I live in an awful area, there was a shooting today and can't get out!

It’s a good time to start demanding more of our local and national politicians when it comes to this

I wish my kids could have my teenage 90s experience of going to raves and having the best time, I never knew anyone who was stabbed or carried a knife

Also hearing of kids stabbing each other in what would be quite middle class areas and upmarket villages. This violent culture of posing with knives and pretending to be a gangster is all over social media, and therefore it's everywhere

You live in the same area as me I was there today when the shooting happened.

I live in another major city and it's violent and dangerous here too, so just going to another city won't fix it as I'm afraid these problems exist up and down the country. I was just talking about all the issues here with my teenage ds, I would love to move but the safer areas are a lot more expensive, I'm a single mum and can't afford it so looks like we will have to stay here and put up with it!

My god, I'm so sorry these awful things have happened to you.

I feel for you op. I’m also stuck in a shit area, less to do with money and more to do with literally everything else - probably stuck here for the next 10-12 years. It’s not London but somewhere that some pretty horrific things have happened and in the papers a lot. I’m dreading my children becoming teenagers around here but can’t see anything changing.

Sorry to disappoint but it's grim up north as well. This in an area that used to be decent 10 years ago but now crime rate is through the roof. DD too scared to walk to school or get the bus, it's that bad. Dickheads in balaclavas and druggies everywhere.

Whereabouts was the shooting today in SE please? (Roughly) I can't find it online.

I get it, I am afraid. No advice though, sorry.

Yeah that’s not acceptable. That’s mad. Do all you can to leave. You only get one life.

Thank you and likewise, it's awful and so sad to lose your sense of peace. I grew up in a tough city and can handle myself normally. I hate being scared. Hope you find a way out OP. Could you move out to a cheaper town? X

Benefits aren't there to allow people to save, you know. If your rent is zero then so will your HB be.

If I had it my way I would leave SE London but for other reasons I'm also unable to but I don't feel unsafe as it's usually gang related so don't feel like a target myself but I had no idea it had happened till we walked past the police blocking the road earlier which isn't nice and don't really want my kids growing up here but no choice about moving and I think it's an issue all over London though

Omg, so sorry to hear that

I’m in SE London and there was a shooting today, so I assume the same area!

im so happy I didn’t walk to the local Tesco as planned.

but I understand, I’m hoping to move out before my kids reach secondary school, as I don’t want them caught up in it all

We were in an area with 'poor' living cheek by jowel with 'rich'. I had lived and worked there for quite a while and felt 💯 safe, but when you hear of these things you feel quite shaken. But really the area was ok. It was just bad timing.

Ps I know this is austerity, cuts to every possible service etc. Just shocked at how many horrible things are happening close together.

Change jobs?

I've suddenly started feeling unsafe in London. Two drive by shootings within minutes of home last month. I was mugged and punched in the face by a teenager last summer, and partner and I were accosted and threatened by a very mentally unwell young man with a knife six weeks ago when leaving the cinema. This is after 12 years of zero issues other than one nicked front bike wheel. What the fuck is happening?

Normally shootings/crime are by people known to them. Understandably you must be stressed and worried about what you are bringing your child into but try and keep positive that it's very rare for this sort of thing to happen to normal people. I have nothing useful to suggest as I moved away from a rough area to a better one but still in social housing but it's a better area. I moved from SE to NW with the hope of bringing my child up on a better area.