A new survey from the Policing Transformation Working Group is painting a troubling picture about how safe Newfoundlanders and Labradorians feel in their communities, and the effectiveness of the police forces around them.

The survey was developed by the working group, and was administered by Quality of Care NL last December and January, with over 4,500 people responding.

While some 52 per cent of respondents say they currently feel safe in their community, about 35 per cent say they do not.

However, when asked how their sense of safety compares to how they felt five years ago, 73 per cent of people indicated that they feel less safe today. More than 20 per cent say they feel the same, and less than five per sent say they feel safer.

Fifty-one per cent of respondents believe police are ineffective in keeping their communities safe, while over 30 per cent think police are effective in their roles.

When asked what the police can do to improve how safe people feel, the top responses included improved police visibility in the community, increasing proactive policing to prevent crime, focusing on the root causes of crime, and listening to the needs of the community.