Survey: Nearly two-thirds say Charlotte is "less safe" than a year ago
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Nearly 66% of Charlotte-area residents believe the city has become "less safe" over the past year, according to a recent community survey.
Why it matters: Charlotte has long touted itself as a safe place where families want to move for the quality of life. But local leaders are struggling to counter a developing crime-ridden image as the city grows.
By the numbers: Only 4% of respondents felt Charlotte has become safer. About 30% of respondents said it's "about the same," per the results obtained by Axios.
The big picture: CMPD data shows citywide violent crime has fallen 20% year over year. The department has emphasized a message that the safety issues are a matter of "perception," amplified by social media and high-profile incidents.
Yes, but: Respondents appear to be attuned to the real challenges facing CMPD, the survey results show. They were particularly concerned about safety in Uptown and South End, where crime has spiked disproportionately compared to the rest of the city, per CMPD data.
- Violence in the Central Division, which covers those neighborhoods, is up about 12%. Nine homicides occurred there this year through Sept. 30, compared with three in the same period in 2024 — a 200% increase.
- People said that CMPD "cherry picks" crime statistics, lacks transparency and fails to communicate, according to a summary of the findings. (CMPD did not respond to a request for comment for this story, directing Axios to the city, which conducted the survey.)
- Respondents also often referenced Charlotte's issues with repeat offenders and juvenile crime, both of which are problems local law enforcement has acknowledged and attempted to address through legislation.
- The survey found many people believe "young offenders face no real consequences" in Charlotte.
- Respondents also accused police of failing to enforce traffic laws. Data validates that Charlotte police are stopping drivers less since the COVID-19 pandemic.
How it works: The results stem from an online survey, which drew 939 responses, to determine which priorities, qualities and skills residents wanted in their next police chief.
- The survey opened Aug. 25, just days after the killing of Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte's light rail on Aug. 22, and closed Sept. 14.
- Most respondents lived and/or worked in Charlotte, and the sample was majority white.
- The city announced in late October that it had hired Raleigh's former police chief Estella Patterson. She took the helm Dec. 1, succeeding retiring chief Johnny Jennings.
What they found: Respondents were asked to rank department priorities, with "10" being a very high priority. The top answers were violent crime prevention (9.34), crime prevention (9.31) and crime solving/investigations (8.80).
- Residents wanted the next chief to have a "record of reducing violent crime," with 38.3% of the respondents ranking it the most desired quality. The other top answers were "integrity" (57.1%) and "strong leader for officers" (49.5%).
- During Patterson's last two years in Raleigh, the department reported a drop in violent crimes, although homicides increased.
Below are some other anonymous comments:
- I want my Uptown neighborhood to be clean and feel safe again. I am tired of being aggressively harassed on my daily walk to and from work.
- I no longer feel safe to walk after dark, take public transportation or have my aging parents or young nieces and nephews visit.
- Public information office needs to release details of high profile cases as soon as possible. The public is continually left in the dark with our safety. A woman is randomly stabbed on the light rail and the public has to wait over 72 hours before we are told anything. Transparency from Day 1 from next Chief.
- Make the officers visible to deter crime. Hire more officers and crack down on all crimes, no matter how petty.
- I work uptown and am a full-time pedestrian & transit rider. These days, it seems the only time I see police officers is when they're dealing with a crime that has already been committed. We need to go back to more of a visible police presence in uptown and center city.
- Do not be afraid to put on blast the soft judges who let people (and juveniles) out of custody who have no business being out of custody.
- Traffic violations have gotten out of control with speeding, drag racing and running red lights. We either need traffic cams or more officers policing this.
- Constant speeding, street takeovers, running red lights, left lane drivers, smoking weed while driving, using cell phones while driving, etc, etc, etc. MORE TRAFFIC LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NEEDED!!!!!