Hamilton residents report feeling safer in city in past year

Residents are feeling safer walking in their neighbourhoods at night. Photo / Hamilton City Council

Hamilton residents are feeling safer in the city during the day and at night according to Hamilton City Council's 2018 community survey.

In a snapshot of the city, there was a rise of 25 per cent from 2014, from 42 per cent to 67 per cent, in the number of residents who said they felt safe walking alone in their neighbourhoods at night.

There was also a rise of 6 per cent from 91 per cent to 97 per cent, of residents who felt safer walking in their neighbourhoods at day.

There has also been a 9 per cent drop in people saying they have been a victim of the crime in the past 12 months. In 2014 the figure stood at 25 per cent, and dropped to 16 per cent in 2018.

Despite residents feeling safer in the city, more are feeling disconnected and isolated from their communities.

In 2014, 49 per cent of people felt isolated from their community, that number rose to 53 per cent in 2018.

It is a number likely to cause concern as council and private developers have shifted focus to building more duplex houses and townhouses, which are supposed to encourage community living.

Despite a majority of positive rises across the board, including in security, employment, and standard of living, there has been a drop of 7 per cent of people who are no longer satisfied with their lives in Hamilton, down from 81 per cent to 74 per cent.

A more detailed snapshot is set to be released later in the year.