<p>Fear of crime constitutes a significant yet largely invisible form of social harm, as it often remains unrecorded in crime statistics and legal systems while continuing to shape everyday life. This article introduces the Criminological Visibility Model (CVM) as a framework for rendering fear of crime socially legible through its observable consequences rather than reported victimisation. Drawing on urban public-space contexts, the model illustrates how fear becomes visible through patterned spatial avoidance, temporal withdrawal, behavioural adaptation, and dependency or silence. To operationalise the model, the article proposes a CVM Visibility Index, which translates these adaptations into a conceptually transparent and adaptable analytic framework. By supporting the early identification of perceived insecurity and patterns of behavioural restriction in urban environments, CVM offers potential implications for crime prevention, urban planning, and gender-sensitive policy, with relevance to Sustainable Development Goals on inclusive cities, equality, and peaceful communities.</p>