Police Survey Finds Southwest Atlanta Least "Safe" Entertainment Destination

Southwest Atlanta is considered the least safe of six popular Atlanta communities for entertainment, according to an Atlanta Police Foundation crime perception poll of 600 Atlanta registered voters.

The survey, conducted in January by the Schapiro Group, showed that only 5 percent felt "very safe" going to southwest Atlanta for entertainment; a total of 43 percent said the community was "somewhat safe" for entertainment, while 33 percent felt "not safe at all."

In contrast, Buckhead was considered the safest area for entertainment, with 29 percent describing the area as “very safe,” 49 percent as “somewhat safe,” and only 8 percent choosing “not safe at all,” according to the survey.

Atlantic Station was considered the next safest area, with 28 percent considering it "very safe," 46 percent "somewhat safe" and 14 percent not safe at all.

The next area, Midtown, had only 23 percent believing it "very safe," but it led in the percentage seeing it as "somewhat safe," with 54 percent.

A total of 13 percent saw it as "not safe at all." Downtown had only 12 percent considering it "very safe," 49 percent "somewhat safe" and 32 percent not safe at all.

East Atlanta fared just a tad better than southwest Atlanta with 8 percent saying the area was "very safe," 46 percent saying it was "somewhat safe" and 28 percent "not safe at all."

Grant Hawkins, police foundation director of programs, said in a summary of the survey, "crime stats in Atlanta continue to reflect a decline in recent years; however, the “Perception of Crime” in Atlanta should be equally measured as it is a common discussion topic among business and community leaders and often estimated by members of the news media.

In general, most believe that the perception of crime is equally important and potentially harmful to the confidence and economic viability of our city."

The survey  covered perceptions of crime and safety, the Atlanta Police Department, the 911 Emergency Response System, and community engagement.

According to the report, 53 percent of respondents were male and 47 percent female. In addition, the reports shows a balanced number of respondents aged 18 to 60 and older.

Also, the report shows, the racial make-up of the participants reflected the general racial composition of the city with the respondents reporting their race as 54 percent African-American, 40 percent white, 4 percent "Don't Know, Refused," and 3 percent other (101% total sic).

Here is Hawkins' summary of the report's highlights: Most citizens seem to feel safe in their homes and their neighborhoods, however many feel that crime has increased over the past five years.

This perception is not supported by crime statistics, which have dropped significantly in most all areas of the city during that time frame. 

Citizens feel safe traveling to most areas of the city but seem to feel less safe downtown.

This perception is also misaligned as overall downtown crime has dropped by 41 percent since 2004 and is actually one of the safest areas of the city.  

Lastly, most believe that APD is doing a good job and have confidence in APD’s new leadership, as well as the 911 system.

For a complete copy of the survey see the attached PDF. For more information about the foundation, please go to the Atlanta Police Foundation website.