet / Not very useful or interesting / Not at all useful or interesting / Didn’t read this booklet
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Q18 / For future Local Annual Summaries what information would you most like to see included? Please circle up to THREEoptions
What is being done to tackle priorities in your particular local area / 1 / About the Police Authority / 6
How to get involved in priority setting and policing issues / 2 / Local policing news / 7
How to contact us / 3 / Who’s who in Cumbria Police / 8
Crime levels in the area / 4 / Other, please write in… / 9
Police performance / 5
Q19 / Cumbria Constabulary has a website, . Have you visited the Constabulary website?Please circle ONE only
Yes(please got to Q20) / 1
No (please got to Q21) / 2
Q20 / Do you have any suggestions for how we could improve the website?Please write in your answer below.
Q21 / One of the facilities available on the Constabulary website is called ‘Crimemapper’. Please circle ONE for each of the following questions about ‘Crimemapper’.
Yes / No / Don’t know
Have you heard of Crimemapper? / 1 / 2 / 3
Do you understand what Crimemapper is? / 1 / 2 / 3
Have you ever used Crimemapper? / 1 / 2 / 3
Q22 / If you have used Crimemapper could you tell us a little about what you thought of the layout and information available?Please write in your answer below.
Q23 / The following questions relate to the ‘Crimestoppers’ service. Please circle ONE for each.
Yes / No / Don’t know
Have you heard of Crimestoppers? / 1 / 2 / 3
Do you know how to contact Crimestoppers, or how to find out how? / 1 / 2 / 3
If you knew information about a crime, would you ring Crimestoppers? / 1 / 2 / 3
Q24 / Do you know how to contact the police… Please circle ONE for each.
Yes / No / Don’t know
…in an emergency? / 1 / 2 / 3
…in a non-emergency? / 1 / 2 / 3
In an emergency: Always dial 999 where you will then be put through to our control room who will direct the nearest officer to the scene.
Not an emergency: If you wish to speak to the police but it is not an emergency, please contact us on our Non Emergency Number: 0845 33 00 247. Our Non Emergency telephone number is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
CCTV and Anti-social Behaviour
Q25 / Close circuit television (CCTV) is used to record footage using a camera in public places to improve safety and deter crime. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements.Please circle ONE for eachStrongly agree / Agree / Neither/ nor / Disagree / Strongly disagree / Don’t know/ Can’t say
CCTV deters crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
CCTV makes me feel safer / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
CCTV helps the police with investigations / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
CCTV helps to obtain convictions in court / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
CCTV is an invasion of privacy / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
CCTV just moves problems elsewhere / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
There are too many CCTV cameras / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Q26 / Thinking about your local area, how much of a problem do you think each of the following are…Please circle ONE for each
A very big problem / A fairly big problem / Not a big problem / Not a problem at all / No opinion
Noisy neighbours or loud parties / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
People hanging around the streets / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Rubbish or litter lying around / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Vandalism, graffiti and other deliberate damage to property or vehicles / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
People using or dealing drugs / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
People being drunk or rowdy in public
places / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Abandoned or burnt out vehicles / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Street drinking / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Inappropriate use of fireworks / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Fly-tipping / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Vehicle nuisance/ inappropriate use / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Level of street lighting / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Q27 / What do you love about your local area that you hope never changes?Please write in your answer below.
Q28 / What would you like to change in your local area?Please write in your answer below.
Hate crime and domestic violence
Q29 / Thinking about the Police in Cumbria. How confident are you that someone reporting the following types of crime would receive a fair treatment and be taken seriously? Please circle ONE for eachVery confident / Fairly confident / Neither/ nor / Not very confident / Not at all confident / Don’t know/ Can’t say
Burglary / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Sex crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Racist hate crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Disability hate crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Sexuality hate crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Age hate crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Gender hate crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Religious hate crime / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Assault / violence / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Antisocial behaviour / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Domestic Violence / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Vehicle theft / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Domestic violence is defined by the Home Office as "any violence between current and former partners in an intimate relationship, wherever the violence occurs. The violence may include physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse."
Q30 / Have you been a victim of domestic violence that you have chosen not to report?Please circle ONE onlyYes / No / Would prefer not to say
1 / 2 / 3
Q31 / If ‘No’, why did you choose not to report it?Please write in your answer below.
For more information on Domestic Violence in Cumbria and how to get help please visit:
Doorstep Crime
Doorstep crime generally takes two forms:
Distraction Burglary/Bogus callerswill call at a house with the intention of tricking their way inside to steal money and/ or other valuables.- They may be smartly dressed and claim to be from a legitimate organisation
- They may say they need to come into your home for some reason
- The caller will use any story they can to try and gain access to the property
- Offering services such as driveway re-surfacing, block paving, roofing, fascias, gardening etc
- They may claim you have loose roof tile or that a tree you have is unsafe and needs to be trimmed
- They will often give a very low quote that will increase when work begins
Q32 / Have you heard of this type of activity taking place in your local area?Please circle ONE only
Yes / No / Don’t know/ Can’t say
1 / 2 / 3
Q33 / Have you (or someone in your household) ever been approached at your home by someone who would fall into either of the categories described above?Please circle ONE for each.
Yes / No / Don’t know
Distraction burglary/bogus caller / 1 / 2 / 3
Rogue door step trader / 1 / 2 / 3
If you answered ‘No’ to both parts of Q33 please move on to Q39. If you answered ‘Yes’to either part please complete Q34-38 over the page.
Q34 / When were you approached by this person (if you have been approached several times when was the most recent)?Please circle ONE for eachWithin the last month / Within the last 6 months / Within the last year / Longer than a year / Not applicable
Distraction burglary / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Rogue doorstep trader / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Q35 / Thinking about the most recent approach, what time of year was this? Please circle ONE for each
Spring / Summer / Autumn / Winter
Distraction burglary / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Rogue doorstep trader / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4
Q36 / What “services” did they claim to be offering? Please circle ALL that apply
Tree felling / 1 / Gardening / 6
Gardening / 2 / Roofing / 7
Fish selling / 3 / Tarmac laying / 8
From the council/ utility company etc / 4 / Damp proofing / 9
Building / 5 / Other (please write in) / 10
Q37 / Did you accept and pay for any of the services they were offering or allow them into your home?Please circle ONE only
Yes / No / Don’t know/ Can’t say
1 / 2 / 3
Q38 / Did you report the approach to the police, trading standards or other authority?Please circle ONE only
Yes / No / Don’t know/ Can’t say
1 / 2 / 3
Fire safety
Q39 / Have you thought of serving your community as a full or part time firefighter?Please circle ONE onlyYes, but I have not applied / 1
Yes, and have applied but not been successful / 2
Yes, and I am a now firefighter / 3
No, I have never considered this / 4
If you have considered it, but not applied, why is this? Please write in answer below
Q40 / Does your home have a smoke alarm fitted?Please circle ONE only
Yes / No / Don’t know/ Can’t say
1 / 2 / 3
Q41 / Were you aware that you can request a free home safety check from the Fire and Rescue Service and receive a free smoke detector and safety advice?Please circle ONE only
Yes / No / Don’t know/ Can’t say
1 / 2 / 3
To arrange a free home safety check call 0800 358 4777 or contact your local fire station
Emergency planning
Q42 / How well informed do you feel, by the following agencies, about what you should do in the event of a large-scale emergency, such as torrential rain, heavy snow, storm force winds, flooding, disruption to electricity & telephone supplies and the safety of the community at large? Please circle ONE for eachVery well informed / Fairly well informed / Neither/ Nor / Not very well informed / Not informed at all / Don’t know
County Council / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
District Council / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Cumbria Police / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Cumbria Fire and Rescue / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
NHS Cumbria / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Overall / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Q43 / To what extent do you agree with the following statements?Please circle ONE for each
Strongly agree / Agree / Neither/ Nor / Disagree / Strongly disagree / Don’t know
I know what to do in the event of a large-scale emergency / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
My local council is prepared for a large-scale emergency / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Q44 / Which of the following best describes the level of household planning you have undertaken to deal with a large-scale emergency? Please circle ONE only
Our household has a written emergency plan, which also includes our neighbours / 1
Our household has a written emergency plan, which does not include our neighbours / 2
We have informal arrangements in place, but nothing written down / 3
We have no arrangements in place at all / 4
Road Safety
“Safer Roads for Cumbria” is the name of the campaign that has been running in Cumbria to reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured on the county’s roads.
Q45 / Before receiving this questionnaire were you aware of “Safer Roads for Cumbria”? Please circle ONE onlyYes / 1
No / 2
Don’t know/ Can’t say / 3
Q46 / Think about your own driving. Compared to the average driver, do you think that you are more or less likely to be involved in a road traffic accident? Please circle ONE only
Much more likely / A bit more likely / Neither/ nor / A bit less likely / A lot less likely / Don’t drive
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6
Q47 / From the list of groups,who do you think are most likely to be involved in a road traffic accident: Please circle THREE only
People who drive as a job / 1 / Younger drivers / 5
Motorcyclists / 2 / Pedestrians / 6
Cyclists / 3 / Males / 7
Older drivers / 4 / Females / 8
Other (please write in) / 9
The Pass Plus+ programme for young, newly qualified drivers aims to reduce their risk being involved in a road traffic accident. The driver takes an additional 6 lessons after they have passed their test, including one on motorway driving, and also attends a classroom session. If the driver passes the Pass Plus+ programme many insurance companies will offer a discount on their standard insurance premiums.