Prepared for: Vancouver Police Department Resident and Business Survey

1. Prepared for: Vancouver Police Department Resident and Business Survey Prepared by: NRG Research Group April 4, 2007

2. Resident & Business Survey Presentation Outline • Research Objectives & Method • Perceptions of Neighbourhood Safety & Crime and Victimization • Satisfaction with VPD • Support for Tax Increases to Fund Police Services • Recommendations to the VPD NRG Research Group

3. Resident & Business Survey Research Objectives & Method • NRG Research has been conducting this survey among Vancouver residents and business owners since 1998 • Study is conducted biannually • Sampling - Businesses & residential households within VPD patrol district boundaries • Total surveyed (biannually): • Business n=400 (+/-4.9%) • Residential n=800 (+/- 3.4%) NRG Research Group

4. Perceptions of: - Neighbourhood Safety - Neighbourhood Crime - Crime City-Wide NRG Research Group

5. Resident & Business Survey 63% 55% ‘06 Top Box +/- ’06 vs ‘04 District 1 - 66% +4% District 2 - 41% +4% District 3 - 53% +2% District 4 - 82% +6% ‘06 Top Box +/- ’06 vs ‘04 District 1 - 54% same District 2 - 25% +7% District 3 - 49% +13% District 4 - 74% +3% Neighbourhood Safety • Trend toward residents & business owners feeling safer in their neighbourhoods. Q7Q11 - Impression of how safe you feel your neighbourhood is when compared to other neighbourhoods in the city. NRG Research Group

6. Resident & Business Survey 17% 21% ‘06 Top Box +/- ’06 vs ‘04 District 1 - 24% -17% District 2 - 20% -5% District 3 - 16% -11% District 4 - 15% -4% ‘06 Top Box +/- ’06 vs ‘04 District 1 - 24% -1% District 2 - 21% -4% District 3 - 13% -14% District 4 - 23% -1% Perceptions of Neighbourhood Crime • Decrease in the percentage of residents & business owners feeling that there has been an increase in neighbourhood crime from 2004 to 2006. Q8/Q12 - In the past 12 months, would you say the level of crime in your neighbourhood has… NRG Research Group

7. Resident & Business Survey 43% 41% ‘06 Top Box +/- ’06 vs ‘04 District 1 - 45% -3% District 2 - 37% -5% District 3 - 44% +7% District 4 - 44% +7% ‘06 Top Box +/- ’06 vs ‘04 District 1 - 41% +9% District 2 - 31% -2% District 3 - 36% -2% District 4 - 50% +15% Perceptions of Crime in Vancouver • Residents’ & business owners’ perceptions of crime in Vancouver as a whole contradict perceptions at the neighbourhood level. Q9/Q13 In the past 12 months, would you say the level of crime in the City of Vancouver has .... ? NRG Research Group

8. Experiences with Victimization NRG Research Group

9. Resident & Business Survey Experience with Victimization • The incidence of victimization has decreased from 2004 to 2006 among both residents and business owners. Q12/Q17. In the past 12 months, while at your place of business, has any member of the staff including yourself, a client or a customer been the victim of any crime (e.g. vandalism, theft, physical assault or a break & enter)? Q13/Q19. Was (this/the most recent) crime reported to the police? NRG Research Group

10. Overall Satisfaction with VPD & Perceptions of VPD Officers NRG Research Group

11. Resident & Business Survey Overall Satisfaction with the VPD • Overall satisfaction with the VPD remains relatively high with four out of five residents & business owners expressing satisfaction with the service provided by the VPD. Q6/Q9. Overall, how satisfied are you with the service provided by the Vancouver Police Department? NRG Research Group

12. Resident & Business Survey Perceptions of VPD Officers – Residential only • Evaluations across seven key attributes of officer effectiveness remain strong. Q4. What qualities best describe Vancouver Police officers when they are responding to the public. NRG Research Group

13. Resident & Business Survey Perceptions of VPD Officers – Business only • A higher percentage of business owners gave officers "top of the scale" rating in 2006, indicating that confidence in officers has increased. Q7. What qualities best describe Vancouver Police officers when they are responding to the public. NRG Research Group

14. Satisfaction with Contact with the VPD & Communicating with the Public NRG Research Group

15. Resident & Business Survey Contact with the VPD • Overall, the incidence of residents contacting the VPD regarding crime or public safety problems has decreased from 2004. • The incidence of contact has remained stable among business owners. Yes – had contact with VPD in the last 12 months Yes – had contact with VPD in the last 12 months Q15/Q21. Whether you were a victim or not, at any time during the last 12 months have you personally had contact with the Vancouver Police Department about a crime or public safety problem? NRG Research Group

16. Resident & Business Survey Satisfaction with Contact with VPD – Residential only • Courtesy is a particular strength Q18A-C. Thinking about this last contact, how would you rate the service you received? / Q20. Thinking again about this last contact, how satisfied overall were you with the service you received for the Vancouver Police Department? NRG Research Group

17. Resident & Business Survey Satisfaction with Contact with VPD – Business only • Relative to 2004, business owners in 2006 were more likely to give "top of the scale" ratings to the VPD. Q24A-C. Thinking about this last contact, how would you rate the service you received? / Q26. Thinking again about this last contact, how satisfied overall were you with the service you received for the Vancouver Police Department? NRG Research Group

18. Resident & Business Survey Communicating with the Public • Communicating to the community regarding major arrests, crackdowns and crime reduction programs remains an aspect of the VPD that residents & business owners do not evaluate highly. Q24B/Q35 Where 5 is excellent & 1 is poor, how would you rate the job of the Vancouver Police Dept at informing & communicating to the public regarding major arrests, crime reduction projects, drug crackdowns & crime prevention programs? NRG Research Group

19. Support for Tax Increases to Fund Police Services &Recommendations to the VPD NRG Research Group

20. Resident & Business Survey Support for Tax Increases to Fund Policing Services • Residents & business owners are generally supportive of a property tax increase to maintain the current level of police services. Q26A/Q36. If it became necessary to increase the police budget to maintain the current level of police services in Vancouver, would you be prepared to support an increase in property taxes to cover the cost? NRG Research Group

21. Residents MORE VISIBLE/ MORE PATROLS/ MORE PRESENCE MORE INVOLVEMENT/ COMMUNICATION WITH COMMUNITY INCREASE FOOT &/OR BIKE PATROL (GET OUT OF CARS) DO SOMETHING ABOUT PANHANDLERS & STREET PEOPLE TOUGHER DRUG ENFORCEMENT BETTER TREATMENT OF PUBLIC/ MORE RESPECT/ FRIENDLIER Business Owners MORE VISIBILE/ MORE PATROLS/ MORE PRESENCE BETTER COMMUNICATION/ OUTREACH TO BUSINESSES TRAIN OFFICERS FOR BETTER SERVICE/MORE COURTEOUS/ BETTER PR DO SOMETHING ABOUT PANHANDLERS & STREET PEOPLE GET TOUGHER ON CRIME Resident & Business Survey Recommendations to the VPD NRG Research Group

22. QUESTIONS? For further information please contact: Adam Di Paula, Ph.D. Senior Vice President NRG Research Group T: 604.676-5641 E: ad@nrgresearchgroup.com www.nrgresearchgroup.com NRG Research Group | Market & Public Opinion Research NRG Research Group