underpoliced
Lacking law enforcement
Underpoliced describes an area or population receiving insufficient police presence or attention.
The term often appears in discussions of neglected neighborhoods where residents feel unprotected: The community was simultaneously overpoliced for minor infractions and underpoliced for serious crimes.
It implies that law enforcement resources are inadequate to address crime or maintain public safety.
Likely to cause harm
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- exposedOut in open
- at-riskSubject to potential harm
- defenselessWithout means to resist
insecure · endangered · precarious · unguarded · susceptible · threatened · helpless · unshielded
Not noticed or considered
- ignoredPurposely not noticed
- abandonedLeft behind completely
- forgottenNo longer recalled
- disregardedNot given consideration
unattended · unmaintained · unwatched · deserted · marginalized · underserved · disinvested · blighted
Absence of governing rules
- gangsOrganized criminal groups
- theftUnlawful taking of property
- robberyTheft through intimidation
- assaultViolent offensive act
vandalism · violence · burglary · homicide · looting · smuggling · extortion · arson
Lack of strictness
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- mismanagementIncompetent handling of responsibilities
- nonenforcementNot applying rules
inadequacy · understaffing · underfunding · corruption · ineffectiveness · unaccountability · apathy · indifference
unsafe
Likely to cause harm
- unprotectedWithout safeguard or shield
- exposedOut in open
- at-riskSubject to potential harm
defenseless · insecure · endangered · precarious · unguarded · susceptible · threatened · helpless · unshielded · prey
overlooked
Not noticed or considered
disregarded · unattended · unmaintained · unwatched · deserted · marginalized · underserved · disinvested · blighted · impoverished
lawlessness
Absence of governing rules
assault · vandalism · violence · burglary · homicide · looting · smuggling · extortion · arson · trafficking
laxity
Lack of strictness
- negligenceFailure to exercise care
- derelictionAbandonment of duty
- mismanagementIncompetent handling of responsibilities
nonenforcement · inadequacy · understaffing · underfunding · corruption · ineffectiveness · unaccountability · apathy · indifference · inattention
underpolicedoverpoliced
Subjected to excessive policing
policed · militarized · police state · occupied · watched
underpolicedsafe
Free from peril
secure · locked down · protected · orderly · controlled
under, police, policed, policing, polices, policeman, policemen, policewoman, policewomen