China University of Political Science and Law - Survey on Public Fear of Crime in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
Company overview
China University of Political Science and Law is one of the most influential higher education institutions in the field of legal studies. The School of Criminal Justice has long been committed to academic research in criminal law, criminology, and investigative science, emphasizing a deep integration between theory and practical social applications. It particularly focuses on the interplay among social governance, public security prevention mechanisms, and public sense of security. Through empirical research, the school continuously provides theoretical support for the formulation of public safety policies at both national and local levels, promoting the scientific and rule-of-law development of modern policing systems and social governance frameworks.
Research background
Fear of crime is a complex social psychological phenomenon involving cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions, widely present across different social strata and cultural contexts, reflecting individuals' subjective perceptions and behavioral responses to public safety. As the integration process of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area accelerates, the collision among different governance systems, cultural environments, and social structures has led to divergent subjective perceptions of security among urban residents. To explore the similarities and differences in fear of crime across regions and identify the underlying institutional causes, a systematic on-the-ground investigation is necessary in the four cities—Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hong Kong, and Macao—to provide theoretical foundations for optimizing future social governance models.
Research scope
In September 2019, CEIDEA Research was commissioned by the School of Criminal Justice, China University of Political Science and Law, to conduct a questionnaire survey on residents' fear of crime in the four cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area—Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hong Kong, and Macao. This study employed a structured questionnaire approach, focusing on dimensions such as individuals' perceived likelihood of victimization, self-defense behaviors, nighttime mobility experiences, and trust in law enforcement mechanisms. Quantitative data were collected from diverse demographic groups, including different age groups, genders, occupations, and educational backgrounds. Ensuring representativeness and comparability across regions, the study provides a solid foundation for cross-regional comparative analysis.
Expected outcomes
This research will provide the School of Criminal Justice, China University of Political Science and Law, with first-hand data on the subjective perception of public security in the Greater Bay Area, revealing differences in levels of fear of crime across cities and the underlying institutional, cultural, and environmental factors. The findings will not only support academic publications and research projects but also offer actionable recommendations for practical social governance, such as enhancing police-civilian interaction, improving public security conditions, strengthening nighttime public space safety, and building community-based prevention systems—contributing to the modernization of social governance capabilities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area
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