DIMSDRIVE Research recently reported on a not-so-recent survey into crime prevention, which revealed one surprising statistic, that people are currently tooled up with illegal weapons for self-defence.
Demographics
Between the 4th and 18th of February 2010 7,165 members of the DIMSDRIVE Research monitor group completed a private internet-based questionnaire. 50.4% of the sample were male, but rather than a breakdown by age there was a breakdown by residence area and type. 4.4% of the sample lived in Hokkaido, 5.2% in Tohoku, 2.5% in Shinchuetsu, 44.9% in Kanto (Tokyo and surrounding area), 10.4% in Tokai, 1.8% in Hokuriku, 17.2% in Kinki (Osaka and surrounding area), 4.2% in Chugoku, 2.2% in Shikoku, and 7.2% in Kyushu and Okinawa. Next, 37.3% lived in a big city, 24.6% in regional towns, 17.5% in the countryside around a big city, 20.0% in the regional countryside, and 0.6% elsewhere. 48.0% were home owners, 3.9% in rental homes, 16.5% owned an apartment, 30.0% rented one, and 1.6% lived elsewhere.
I’m really surprised about the one in eight who want to use bugging device detectors – I’d like to know more about the demographic. Is it single women in rented accomodation, people worrying their family members are spying on them, or just a general paranoia? Furthermore, 11.5% want to carry pepper spray or tear gas, 7.3% a taser, and 5.1% some form of night stick, all three of which are illegal to use, and probably even just carrying them is likely to fall foul of the law. By the way, this is a colour ball.
I’ve personally never had any worries about personal safety in Japan from a crime perspective, and the only preventative measure I take is to turn on the built-in alarm system whenever I leave the flat.
Research results
Q1: Do you currently take crime prevention measures at home? (Sample size=7,165)
| Yes |
28.0% |
| No |
64.3% |
| Don’t know |
7.7% |
Owner-occupiers were about twice as likely to take security measures, and almost 50% more apartment owners took measures compared to home-owners. By area of domicile, people in the big city areas were about 50% more likely to take measures.
Q2: What kinds of crime prevention goods do you or your family currently use? (Sample size=2,008, multiple answer)
| Portable alarm, emergency buzzer |
29.3% |
| Mobile phone with GPS feature |
9.8% |
| Whistle |
6.4% |
| Protective torch |
2.7% |
| Pepper spray |
1.5% |
| Protective baton |
1.4% |
| Stun gun |
0.6% |
| Colour ball |
0.3% |
| Other |
0.2% |
| Don’t carry anything |
65.6% |
Q3: What kinds of crime prevention goods do you currently have installed, in use at your home? (Sample size=2,008, multiple answer)
| Television door intercom |
42.2% |
| Motion sensing light |
32.8% |
| Outdoor CCTV (including dummy camera) |
16.2% |
| Alarm system |
15.5% |
| Crime prevention window film |
12.9% |
| Crime prevention sticker |
12.3% |
| Motion sensor |
6.0% |
| Indoor camera system |
2.1% |
| Bugging detector |
1.5% |
| Other |
13.8% |
| Nothing in particular |
13.8% |
By type of residence, automatic lights were most popular in houses, while CCTV and alarm systems were most common in owner-occupied apartments.
Q4: What promted you to use crime prevention goods, systems? (Sample size=2,008, multiple answer)
| Lived alone |
21.6% |
| Often walked alone at nights |
16.9% |
| Lived in a dodgy area |
13.0% |
| Made children carry them when they went out |
12.9% |
| Myself, someone close to me was a victim of ccrime |
11.6% |
| Saw lots of incidents reported on the television, etc |
11.3% |
| Was an incident in the neighbourhood, witnessed a crime |
11.0% |
| Home was often empty |
9.4% |
| When I went out I worried about children, family left at home |
6.5% |
| Received it, was distributed |
6.3% |
| Saw it for sale in a shop |
5.7% |
| Friends, family recommended it |
4.9% |
| Wanted it just in case |
3.9% |
| Other |
6.0% |
| No particular reason, don’t use it |
23.9% |
Q5: Where did you buy crime prevention goods, systems? (Sample size=2,008, multiple answer)
| Home centre |
31.7% |
| Electrical superstore |
23.0% |
| Internet |
7.4% |
| Shop specialising in crime prevention goods |
6.0% |
| Supermarket |
2.8% |
| Discount store |
2.8% |
| Variety store |
1.8% |
| Accessory shop |
0.9% |
| Department store |
0.6% |
| Magazine, television mail order |
0.3% |
| Other |
11.8% |
| Didn’t buy, don’t know |
31.6% |
Q6: From where did you obtain information about crime prevention goods, systems? (Sample size=2,008, multiple answer)
| Television |
37.8% |
| Internet |
29.0% |
| Shop |
24.2% |
| Newspapers |
13.8% |
| Magazines |
13.4% |
| Friends |
12.8% |
| Family |
6.8% |
| Radio |
3.1% |
| Other |
2.9% |
| Nowhere in particular |
27.4% |
Q7: What are you dissatisfied with regarding crime prevention goods, systems you use, used? (Sample size=2,008, multiple answer)
| Worried whether they are effective |
23.8% |
| Worried whether I can use them when needed |
17.1% |
| Expensive to buy |
16.0% |
| Electricity, battery usage |
7.1% |
| Cannot install it myself |
4.3% |
| Difficult to use |
3.3% |
| Lots of different types so cannot choose |
3.2% |
| Big and gets in the way |
2.3% |
| Looks naff |
1.8% |
| Other |
1.5% |
| Nothing in particular, don’t use them |
53.6% |
Q8: What crime prevention goods, systems do you want to use, continue to use in the future? (Sample size=7,165, multiple answer)
| Television door intercom |
34.8% |
| Portable alarm, emergency buzzer |
30.8% |
| Motion sensing light |
26.0% |
| Outdoor CCTV (including dummy camera) |
23.2% |
| Mobile phone with GPS feature |
21.9% |
| Alarm system |
21.4% |
| Crime prevention window film |
16.5% |
| Bugging detector |
12.5% |
| Motion sensor |
11.5% |
| Pepper spray |
11.5% |
| Whistle |
8.8% |
| Crime prevention sticker |
7.5% |
| Stun gun |
7.3% |
| Protective torch |
7.0% |
| Indoor camera system |
6.9% |
| Protective baton |
5.1% |
| Colour ball |
3.7% |
| Other |
0.7% |
| Nothing in particular |
28.0% |
Q9: Do you think where you live is safe? (Sample size=7,165)
| Rather safe |
6.1% |
| Reasonably safe |
67.7% |
| Not really safe, slightly dangerous |
15.5% |
| Not safe at all, rather dangerous |
2.1% |
| Don’t know |
8.6% |
Q10: Why do you think where you live is safe? (Sample size=5,285, multiple answer)
| Lots of neighbouring houses, people |
49.6% |
| It’s somewhere with good public safety |
34.6% |
| It’s a peaceful area |
30.6% |
| Can communicate with the neighbours |
27.5% |
| The area takes counter-measures seriously |
24.3% |
| It’s a busy area with lots of shops, etc |
9.5% |
| There’s no houses, people around |
0.9% |
| Other |
2.3% |
| Don’t know |
4.5% |
Q11: Which of the following crime prevention measures are conducted within the area which you live? (Sample size=7,165, multiple answer)
| Cime prevention patrol |
38.9% |
| Places of shelter are prepared (convenience stores, private houses, etc) |
28.2% |
| Group walking to, returning from school |
27.2% |
| Traffic management on the routes to school |
24.2% |
| Walking to, picking up from school duty scheme |
15.6% |
| Public messages are broadcast in the area |
13.2% |
| Appeal through posters, etc |
12.2% |
| Email, other message network |
12.1% |
| Street improvements, management |
3.5% |
| Other volunteer activities |
0.7% |
| Other |
0.5% |
| Nothing at all |
12.4% |
| Don’t know |
28.2% |
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i’ve seen quite a few middle-aged men taking a walk while carrying a 3-iron