The Dutch and British Feel the Most Secure in Europe
Stockholm, Sweden (ots/PRNewswire)
British and Dutch homeowners feel the most secure in Europe, even though the number of home break-ins in these countries is above the European average. This is revealed by SecurityPoint, a comprehensive European study presented today.
In total 7,000 people were interviewed in seven European countries: Britain, France, Poland, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the Netherlands. The results give a detailed picture of the feelings that people in Europe associate with their home and their home security today: feelings of safety, anxiety, fear, pride and pleasure.
The study shows that the Dutch and the British feel very safe in their homes, even though the number of break-ins in these countries is actually higher than the European average. Only 3 percent of British people and 5 percent of Dutch people feel that their home is not secure against break-in. The conclusion is that the well-known British catchphrase 'My home is my castle' reflects a perceived security rather than actual fact. For the French the exact opposite applies. A quarter of all French people - 25 percent - believe their home to be insecure, a higher figure than in any other country. Yet only 13 percent of the French have suffered a break-in.
In Europe as a whole one person in five has suffered a break-in at some time, and most have then decided to upgrade their home security to prevent further break-ins. The most common response is to change the lock in the external door. It is also common to install an intruder alarm and to make windows secure. The Swedes seem to be the most disconcerted - a third of those who have suffered a break-in decide to do nothing.
Gloomy views of the future
Half of all Europeans believe that the number of domestic break-ins will rise in the future and only 15 percent expect a fall. The Germans are the most pessimistic in their view of the future and the British the most positive. There is also a difference between town and country. Those living in the country are generally more pessimistic, even though they suffer fewer break-ins than people living in towns.
Few people consult the police
Views of the police's role vary greatly between countries. In Sweden, France and Poland only five percent of people would choose to ask the police for advice. In contrast 68 percent of Dutch people prefer to consult the police on questions of home security.
The securer you feel, the brighter your outlook
The study shows that those Europeans who feel secure in their home have a more optimistic view both of the risk of suffering a break-in themselves and of the future likelihood of break-ins in society at large. They also have a greater feeling of pride in their home and view their home as a secure place to enjoy the company of their family and friends. These same Europeans also choose to improve the security of their home in order to minimize the risk of break-ins.
SecurityPoint is an international initiative by ASSA ABLOY. Its aim is to increase awareness and interest in security-related issues and to create a forum for professionals and private individuals.
The ASSA ABLOY Group is the world's leading manufacturer and supplier of locking solutions, dedicated to satisfying end-user needs for security, safety and convenience.
Contact:
Further information from: Mariann Eriksson, Corporate Communication
Manager, telephone: +46-706-87-33-31