IELTS Task 2: Feeling Unsafe
The Question
Today, many people do not feel safe either at home or when they are out. What are the causes of this, and what can be done to make people feel safer? Write at least 250 words.
How to approach it
- •Causes: media coverage that amplifies fear, real changes in crime, breakdown of community ties, online threats
- •Solutions: community policing, better street lighting and design, stronger communities, responsible media reporting
- •Answer both parts explicitly and give each a clear paragraph
- •Distinguish between perceived safety and actual safety where relevant
Sample Band 8 Response
213 wordsWritten by EduForEveryone — for guidance only. Not an official examiner response.
Many people today report feeling unsafe both in their own homes and in public. This essay will examine the causes of this growing sense of insecurity and suggest what might be done to help people feel safer.
There are several explanations. The media plays a major role: rolling news and social media constantly highlight crime and disaster, creating the impression that danger is everywhere, even where crime is actually falling. In some areas, genuine increases in certain crimes contribute to the fear. The decline of close-knit communities, in which neighbours once looked out for one another, has also left people feeling more isolated and vulnerable, as have new threats such as online fraud.
A number of steps could improve matters. Visible community policing reassures the public and deters offenders, while better street lighting and well-designed public spaces reduce opportunities for crime. Rebuilding a sense of community, through local events and neighbourhood groups, helps people feel supported. Finally, more responsible and balanced reporting by the media would help to align people's fears with the actual level of risk.
In conclusion, feelings of insecurity arise from a mixture of media influence, real crime, and weakened community ties. Through effective policing, thoughtful urban design, stronger communities, and responsible journalism, society can help people feel genuinely safer.