Control becomes fragile when it depends on everyone remaining afraid.

Fear-based compliance holds only while the fear is fresh. It requires constant renewal, produces no goodwill, and collapses immediately when circumstances change, because nobody involved has any reason to hold things together beyond the pressure itself. It looks like strength and behaves like a debt.

If people cooperate with you mainly to avoid your displeasure, that is worth changing while you still can. Start by making one thing safe that used to be costly, and let the change be noticed.