Brussels, 13/02/2007 (Agence Europe) - Crime has fallen in almost all of Europe over the last decade, according to the results of a public survey published last week by the Gallup institute, and funded by the European Commission. 41,000 Europeans were interviewed in 15 former member states of the EU (as well as Poland, Hungary and Estonia). The poll revealed that 15% of Europeans claim to have been the victim of an offence or criminal act in 2004, as opposed to 21% in 1995, demonstrating a clear fall. One member state, however, has experienced the complete opposite of this trend: Belgium. The latter saw the number of attacks using weapons, physical attacks, as well as the theft of cars and bicycles all increase. Belgium is also the country where immigrants are more likely to complain about being the target of “hate crimes” against the immigrant community. The Belgian Federal Ministry of the Interior, however, objected to the poll by pointing out the results of a survey carried out every two years by departmental services, which demonstrated that feelings about insecurity were less pronounced in 2006 than in 2002. European countries with the highest levels of crime are Ireland, followed by the United Kingdom, Estonia, the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium. Spain, Hungary, France, Austria and Greece have the lowest crime levels. The survey also illustrates that 30% of Europeans are afraid of being burgled, and that an identical proportion of those interviewed do not feel safe in the street, notably immigrants, 20% of whom are in danger of becoming a victim of crime, as opposed to only 15% of non-immigrants. For further information: http: //http://www.gallup-europe.be/ (bc)