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Original poster

Safe places to raise teenagers - SW London

39 replies

todayortomorrow · 05/04/2023 12:54

We live in Balham which is generally lovely. But in the past months there have been a lot of muggings of secondary school kids, someone was attacked for their watch round the corner from our house last week etc. Our kids are still in primary school but I'm scared for them when they move to secondary. Are there areas of SW London where you don't worry about your kids being mugged? Or is this happening everywhere? Thanks

OP posts:
Redheadredemption · 06/04/2023 00:07

Pointerdogsrule · 05/04/2023 21:44

Kingston ???!!!

Are you having a laugh?

Balham isn't dangerous, its boring, but its not dangerous for goodness sake, I wouldn't go out in Kingston on a Saturday night, but I would in Balham.

OP, there is no there is no 'safe haven' it doesn't exist. The closest you'll get to that is moving out to the middle of nowhere I'm afraid, like somehwere in Devon....just follow the advice of @TJsAunt great advice.

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Kingston is exceptionally tame compared to other parts of London! It’s a lovely safe place to live.

trymeonthat · 05/04/2023 23:51

Twickenham, Teddington.and Hampton Hill are relatively safe, and lovely places to live if you can afford the housing, with good schools.

AuntieMarys · 05/04/2023 22:08

New Malden

SquirmOfEels · 05/04/2023 22:04

I agree that it does come in waves. The police notify schools if there's a known difficulty, and then parents get the emails urging extra caution in certain areas, reassurance of extra police patrols, and reiteration of the instruction to just hand stuff over (better to lose a phone than be badly hurt).

And I'm not sure that there's anywhere in London where you'd definitely be safer. The 'good' and 'bad' areas are absolutely cheek by jowl

photoshop · 05/04/2023 21:58

Live in SW London, brought up in rural Devon. My DCs may be more likely to be mugged but also grateful they're not haring round the country lanes in cars being driven by drunk teenagers en route to the hotspots of Exeter and Torquay...! I look back in horror at some of the things that went on...

youtwoandme · 05/04/2023 21:55

Twoshoesnewshoes · 05/04/2023 13:37

Doesn’t happen very much at all here in rural Devon, though I appreciate that’s not very helpful.

OP will now be able to sleep at night knowing it's ok where you live.

3WildOnes · 05/04/2023 21:49

Teddington still feels pretty safe.

Pointerdogsrule · 05/04/2023 21:44

GloryBees · 05/04/2023 13:35

Feels pretty safe Kingston way. Heard lots re Balham. I’d definitely move out if I lived that centrally.

Kingston ???!!!

Are you having a laugh?

Balham isn't dangerous, its boring, but its not dangerous for goodness sake, I wouldn't go out in Kingston on a Saturday night, but I would in Balham.

OP, there is no there is no 'safe haven' it doesn't exist. The closest you'll get to that is moving out to the middle of nowhere I'm afraid, like somehwere in Devon....just follow the advice of @TJsAunt great advice.

cheese10 · 05/04/2023 17:57

Southfields
Wimbledon
Rayners Park

TJsAunt · 05/04/2023 13:53

Sadly I think you'll get this anywhere in London (my ds has been mugged and it's not an easy thing to get over)...

I would say that all schools are pretty good at telling them what they should do (ie don't walk along using your phone) and hand over whatever you're asked for straight away without arguing. Kids are better at the second than the first....

There are no top tips and certainly no failsafe places to live to avoid this (except maybe Devon!) - you just have to encourage your kids to be sensible and keep everything crossed.

easycomeasygo · 05/04/2023 13:45

I think it happens everywhere but goes in cycles a bit. A while ago there were lots of incidents in Putney, seems to have died down ( famous last words) but currently happening in Barnes/ Mortlake a lot. There was also a group in Fulham mugging people- same teenage perpetrators every time.
I think with WhatsApp, nextdoor.com etc we hear about things a lot more as well although I do appreciate that it is happening more as well.
I don't worry particularly about my DCs at secondary although have discussed with them ( as have schools) about safety, sensible behaviour etc.

Twoshoesnewshoes · 05/04/2023 13:37

Doesn’t happen very much at all here in rural Devon, though I appreciate that’s not very helpful.

GloryBees · 05/04/2023 13:35

Feels pretty safe Kingston way. Heard lots re Balham. I’d definitely move out if I lived that centrally.

Surreyparentapparently · 05/04/2023 13:01

Sadly, this is becoming a problem wherever you live

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