Perception of public safety in public spaces
"Perception of public safety in public spaces" is a ready-made survey about how safe residents feel when they are out in the city. It captures which spaces they visit, how secure they feel there, and which situations trigger a sense of danger. Use it to see where perceived safety breaks down and what would restore it.
What the “Perception of public safety in public spaces” survey measures
The template records which public spaces people visit most — streets and squares, parks, transport hubs, shopping centers, cafes, sports and cultural venues — and rates their overall sense of safety. It identifies the factors that shape that feeling, such as lighting, the presence of people or police, general upkeep, visibility and surveillance cameras, and pinpoints the situations that cause unease: nighttime, empty or crowded areas, poorly maintained places or the absence of visible security. It also logs the specific incidents encountered recently — aggressive behavior, public disorder, poor lighting, suspicious objects, conflicts — and asks which measures would help and whether safety outweighs convenience.
Who the “Perception of public safety in public spaces” template is for
It fits city administrations and public-safety departments, park and transport operators, shopping center and venue managers, urban environment researchers, and community or neighborhood associations. Anyone responsible for a public space — from a municipal planner to a facility operator — can use it to target lighting, staffing, maintenance and camera decisions where residents actually feel unsafe.
How to adapt the template to your needs
Localize the space list to the sites you manage — name specific parks, stations or districts. Add or remove factors and danger situations to match local concerns, and use the safety-versus-convenience trade-off question to guide priorities. Branching lets you show the "recent incidents" question only to people who report feeling unsafe, and the open follow-up can gather concrete descriptions of problem spots.
Questions and answer options
Answer options:
— Streets and squares
— Parks and recreational areas
— Transport hubs and stops
— Shopping centers
— Cafes and local services
— Sports and cultural venues
— I rarely visit public spaces
Answer options:
— I generally feel safe
— Mostly safe, but with exceptions
— Sometimes feel discomfort
— Often feel danger
— Hard to say
Answer options:
— Lighting conditions
— Presence of people nearby
— Presence of security services or police
— Overall maintenance of the space
— Visibility and ability to observe surroundings
— Presence of surveillance cameras
— Situations that create a feeling of danger
— Hard to determine
Answer options:
— During nighttime
— In low-traffic or empty areas
— In poorly maintained places
— In crowded places
— Near loud groups
— When no visible security or control is present
— I rarely feel danger
Answer options:
— Aggressive behavior
— Public disorder
— Poor lighting
— Suspicious situations or objects
— Conflicts
— Lack of people nearby
— I have not encountered such situations
Answer options:
— Better lighting
— Increased presence of security or police
— mproved maintenance of public areas
— Installation of surveillance cameras
— Better access to safety information
— Regular presence of staff or volunteers
— Educational programs about behavior in public spaces
Answer options:
— Safety is more important than convenience and accessibility
— Convenience and accessibility are more important than safety
— Both aspects are equally important
— It depends on the place
— Hard to say
Similar survey templates
Frequently asked questions
