One in five Australians choose to turn a blind eye when witnessing a crime and thousands more prefer to tell family and friends rather than authorities, according to a national survey.
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Personal concerns such as fear of safety and potential repercussions were among the most popular reasons to justify ignoring crime according to Crime Stoppers.
Half of the survey's 2200 respondents however said they would speak up and take action, while one third would rather share information with family and friends than authorities.
This is the first time Crime Stoppers Australia has specifically included people under 18 years of age in a survey and those from non-English speaking backgrounds, providing a more comprehensive understanding of Australia's views on a range of crime issues.
Crime Stoppers Australia Chair, Diana Forrester has encouraged those questioning themselves to speak up as it could make an impact in their community.
"It may be an overheard conversation, odd neighbourhood comings or goings, or something that just doesn't feel right - and that's the very time that people should listen to their instinct and share what they know with Crime Stoppers without having to worry about getting further involved or going to court."
The service is contacted every two minutes to share information which leads to an estimated 100 arrests every week across the nation.
Australian Associated Press
