General Chat

The perception of level of crime depends to some extent on the way statistics are presented. Someone on the radio tonight said that 17 in every 1,000 Health Service emplyees were attacked last year. That sounds a lot worse than saying 59 out of every 60 weren't attacked. They say things are worse, but who am I to judge? I was attacked at about 9pm in South Kensington in 1968 and at 8pm in Cheltenham in 1973, both posh places (supposedly).

Sue Nothing like getting it off your chest. Think positive and I am sure you will be fine too. As someone said earlier, its always bad news that hits the headlines. Every day there are examples of people helping each other and I remember Mark Steel saying that people have a gloomy view of crime - London in particular is supposed to be full of villains, yet if you drop your wallet in London 9 out of 10 people will hand it back to you. I've certainly done that, so there must be another 8 people who are honest too! nell

sorry got the bee out of my bonnet now but also agree with what you all say hope you all stay safe and well love sue x

Well I can say that when I was a child we got broken into once by a local youth who was on drugs and he broke the back door down and took the contents of my mum's purse. I myself have never been burgled. My brother in law has twice and both times he had a burglar alarm fitted - after he'd been burgled. A lesson there, I think! We do have a burglar alarm and we always use it. I had my purse nicked out of my handbag once in the London underground when I was naive - now I have a London mentality when I go there and am much more aware of where my bag is and who is around me. I think we just have to be aware - don't leave your keys in the car, leave your bag open when you go round the shops etc. Yes, it would be nice if everyone was honest but they aren't and I don't suppose there was a time when everyone was or a time when everyone will be. nell

Bob, Yes. Unfortunately, in some areas, there IS! The majority of the burglaries in our area were opportunistic. People had left windows open during the hot summer, and the burglars took full advantage, even while some people were actually in their own houses. There seems to be a never-ending stream of people around today without any scruples. An elderly female friend of ours was extremely upset one day recently after politely asking a young lad, who'd been swearing at a shopkeeper in the queue in front of her, not to use such language. He told her, "Shut up! It's got nothing to do with you. You'll be dead soon anyway!" While going from door-to-door in our neighbourhood last week, I was told of a recent beating given to a man by three others just around the corner from where I live, and, that very afternoon, a schoolboy walking home was mugged and had his mobile phone stolen in the next street. We moved from our last home because such incidents were becoming more frequent and too close to home. We'll be on the move from here before too much longer, if our efforts to improve matters don't work. BUT - Where do you go to be safe these days? CB >|<

It appears that we live in an "opportunist" era..........a person waited until a bus pasenger went to sleep, and then halfinched his jacket, that contained the guys wallet........... cars "left for a moment " looted, old people just collected a pension payment mugged outside post offices......IS there really someone on every corner just watching and waiting?

Lynda's right. We can change society, if we try hard enough. We were sick of hearing about all the burglaries in our area about 18 months ago, so we spoke to a local Councillor. He put us in touch with our local Ward Police Officer, who helped us set up a Neighbourhood Watch. A concerted effort by the local Police solved a lot of problems by arresting local drug-dealers and burglars, and it was stressed at a recent NW Conference that this had largely been possible due to information from members of the public. At present, we have a huge problem with outsiders parking cars in our area's residential roads. I've recently been invited to become secretary of a local residents' committee, and we've organised a petition and public meetings to lobby the authorities for some action. We've found a lot of support from local residents, and it only takes a few people with the time, and the will to make a go of it, to get the ball rolling in the right direction. CB >|<

Every generation believes itself to be worse than the one before. There will always be criminals. Most countries who routinely use the death penalty have higher rates of murder because violence becomes legitimised; society gets used to the idea that actually it's OK to kill people sometimes. News broadcasters want headlines. Nobody would buy a paper with the front page screaming 'man helps old lady cross road'. Everyone wants more prisons and longer sentences, but no-one wants to volunteer at youth centres for deprived children or set up a football club. Perhaps society should be a bit more enthusiastic about preventing children getting involved in petty crime, drugs and truancy. Ask youself what exactly are you doing to make the future brighter for everyone? Finally, would an inherantly selfish and criminal society have donated £70 million + to the tsunami appeal? Would a wicked society have filled shoeboxes with small gifts and trinkets to be sent to poverty-stricken children for Christmas?

Nell, very well put and I do agree with you, especially about the 'entertainment' that relies on people being humiliated. I was reading in the paper about the latest 'game' that teenagers are playing. i think it is called slapping. They slap people's faces and someone records their reactions on a video phone. Some schools are thankfully confiscating mobile phones because of this. but how horrible. no doubt they think it is funny but commuters have been attacked as well. Ann Glos

LOL Nell, well I for one wouldn't call you a boring old fart. I agree with everything you have just typed. Well said, as usual. X Pat x

I think you will find that when we did have the death penalty there were still murders, muggings and rapes. Of course the death penalty does prevent the perpetrator from repeating his/her crimes, but I think a lot of people who were legally killed were punished for other things. Edith Thompson was hanged because she committed adultery and wrote some stupid letters. Derek Bentley died because his parents couldn't afford a toprate defence lawyer and because his accomplice (who masterminded their break-in and carried the gun) was too young to hang. I am personally against the death penalty because there is always the possibility of killing an innocent person and I believe whatever method is used is barbaric. I think that we live in a society which sends out the wrong messages though. TV is full of programmes which set out to insult or humiliate people, we live in a compensation culture where you have to be paid back if something bad has happened to you and there is no respect for people. I also think that because people are more aware of child molesters children are not encouraged to listen to adults and adults feel wary about talking to children or correcting their behaviour because it will be misinterpreted or they will be told to mind their own business. When I was a child any adult was able to tick you off for wrongdoing. Gosh, I have now turned into a boring old fart, so I'll stop now. nell

I like to believe that the scum that do these awful things are in the minority. It's strange, because whenever I hear awful reports about what some people do, usually on the same day I hear about something good that somebody's done. It restores your faith in human nature, as there are still a lot of good people in this world. What you say is food for thought, though. Glenys x

IVE JUST READ ANOTHER THRED FROM KAL WHO HAD HER CAT KILLED ON THE ROAD AND THINKING OF DIFFERENT THINGS IVE READ IN THE PAPERS IVE 4 CHILDREN WHATS THE FUTURE FOR THEM ITS BAD ENOUGH NOW DOES THE DEATH SENTENCE NEED TO BE BROUGHT BACK. CAN A LEOPARD CHANGE ITS SPOTS. QUITE A FEW THAT GO IN PRISON COME OUT WORSE THAN WHEN THEY WENT IN. POOR OLD PEOPLE SAT IN THE WARM WATCHING THE TELLY GET BROKEN INTO AND BEATEN TO DEATH WHAT DO THEY GET FOR HITTING THEM ..... NOTHING AND THEY PROBABLY NICKED A TENNER WHAT THEY HAD KEPT FOR THE SHOPPING I THINK ITS TIME FOR CHANGE I THINK ITS GOT TO CHANGE AND QUICKLY. ONE MORE EXAMPLE ........................ IAN HUNTLEY SORRY I HAD A BEE IN MY BONNET WHAT YOU THINK