Crime Rumors vs. Reality: Truth, Lies, and British Crime Myths in Chinese Study Abroad Circles

• In Event: Narratives, Myths, and Conceptual Explorations of Crime Perception

Abstract

Levels of crime in the UK are low in international comparison and aligned with other Western European countries and the UK is regarded a developed and safe country. Nonetheless, pre-arrival narratives among Chinese students often depict it as unsafe, and students arrive in the UK with a fear of falling victim to crime. This perception does not appear to align with reality and with that creates a crime myth—a narrative in which truth and lies intertwine. These myths are not merely falsehoods; they blend exaggerated fears, selective storytelling, and partial truths about crime in the UK. This study explores how these myths emerge, shape Chinese students’ expectations, and evolve after real-life exposure.
Previous research on fear of crime suggests that perceptions are shaped not only by personal experiences but also by second-hand narratives, media portrayals, and ideological influences. In the Chinese context, official discourse often portrays Western societies as unstable and crime-ridden, contrasting Western societies with personal safety provided by the Chinese State and reinforcing anxieties about personal security. Social media and other online spaces facilitate the spread of both truths and misinformation. Crime myths take on a life of their own—blurring the lines between fear-driven caution and fabricated danger. The extent to which these myths influence Chinese students and whether they are dispelled or reinforced after arrival remains underexplored.
This study is guided by three key research questions: (1) What types of British crime myths exist in Chinese student circles? (2) How do truths, half-truths, and falsehoods shape these myths? (3) Do students’ perceptions change after experiencing life in the UK, and what factors contribute to the persistence or rejection of these myths? Using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis, this study will examine how crime myths are constructed, negotiated, and transformed over time.

Authors

• Bo Zhang, Bangor University

• Martina Feilzer, Bangor University, Wales, UK