Austrians feel safe, but fear grows!

Austrians feel safe, but fear grows!

Graz, Österreich - In Austria, a current survey shows that 84 percent of the population find their country safe. However, 55 percent of the respondents have perceived a deterioration in the security situation in the past five years. This is reported by the Kleine Zeitung and refers to a future-oriented look at the security situation. The perception in Vienna is particularly alarming, where 25 percent of the residents indicate that they are “rather” or “not at all safe”.

The security concerns are diverse. According to a study by the Association of Security Companies in Austria (VSÖ), 37 percent of the surveyed cybercrime mentioned as one of the greatest threats, followed by general willingness to violence (36 percent) and political extremism (33 percent). This shows that the worries in different age groups differ: While younger people are more afraid of digital crime forms, older people see a greater threat in classic crime.

a multi -layered feeling of security

The subjective feeling of security, however, remains largely positive. According to a survey of the [impact monitoring] (https://fachungsmonitoring.gv.at/kennzahl-detail/subjtichtes-sicherheitsgefuehl- total-17303-792/), 87 percent of the Austrians felt "very safe" or "rather secure" in 2023. However, the target of 95 percent was not achieved. Influence factors for the feeling of security are the visibility of the police, media reporting and also local framework conditions such as the lighting of streets.

The trust of the population in the police, which is 77 percent, is particularly remarkable. Security measures at public events are considered sufficient by 84 percent. Nevertheless, there are differences in the feeling of security in different regions: While 75 percent of people feel safe in Vienna, 87 percent report a high level of security in the rest of Austria.

think of personal security

The concern for personal security measures is also present: 94 percent of Austrians find their private environment safe. In the past five years, however, every third reports on a constant or falling feeling of security. Only five percent of the respondents plan to purchase a security system, while almost a fifth is planning to buy a security camera over the next two years. Young people in particular, under the age of 29, show a strong interest in electronic security systems, with a trust of 83 percent.

After the tragic killing spree in Graz, the VSÖ has requested additional security measures in schools. VSÖ chairman Martin Wiesinger emphasizes that it is important to prevent exaggerated measures and instead to develop clear guidelines for weapons storage. Security awareness in Austria is growing, but the perceptions of the threats change, while the general feeling of security remains stable.