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Why do we misjudge crime?

Our perceptions of crime are often shaped more by media headlines and social media chatter than by official statistics. This can lead to an exaggerated sense of danger, as seen in the story where Londoners overestimated crime rates by more than double the reality. These narratives can be powerful, even when not reflecting actual trends.

Stories that explain this

Londoners much safer than public believes, study finds

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How does crime data help? What is the 'decline' narrative? Who studies public perception? How common is gun crime? How does crime affect tourism? When is a crime 'solved'? Why are crime stats tricky? Why are crime worries mentioned?

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