ABSTRACT
Elections can be won or lost on a political party's capacity to respond to – and enact solutions for – community fears around crime and victimisation. In defining, perpetuating, quashing and/or responding to public and political concerns about the threat, risk and fear of crime, police play a significant role in shaping how the community perceives crime threats. Fear of crime is a matter of political and social importance. In cities and towns across most Western nations, fear of crime has come to be considered a significant concern to large sections of the community, despite what official statistics might tell us about actual risks of crime and victimisation in these communities. Police are arguably the most public face of law and order and, perhaps more than any other arm of the criminal justice system, have faced increasing pressure to address public perceptions of crime.
