The perception of neighborhood disorder in Flemish Belgium: differences between natives and immigrant groups and bearing on fear of crime

Abstract

This paper investigates whether the perception of neighborhood disorder (e.g. loitering youths, drug use, public littering, …) differs between natives and immigrant communities and whether perceived disorder has the same impact on fear of crime (cf. broken windows theory) among immigrant groups as among the native majority. Immigrants and their offspring are of particular interest for research on perceived disorder as (especially juvenile) members of immigrant groups are often regarded as responsible for causing disorder or delinquent behavior. To answer the research questions, data are used from the Flemish Integration Survey 2008, a face‐to‐face survey among Moroccan, Turkish and native Flemish descendants (n=960) gathered in three Flemish Belgian cities (Antwerp, Genk and Ghent). Multiple regression analyses show differences between natives and immigrant descendants with regard to the perception of loitering youths, dog mess and littering. Also, results provide support for the broken windows hypothesis in all groups, but the impact of perceived disorder on fear of crime is highest among the native majority. Possible explanations are discussed.