to wonder what is happening to London!?

[AisforAria]

Anyone else worried about the sudden rise in acid attacks, moped thieves etc? It feels a bit like the rule of law is breaking down. All this simmering violence - London feels really alien and hostile these days.

London has always had its problems but it feels that there is a "gang" culture is spreading ever wider. I live in a town just outside London. I am involved with a local youth group and we have been warned by the police about the increase in gang-related violence spilling out from London, mostly drugs-related.

I work in London - it seems the same. However, we have had an email going round at work advising us to be vigilant as there have been increased incidents of phone/bag snatching in the area (South Bank).

It actually seems way safer than it was several years ago in this area - many of my work colleagues were mugged back in the day and I had to fight off an attempted sexual assault.

Acid attacks have more than doubled within a few years; it's hardly a 'media fad'

As I say it's still, relatively speaking, an extremely rare crime. But it's such a shocking one that the community interest and horror is hardly surprising.

The Police changed their pursuit policy a couple of years ago after being

severely reprimanded over the death of an 18 year old moped mugger they were pursuing. Apparently they have to stop chasing anyone if they remove their helmet on health and safety grounds. I think the police have just had enough of all the political correctness and are deliberately highlighting the absurd consequences by now following the letter of the guidelines imposed on them. Until such time they are changed due to a public backlash.

I'm in London and it feels the same to me as it has for the last few years.

Generally, though, the last few years have been getting worse with regards to homelessness, and vulnerable people with mental health issues wandering about, due to various support networks having funding cut. I imagine it's true everywhere, but more noticeable here.

I do think the mood of the country is quite divided at the moment - probably because we're having referendum after election after referendum after election, and people aren't as well off so more hostile to others, but I don't notice that more in London than anywhere else.

I feel safe most of the time.

My London worries generally revolve around whether it will be a trains-fucked-up day or not.

Take some smelling salts and get a grip.

I live here, though work at home so not in the centre of town every day (though I was last couple of weekends). I don't get any sense of that when I'm out and about, not at all.

You need to read up on London history if you feel it's unsafe now

@Apollo440 yeah they aren't allowed to chase moped drivers really any more. Which is total Bullshit. Criminals on mopeds REMOVE THEIR HELMETS when police give chase as then the police have to stand down.

If someone on a moped fails to stop, and tries to evade the police I see no reason why it's the polices fault if the little moped smashes into something and they die.

Well - I am not sure really... I live and work in central London. I have always felt pretty safe. BUT I have to confess that the recent rise in people having their phones snatched, etc has made me feel a little concerned. I was standing outside with dd the other day, waiting for a taxi, when two motorbikes came roaring by, really close, and we got a fright - we ran to shelter in the entrance of a building. I am now a bit careful about using my phone in the street, etc.

I don't know if moped theft is on the rise, I've always known it to be as common as other thefts. Acid attacks weren't wide spread, I don't think they're wide spread now either though- only been a couple of incidents. Obviously 1 attack is 1 too many, but it isn't a common thing like that. When it's not acid attacks, it's somebody being stabbed, or beaten up or something else though, so I don't think violent crime has had a major rise either.
But it's a city isn't it, more people, more poverty, more hot and bothered people, it's going to happen in every city. Obviously things happen in even tiny villages, but less people means less crime.
And in small places where everybody knows everybody, people will probably burgle less too. It's probably easier to burgle some randomers house than it is to burgle Mrs Smith who's son went to school with you and who sends a Christmas card every year. One person I knew who grew up in a village remembers being the talk of the village for a while when they were a teen and once got really drunk and was singing loudly down the street with friends.

NotContent I always knew this was a risk but didn't ever worry too much. I was vigilant to my surroundings, but not overly worried. I was using my phone locally recently and a woman came over to me begging me to be careful as it had happened to her the day before, some people on bikes.
So horrible. And it's not even like you can do anything. They're on bikes, they're gone in a second, can't chase them and get your phone back even if you wanted to.

No. Just no. Not even a little bit true. Living in London 20 years ago was much rougher and more dangerous.

You're in a much worse position now if you're poor or homeless, sure, but that's not criminal, that's the result of austerity policies.

I live in East London and actually witnessed one of the recent acid attacks - although it didn't make any sense to me at the time, I just thought it was someone who was feeling a bit ill pouring water over their head!

I still don't feel that London is unsafe in general although I think that a lot of the food delivery couriers have been complaining that they are increasingly being targeted by thieves.

Aisfor I have lived in south London for around 15 years now and would agree there is definitely a rise in crime - the moped snatching, mugging, burglary, knive crime/ teenage stabbing etc. This isn't being reported in the media but is being more widely shared on local FB groups so I don't buy media hysteria. I think my neighbourhood is less safe than when I moved here but I don't think central London is unsafe in the safe way.

Interesting post OP

I was chatting with neighbours a few months ago about gangs. (All born and raised in various parts of London). A lot of us felt that the gang thing is prevalent in literally every postcode, which we didn't sense ten years ago. One guy is a police volunteer and he confirmed that.

Even if you lived your whole life in areas with gangs, there's something more overwhelming when you see numbers increasing, not just in your postcode but in all the surrounding ones.

I think there must some specific thing going on at the moment between them.

When I did shifts I didn't think much at all about getting a loaf from the 24 hour shop and they were all hanging about but we ended up grunting hello because I think that just happens when you see people often, but I've seen some of those lads come to a bad end. Well, I didn't literally see it, but I know about it. I'm glad I don't work shifts now.

Nah...

There's always more or less isolated incidents like this. Five years ago the riots, 10-15 years ago knife crime, 20 years ago rave culture and 30 years ago the 80s riots.

Stories like this are understandably massively magnified by the media but actually the vast majority of people are just getting on with their lives.

London has its problems, undoubtedly, but this is no worse than its ever been. The rule of law is firmly in place, life goes on.

Perhaps. But actually in London everything's ticking over and feels the same as ever. The media are exploiting people's sensitivities from (threats of) terrorism, for a political agenda I'm sure, all these same things probably happened a lot at other times but not everything can ever be reported.

Was a tourist in London last week so visited typical places eg science museum, Westminster, Chinatown. Have to say it did not feel hostile or more alien than last few years. Thought there were fewer visible homeless. DS and I had 15mins walk from Tube to hotel in north London after 10pm both nights and it felt safe. Just an outsider's perspective !

I also live in London (and have always done) and have seen a rapid deterioration in the local area. Whilst I cannot speak for all of London, my local area has definitely deteriorated I feel less safe and gangs are a big issue as is much more visible drug dealing and anti social behaviour as well as muggings. Yes it is reported more as well but we are kidding ourselves if we don't think there is an issue in some parts. Petty crime like fly tipping is rife as well and the change in my area and those nearby is noticeable. Not to mention that burglary is definitely on the increase round here. Oh and also the joys of blatant prostitution during daylight hours. This is not how things were a few years ago. I know lots of people looking to move because quite frankly it's becoming a shithole. So for my area- it's true.

Lynda "I also live in London (and have always done) and have seen a rapid deterioration in the local area"

Yes. Hence me banging on about postcodes. Some parts in a mile radius round here went down so fast. When the gangs arrive, it is very clear! Then the police get rid, then new ones arrive. About two weeks peace in between!

I agree with you OP. I was in Greenwich on Sunday afternoon with my DD when a group of 6 guys on mopeds with balaclavas on, kept going up and down the main road revving etc.

To then hear in the news that a man was stabbed coming out of a bar late Sunday night by a gang on mopeds on that very road tying to steel his phone, makes me very edgy.

It seems mopeds are the new way to commit crimes now...

Agreed, everything seems normal here. I live in London - just off Borough High Street/London Bridge. OP, do you live in London?

I'm a Londoner and I don't think things have got any worse, they are just better reported at the moment. Moped robbery used to more commonly be pushbike robbery I think - people getting their mobile phones stolen outside tube stations by people on bikes has been happening for years and years.

The acid attacks are of course very worrying though and there has obviously been an increase there.

I think a lot of the problem, particularly around where I live, is local government funding has been cut and there is just more rubbish and crap and graffiti around the place which isn't being cleared up in the way that it used to - I think that makes it FEEL worse, even though it probably isn't.

I am not thinking of moving though - I love it here.

Sulphuric Acid is easily available, there is no age limit to buy it, the prison sentences are low in comparison to stabbings.

Gangs and criminals have cottoned onto this recently; sadly they've been using acid on knife blades for a while to hinder healing of stab wounds.

Acid attacks have not necessarily risen; they've just become the centre of the media - largely due to the randomness of recent attacks and they now seemingly don't discriminate against social classes.

There was far less media attention when people believed that they were limited to certain religions, ethnicity and social classes, or people who had experienced DV.