A justice-related survey conducted during Alert Level 4 has found that New Zealanders appear to have been less worried about being a victim of crime than before the lockdown.

The COVID-19 Justice Sector Survey has been questioning about 370 people each week.

The survey asks, among other things, about social connection, people’s perceptions of safety, experience of crime and reporting to Police, how easy the COVID-19 rules are to understand, and perceptions of the criminal justice system.

The survey undertaken between 21 and 27 April 2020 found that while 89% of participants don’t worry about being a victim of crime, only 1% worry most or all of the time. There was a 12% increase in the numbers unworried about being a victim of crime on the previous week (12-20 April).

“Compared with before the lockdown people much less worried about being a victim of crime,” the survey notes.

The survey also found that dangerous driving and noisy neighbours during lockdown were the biggest concerns for residents.

The phone survey (CATI - Computer Assisted Telephone Interviews) interviews people who have taken part in the New Zealand Crime and Victims Survey (NZCVS) and have said they are happy to participate in future research.