ID theft is women's top security fear

By Jennifer Hill

LONDON (Reuters) - Identify theft has overtaken the "yob culture" as the top safety concern for British women, a survey shows.

Some 43 percent of women have fears over identify theft and fraud, while 40 percent believe the yob culture poses a threat to their safety, according to a poll of 2,000 people for American Express.

Overall, public fears over identity theft doubled during 2007.

Greater Internet usage and high-profile security breaches saw fears over ID theft affect 41 percent of the population, up from 22 percent at the start of the year.

It overtook more traditional crime fears, such as car theft and vandalism, to stand second only to yob culture in the overall list of British security concerns.

Some 44 percent of those polled said they were concerned about yob culture.

The findings come after the government admitted computer discs containing details of 25 million people were lost in the post by the tax authority.

An investigation has been launched and the head of the tax collection office has resigned over the largest data failure in British history.

Chris Rolland, head of American Express Insurance Services, said: "Events in the last few weeks have clearly focused the public's attention on identity theft issues."