• In April-September 2010, 37 per cent of people felt they could influence decisions in their local area; levels are unchanged on all previous years apart from 2001 when it was higher (at 44 per cent).
• Although unchanged since 2009-10, there have been reductions in the proportion of people feeling that it is important for them to be able to influence decisions (73 per cent in April-September 2010 from 79 per cent in 2007-08 and 78 per cent in 2008-09) and the number of people who would like to be more involved in local decision making (44 per cent in April-September 2010 from 50 per cent in 2007-08 and 49 per cent in 2008-09).
• Thirty-two per cent of adults in England engaged in civic participation at least once in the 12 months prior to interview; unchanged since 2009-10, but fewer than in any previous years of the survey (between 38 per cent and 39 per cent).
• Twenty-four per cent of people volunteered formally at least once a month in April-September 2010, levels are lower than those between 2003 and 2007-08 (between 27 per cent and 29 per cent).
• Eighty-five per cent of people thought their community was cohesive, agreeing that their local area was a place where people from different backgrounds got on well together, higher than in all previous years (apart from 2009-10).
• Eighty-six per cent of adults in England were satisfied with their local area as a place to live, an increase on previous years: 82 per cent in 2008-09 and 83 per cent in 2009-10.
• Seventy-eight per cent of people thought that the number of immigrants coming to Britain should be reduced, whilst three per cent thought the number should be increased.
• Sixty-four per cent of people said that they were not worried about becoming a victim of crime.
• Seven per cent of adults in England felt racial or religious harassment was a very or fairly big problem in their local area. There were no consistent trends over time in views of racial or religious harassment.
• Forty-five per cent of people thought that there was more racial prejudice today than there was five years ago; this is lower than levels between 2005 and 2009-10, including when levels peaked in 2007-08 (56 per cent).
• Twenty-two per cent of people thought that they would be treated worse than people of other races by at least one of the eight public service organisations measured.

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Source: Department for Communities and Local Government