Major study reveals metro residents investing heavily in CCTV and alarms while rural communities maintain highest safety confidence as Victorians take action on safety concerns
A major new study examining how safe Victorians feel in their homes has revealed an overall positive perception of home safety across the state, with residents rating their safety at an average of 7.66 out of 10 in 2024.
The Victorian Community Safety Perception report analysed 8,021 responses to Neighbourhood Watch Victoria's 'How Safe Is My House' quiz collected between 2021 and 2024—the first Victorian-wide review focused not just on crime data, but on how safe people feel in their homes and what protective actions they take.
The report reveals significant regional variations in safety perceptions, with Western Regional areas consistently reporting the highest safety ratings, while Western Metropolitan areas recorded the lowest scores at 7.29. Despite this variation, all regions maintained ratings above 7 out of 10, indicating a generally positive outlook on home safety across Victoria.
Key findings:
- Western Regional areas reported the highest safety ratings at 7.87, while Western Metropolitan areas recorded the lowest at 7.29.
- Active security adoption is rising – home security system use increased from 53 per cent to 63 per cent in Western Metropolitan areas between 2021-2024.
- The more protective behaviours someone takes, the safer they feel – participants with five or more preventative measures typically rated safety between 8 to 10.
- Knowing neighbours emerged as a key factor in feeling safe.
- Rural areas maintain higher safety confidence with less reliance on technology than metropolitan regions and reported higher safety ratings than metropolitan regions, with some areas recording scores above 9 out of 10.
Neighbourhood Watch Chief Executive Officer Bambi Gordon said this research provides invaluable insights into how Victorians actually feel about their home safety, not just what the statistics tell us.
"The data shows that while crime statistics are important, people's perceptions of safety are shaped by many factors including their environment, community connections, and personal experiences," Ms Gordon said.
The study found that safety perceptions are influenced by more than just crime rates or security infrastructure. Cultural background, socioeconomic factors, and community engagement all play significant roles in how safe people feel at home.
"Understanding how residents perceive their safety is crucial for developing effective community safety strategies," Ms Gordon added.
"This partnership with RACV allows us to bridge the gap between objective safety data and the lived experiences of Victorians."
Technology and traditional security
The research highlighted an interesting balance between modern security technology and traditional safety practices. While metropolitan areas showed increased adoption of CCTV, alarms, and sensor lights, rural communities maintained high safety ratings with less reliance on active security systems.
"We're seeing urban residents increasingly turn to technology for peace of mind, while rural communities often rely more on community connections and traditional security practices," Ms Gordon said.
The study identified several areas for future research, including the relationship between population density and crime perceptions, and the impact of socioeconomic factors on safety behaviours.
Researchers acknowledged limitations in the data, particularly lower response rates in certain Local Government Areas and potential barriers to participation among culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
"This is just the beginning, and we're committed to expanding this research to ensure all Victorian communities are represented and their safety concerns are understood."
The Victorian Community Safety Perception Report represents the first comprehensive analysis of its kind in Victoria, providing a baseline for future community safety initiatives and policy development.
The collaboration between Neighbourhood Watch Victoria and RACV has been strengthening community safety across Victoria for over five years. The partnership combines RACV's safety expertise with Neighbourhood Watch's deep community connections to deliver practical safety solutions and education.
The "How Safe Is My House" quiz continues to be available to Victorian residents, contributing to ongoing research and providing personalised safety recommendations.
The full Victorian Community Safety Perception Report is available at www.nhw.com.au. The "How Safe Is My House" quiz continues to be available to Victorian residents at www.howsafeismyplace.com.au.
