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Conference Papers

Crime in regional Australia

Elaine Barclay
University of New England, New South Wales

Presented at
4th National Outlook Symposium on Crime in Australia: New Crimes or New Responses
21-22 June, 2001
Rydges Lakeside, Canberra

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship of farm victimisation to selected ecological factors, based on routine activities and social disorganisation theory. A survey of 1100 farmers across New South Wales provided a sample of 670 properties for analysis. Seven major types of agricultural crime were examined in relation to selected characteristics of place. Farm crime was found to be highly situational. Certain ecological factors, such as the type of terrain, proximity to urban centres and highways, and whether or not farm buildings were visible to the farm residence, created varying levels of vulnerability to crime. Furthermore, different traits were associated with different kinds of crimes. No association between precautionary behaviours and lower rates of victimisation was found.