MORE people living in Yorkshire fear crime compared with those in the rest of the country, a survey revealed today.

The poll, commissioned by Crimestoppers Trust for Crimestoppers Week, which started today, shows 82 per cent of people in the Yorkshire region feel Britain has become a more dangerous place to live in the last 10 years, compared with 75 per cent of people nationally. But the crimebusting charity says that, despite this increased fear of crime, 27 per cent of people are unwilling to report it, although 84 per cent of those questioned said they would be prepared to use the Crimestoppers anonymous hotline - 0800 555 111. When asked about the crimes they feared most in their neighbourhood, 61 per cent of people named burglary, which was consistent with the national response.

But in Yorkshire, violence and sex attacks ranked equal second with 27 per cent, compared with the national picture where car crime was the second most feared.

The survey showed that for 42 per cent of people fear of a revenge attack by a criminal or their associates would stop them reporting a crime.

Fourteen per cent said being branded an informer would put them off coming forward, compared with ten per cent of people nationally.

Only three per cent of people in Yorkshire said wariness of the police would put them off giving information.

To mark Crimestoppers Week, a national poster and radio advertising campaign will be running.

Updated: 11:39 Monday, September 17, 2001