Western Europeans believe crime is rising despite fall in overall rates, poll finds (opens original article in a new tab)

A survey reveals Western Europeans believe crime is increasing despite long-term declines in overall rates, with varying perceptions of specific crimes like violent crime, drug trafficking, and corruption across nations.

• Western Europeans believe crime is rising despite overall rates falling since the mid-1990s
• Most countries trust their national police, with Denmark leading at 74% confidence
• Majorities in several countries think violent crime has increased, though murder rates have declined significantly since 2000
• France and Italy report higher perceived issues with drug trafficking, organized crime, and public disorder compared to other nations
• Survey shows 60% of Britons think knife crime is unique to the UK, while 56% of Spaniards and 46% of Italians see corruption as a bigger problem than elsewhere