Older people, fear and crime: problems and new directions

This article critically examines the current state of knowledge regarding older people and crime and suggests that there are a number of gaps. In particular, the fear of crime paradox, in which older people are seen as disproportionately concerned about the possibility of becoming a victim, has drawn attention away from much more important issues. The article suggests too that there appears to be confusion in the use of the terms 'older people' and 'crime', so that very different age groups are treated as one, homogenous grouping. Furthermore, by emphasising age as the most important factor in impacting upon fear of crime other important factors, such as income and gender, are overshadowed. If these are highlighted then the issue of the paradox of older people's fear of crime becomes less important and what emerges is that fear of crime is related to other factors that are a genuine reflection of risk. The article also explores newer, more radical theoretical insights and suggests that they may point policy in a different direction from the current ones.