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.

The poster whose business was attacked, I am sorry to hear this. It’s happening in my local high street too.

Limited, I’m from the demographic you refer to with DV attacks and my rellies in that country do a lot of work in DV shelters. They have been attacked in the process of this work. We all donate to ASTI.

But I think it’s a bit weird and a bit “whataboutery” to raise those acid attacks in the context of current ones. Fine if you feel the other type doesn’t get enough media attention but in that case, start a separate thread.

Also, when you say “what possesses these people” in the context of the current lot, it’s the same thing that makes people commit any violence. They’ve now found a weapon that’s easier to use – in some ways psychologically easier because the action of driving a knife into flesh is not required – and harder for anyone to confront them. A stop and search where the police ask to sniff the contents of a water bottle, well, I think it’s reasonable but a lot of people wouldn’t and of course the police have no resources now.

For me there’s also a higher level of worry because if I get stabbed (unlikely) or blown up and killed (more likely) I’ll be dead, hopefully. Doesn’t matter. But the thought of losing my eyesight and being disfigured in an acid attack terrifies me. I will not be taking my ipad out and MNing on the bus, that’s for sure.

Iv never ever been to London and now I don't ever want to go . All these attacks etc freak me out and once upon a time I would have loved to visit the city but not anymore . I happy up north in my little country village where I feel safe . I know I probably sound crazy but I would feel so on edge now if I visited London .

I think for me personally the way London has changed for thr worse.

Increased racial tension and racism.

Increased anti semitism-it is getting really bad!

Such bad police cuts that the area I live in. Amongst many others. Thr residents now pay for privaite security and policing.

The mental health cuts. The ammount of clearly v.v.v.v. ill people out and about. It can be quite intimidating.

When I was a kid it was not unussual late 80s/early 90s to see herion addicts and the problems that brought. Now they all seemed to either die out or clean up. Now with drugs like spice etc. It is a whole new concept.

Other things like muggings etc mopeds arent new. But I deffiantly think 24hr news and social media doesnt help. Reporting them so previlently.

Tearsunmyeyes I think people are just stating the facts

I believe that there are 2 issues at fault. Firstly multiculturalism, causing a loss of nationality identity an instead creating pockets of different cultures which are retaining there individual national heritage. This encourages a "us" and "them" mentality. And allows for groups to be targeted.

Secondly there is a lack of respect and fear for the police. If there was a healthy fear of the police/prisons then there would be a reason "fear" not to commit crime.

The other thing i notice in london you dont get in other cities is racial segrigation.

Differant races having there own parts of town. The turkish part. The polish part.

This was all strange to me. As I have lived all around world and never found any where that does this to the same extent.

With regards to gangs etc.

I am sure that that doesnt help.

Annas and frank
I am referring to the poster who said that London felt like Africa .

tearsinmyeyes

You could always go to Australia if it's too African and third world ish around here .

LOL! Sorry I can't take you seriously when you come up with shit like that. I just can't It's my opinion and I have lived in a few countries and came from a third world country myself. But I am educated and I integrate to the local culture. I notice many I met in that particular area of London didn't. It's my observation and I am allowed thank you.

@tearsinmyeyes

Mary does kinda have a point.

Areas are very ghettoized - you get off the tube at my stop and yo barely hear a word of English. It is all various Eastern European languages.

Walk around Shadwell and its like being in Baghdad.

There is a real issue with "white flight" in East London and Newham has white British as a minority. BBC covered this really well last year.
www.newhamrecorder.co.uk/news/bbc-documentary-highlights-white-flight-in-newham-1-4538857

London might have lots of different cultures and nationalities living within, but it is not mixed on a social or professional level. I look around my office, I can see maybe 100 people from my desk. Two black women, 1 of who is a PA. Hardly anyone of Asian descent. One woman in a hijab but she is actually from Saudi on secondment.

Yet I go two stops on the tube from work and it is almost 100% of people on the streets are aisan and mainly in traditional or religious dress. Where are they all working? Who are they socializing with? They sure as hell aren't visible in professional and financial services in the city/wharf.

tears have you even been to Australia? It's not exclusively populated by Caucasians you know?

tears

Do you know what an Aboriginal is?

I know there are lots of reports, and I think the poor people who have had such devastating injuries deserve our support, but I think it is still the case that the people most likely to be targeted for violent attacks are young men between the ages of 16 and 24 , who are usually attacked by people they already know, ie not random attacks, and that given the huge population of london the number of attacks is extremely small. I know this is no comfort to those with family members who are likely targets, but it should put the scaremongering into perspective.

You are still more likely to be knocked over crossing the road.

And the thing is, you just don't see the ghetto if you live in a white middle class ghetto.

If you live in a nappy valley location in South London in the tiny pockets around the outstanding primary schools... everyone is WHITE and middle class.

Annas yes I have. Turtle I was responding to the poster who basically said London was like Africa and we should learn from Australia because they are selective about who they let in. I didn't mean it literally of course. I don't quite get why all the vitirol is directed at me when people can actually say shit like this and mean it. Many have you really not come across a professional in religious dress before ? My local dentist wears a hijab and my gp when growing up was a mr Singh with a beard. This is what I love about the UK.

Turban and beard , sorry

I live in SW London & a lot of these areas are very different now as opposed to when I was growing up.

Born Londoner. Feels no different to me really - I grew up in the 80s when the IRA were bombing regularly so we were always vigilant. If anything it feels a bit 80s at the moment with the current political unrest and the riots.

I was responding to the poster who basically said London was like Africa and we should learn from Australia because they are selective about who they let in

Ahhh now I get it! I couldn't understand why you suddenly brought up Australia as if it was a white country (it isn't). My apologies, I totally missed the original reference.

The usual joke about Australia is that it's a shame they're not more careful about who they let out .

It's a lovely country for some but it's not a multicultural paradise by any means. Could certainly be worse though.

Anyway as you were. Let's get back to London.

Ah, apologies from me too - I didn't follow that.

Yes, I love seeing people carrying out their own customs and traditions in the UK. Makes me proud.

London might have lots of different cultures and nationalities living within, but it is not mixed on a social or professional level.

It's true and it feels like a deterioration from the 90s. There used to me much more natural interaction between people (who WERE just people) but it's true that distinct segregation is now creeping in so that there is reduced opportunity for people of differing backgrounds (ethnic, socio-economic, educational etc) to run up against each other naturally.

" but it is not mixed on a social or professional level."

Please can you name me professions where it is not mixed?

My sector is, my partner's sector is.

The CEO of Cancer Research UK wears a turban and has a beard (and is an absolutely gorgeous man, really kind and charasmatic, I've met him a lot) so to suggest that there are ethnicities who don't reach the same professional heights is wrong. I've met plenty of people in religious dress at work or seen them commuting in to the city in the morning.

I think the reason gangs and the moped attacks are increasing are because of austerity but not directly related to stealing for food and essentials. It's about fitting in. I live in an area that was heavily affected by the riots. We have a massive gang culture here - these children join them because they are desperate to have all the trainers, watches, phones, cars etc that the elders have. They don't realise at first that it's all mostly credit or stolen. They see a simple way to gain these things without much work or having to study, mostly they aren't interested in education any way. The children in these gangs would never have any way of accessing these "luxury" items without stealing or working very hard in a system that often their parents don't understand so can't encourage them. Stabbing is simple compared to gun crime so it's their first option. Mopeds too. Acid attacks are now becoming an extension of that. It's just instant gratification with parents who don't often have the time to be there for their children because they are navigating their way through a system they aren't familiar with, and at the same time trying to find work that they can actually do with limited language.

20 years or so ago I was violently mugged for my (fake) watch in a very expensive part of London and was terrified to go out for months later. Ironically enough, I lived in a much more edgy part of London and had never had any problems there.

I still don't wear a watch but have luckily not been targeted since. The kids were young and scary and even if the police did catch them, I was told that they were unlikely to be imprisoned because of their age.
This is a long winded way of saying there have always been muggings/violent crime and I can't see it going away any time soon.

I do remember vividly the police telling me that the watch thefts were driven by the market for second hand cheap designer watches. I guess it's the same for mobile phones. Please all ask yourself where that bargain comes from and don't buy anything second hand without asking questions.

@HurtleTheTurtle

Is your profession is made up the same % as the underlying London ethic make up?

I would say pretty much any of the traditional finance and related professional services in the City are really really white.

Honestly if you don't think there is a problem with lack of diversity in the traditional financial services you are being a bit disingenuous.

Investment banking, other front office finance, golden circle law, politics (how many london MPs are black or Asian?).

I don't think I have EVER seen a black male or female around a deal table (banks, ;lawyers and advisers or clients)!

It is also lacking in diversity socioeconomically. I think it is a real problem - people live in the shadow of Canary Wharf and have got such a slim chance of actually working there in a front office service line.

My local dentist wears a hijab and my gp when growing up was a mr Singh with a beard. This is what I love about the UK.

Medical and Dentistry is a very traditional field for 2nd generation Asian's so that isn't a great example.

The CEO of Cancer Research UK wears a turban and has a beard

Just becase some people achieve great things doens't mean that there are serious barriers to the ethnicity/continuity/religion/group as a whole.

That is like saying "well, Sheryl Sandberg was Facebook's CEO - so there are ZERO issues affecting women achieving the same heights as men at work".