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

[NoCoco]

I live in S E London and it really is an awful area. I can't get out and feel trapped.
I'm in a low paid job, single mum. The house I live in is owned by a family member who very kindly let's me live here for free, they are very wealthy and the house was left to them by a family member.
I'm so grateful but I would love to move to a safer area. There was a shooting here at the end of my road today. I'm so worried about my kids and am a nervous wreck. I can't afford to privately rent, no chance of a mortgage and council lists are crazy.
I just feel so trapped. Does anyone else hate where they live?

I live in the SE in a really affluent market town and we've just had an incident where a teenager was raped in the park in the middle of the afternoon.

It can happen anywhere.

I would not leave somewhere I didn't have to pay rent, especially in London, unless I had to. But I would look for a better job! Current one is no good. Low pay and irregular hours when you've got a child to pay for is not enough (sorry if that sounds mean - it really isn't meant to be)

where is the shooting please

@Grossirsansplaisir

use your brain. 🧠

she doesn't have the money to pay rent, so she's not 'saving it'

shes on a low wage,at what sounds like a zero hours job.

she can't save what she doesn't have!

I feel for you, OP, and for everyone living in high crime areas. It must be horrible, and frightening.

I used to live in Croydon. A couple of years ago there were 3 fatal stabbings (all unconnected), within a mile of my old house, in less than a year. Two of them were on what used to be my route home from the pub. In the small Sussex town I moved to, there have only been 3 murders in more than 30 years.

If you can work out where you'd like to move to, could you borrow the money for rent in advance and deposit? It must be awful to feel so trapped.

A live-in job sounds like a good idea to explore, too.

please can somebody say where this shooting was, and if anyone was hurt

I guess you're talking about Plumstead.

The steady rise of cheap fentanyl that has flooded the market in Scotland and the USA and resulted in a drop in mortality rates for the first time since records began looks like it's finally made it's way to England. It was only a matter of time. Yes, I blame drugs.

OP - I don't know what the answer is but random killings are very unusual I'd wager most of the violent crime is gang or drugs related so thats good for you I guess. And just take all precautions which I'm sure you do.

But yes, things have definately got worse and not just in London. A combination of austerity and drugs

Actually, a live in job sounds like a really good option. Or even a job that comes with accommodation provided. Challenging to do with a child, but not impossible.

A live in job isn't something I've thought about but will definitely look into.

I think Plumstead is a great place to live. A real community, OP look at Plumstead people on face book, and plumstead community market. There is so much sport and wildlife available in plumstead, and it is such a diverse community. There is so much going on - Op how old are your children? there is a lot to do and be involved with in Plumstead.

aerkfjherf · Today 19:35
I think Plumstead is a great place to live. A real community, OP look at Plumstead people on face book, and plumstead community market. There is so much sport and wildlife available in plumstead, and it is such a diverse community. There is so much going on - Op how old are your children? there is a lot to do and be involved with in Plumstead.

What a sttrange post! It almost seems like theres a bot trawling the boards looking for keywords.

@aerkfjherf I can confirm that Plumstead is a complete shithole. You can have all the sport and wildlife you want but it doesn't stop gangs, shootings and stabbings.

Ask wealthy relative to sell the house and buy one in a better area before this house loses value. Then you move in as caretaker in new house & better location.

I live in Cumbria as well and a few years ago there was an appeal in the local paper saying “plant pots have been smashed on “silver street” police are appealing for witnesses to catch the vandals”

My partner lived in Salford at the time. A few days later we were at his house and heard on the radio “and in other news a man has been stabbed”

It was amusing about the plant pot appeal but it also made me appreciate how safe the area I live in is. If there had been a stabbing the whole town would be badly shaken.
It’s an expensive desirable place to live but like a lot of small towns with not much to do there is a big drug problem that a lot of people are completely unaware of.

I feel lucky to live in such a beautiful safe place but it is also boring with not much to do. A lot of shops have closed and there is no night life like there used to be. It’s a shame younger people are moving away but I don’t blame them, I’d have done the same if it was like this when I was growing up.

I have absolute sympathy for OP, it must be awful being trapped in an unsafe area, I hope her situation improves, I imagine it’s a huge strain on your mental health to be unhappy where you live and a lot of areas are becoming less safe. There needs to be restrictions about what teens can put online about posing with knives and swords, it’s becoming a worrying trend that escalates and doesn’t just stay online.

Tell the coucil you feel vulnerable and trapped and find it dangerous to go out even to your work[lace - they may move you up the waiting list or say you are orared to be rehoused up north and they may just do that - but avoid places like machester/liverpool/bradford/preston/newcastle and quite a few more as people in those areas often bang on about their areas being awful

why is it a strange post? I have a lot of family in Plumstead, a sister and 2 cousins, and their families. I have lived there myself, I know it well. I was very happy there for many years, and all of my family still are

I think you could be happy there, if you get to know it, how long have you lived there? It is a very desirable place in many ways.

You are in an enviable position to save money.

This is exactly how it is in the deprived area I live in in NE England and in several other small towns and villages.

There is crime everywhere. Plumstead is no worse than many places, and has a lot going for it as well. I am sorry @NoCoco is unhappy there, and just think maybe she could be happier, and enjoy what it has to offer, rather than feeling like she is living in a horrible place, which many people see as lovely, not horrible

Right! The very same weird bot who was asking for details about the incident only two posts above. Goady bot!

Because OP is most certainly not happy there! Do you think your ninja mental magic is going to change her mind?

I was asking for details as my family lives in SE London and I was very concerned. But no one was hurt, I understand, so am less concerned now. What is goady about asking for details, and saying how much I like this place?

I live in a small rural-ish town on the outskirts of a city in Yorkshire and over the past few years we’ve had a shooting which resulted in death, in broad daylight. A drive by shooting into a pub doorway, luckily no one injured. A family had their bedroom windows shot at. Again, luckily no one injured.

From the local grapevine most likely all to do with drugs. And people owing others for drug money.

It’s scary. And if it can happen in our little town it sometimes feels like it can happen anywhere in the country. Sorry OP, no advice. Just solidarity.

I have felt pretty unsafe since the pandemic. There just seems to be a lot of tension in the air. Every single one of us will have witnessed shoplifting raids in supermarkets. Something has broken. It’s like the Wild West.

i don’t go out after a certain time these days. Especially in the Winter. Things just feel different and it isn’t discussed enough.

I’d honestly consider moving out of London OP. I used to live in London years ago, and it’s changed so much. After I’ve visited (still have friends who live there), I feel so sad about how bad it’s become. Crime is rampant. Not saying there’s no crime outside London, but there’s certainly not the same kind of crime, such as shootings and stabbings, which now seem common place in large parts of the city. It’s like a ghetto in a third world country there atm.