One of the foremost responsibilities of any government is to provide a secure environment in which the general public can survive and thrive. But not all governments have met this obligation with the same degree of commitment or effectiveness. The purpose of this bulletin is to explore popular perceptions of the crime situation in Tanzania, and the government’s effectiveness in handling this issue. The findings presented here are based on three Afrobarometer surveys of public attitudes conducted in 2003, 2005 and 2008.