Security concerns grow with easing of lockdown

The AA went further by doing its own research – State of Security – to determine the level of safety and security experienced by South Africans before and during the nationwide lockdown.

Respondents were asked how they expect their level of safety and security to change as the lockdown levels are eased.

The results were then compared with those in the AA’s first State of Security report which was conducted in January 2020.
“In response to the findings from our first survey we launched AA Armed Response, a mobile security solution serviced by more than 180 private security companies which activate the nearest security provider to a person’s location to provide assistance to them. The results from the second survey support our belief that citizen’s believe their safety and security remains compromised, and again highlights the need for personal security offerings such as ours,” notes the association.

Of the 1 517 respondents surveyed for the report, 42% claimed that they have added additional security features to their homes since the lockdown began, which includes installing electric fencing, security gates and motion activated lights, as well as alarm systems and burglar bars on windows.

The data indicated that respondents felt safest during level 5 of the lockdown with 18% feeling completely safe in comparison to 14% feeling not safe at all. It further shows that 30% of respondents indicated they would feel ‘not safe at all’ during level 1 and post-lockdown, with only 6% in level 1 and 8% in post-lockdown feeling completely safe.

“Of particular concern is the finding that 66% of those polled indicated that they expect crime rates to increase as lockdown levels are eased, with only 12% indicating they do not expect this to happen. This is significant because it speaks to the feeling among respondents that their personal safety is under threat, again highlighting the need for increased personal security options,” notes the AA.

In line with general opinion and those of various experts outside of this particular research, many respondents have reported a heightened experience of anxiety and hyper-vigilance.

In its conclusion, the State of Security II Report notes, “While crime decreased as the nationwide lockdown began, the current state of security in South Africa has continued to decrease as lockdown restrictions are eased. Before the lockdown, South Africans experienced a low sense of overall safety, and as the lockdown progressed the sense of safety continually decreased.”

The full State of Security Report II, along with separate graphics for use, available at https://protect-za.mimecast.com/s/JZHvCMjB2vc2XmBOuw8XTN?domain=view.publitas.com