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Original poster

Violent crime and crimes against kids

18 replies

dejags · 13/09/2005 12:12

Is it my imagination or is violent crime and crime against children on the up in England and Wales. There always seems to be something in the news about kids being abducted, murdered etc not to mention general violent crime.

Any statistics out there and does anybody else worry about this?

PS: this may seem strange because I live in another country, but I like to think we?ll return to the UK one day.

OP posts:
Original poster
dejags · 13/09/2005 12:13

Should have read England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Was trying to be PC and got it wrong

OP posts:
compo · 13/09/2005 12:13

I think it is reported more widely than it was years ago and that is why it seems ike it is on the up. Also don't forget we are still in the summer months when there is not as much politics to talk about so crimes against children get reported more. imo anyway

Original poster
dejags · 13/09/2005 12:22

thanks Compo.

Makes sense that it's more widely reported. But do you think that violent crime is a "sign of the time" (sorry to use a cliche) or that it really isn't increasing?

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Original poster
dejags · 13/09/2005 12:39

I can't believe this doesn't worry anybody else.

I think because I live in a very violent country I am probably much more in touch with these issues but if I can see a trend in England, living 6000 miles away I am surprised that it doesn't bother you all.

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Lizzylou · 13/09/2005 12:42

Sorry, just seen this thread.
It worries me no end Dejags, also crimes against children committed by other children, all this "happyslapping" and videoing attacks on mobiles is disgusting and so very worrying.

I am appalled constantly by what goes on in this country and worried for my son's future...

Original poster
dejags · 13/09/2005 12:48

oh thanks Lizzylou, I was starting think I was a bit paranoid

Seriously though:

totally agree with you re. children displaying really violent tendencies - since Jamie Bulger (poor little mite), it seems to happen far to frequently in varying degrees.

I wonder if any research has been conducted into this and if anything is being done in schools to do something about it?

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tabitha · 13/09/2005 12:49

Of course it worries me dejags, but I do agree with compo in that we hear so much more about it now than in the past. You only have to look at cases which happened years ago which are being solved (or hopefully) solved by new forensic evidence to realise that. Take this case for example. Also, I used to be a Police Officer and it was common for us to be told of crimes that had happened years ago that the victim felt to scared to tell anyone about. I remember one in particular in which a , now, middle-aged woman told me of how her elder brother used to force her to have sex with his friends when her parents went out leaving him to babysit . she said that if she had told anyone at the time, they would not have believed her and that she would have been punished for lying.
I also don't think that crimes of children/teenagers attacking each other are any more common that they were years ago. In fact, from what my kids tell me, they are possibly less common than I remember from 'my day'.
I also

Original poster
dejags · 13/09/2005 12:52

sorry tabitha, didnt want to seem pushy.

Interesting that you have a qualified opinion (i.e. you were a police officer) and that you also agree that violent crime isnt increasing.

I have difficulty believing that - must be a sucker for the newspapers

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tabitha · 13/09/2005 13:06

I didn't think you were being pushy, dejags, honest
Even though I don't think that levels of crimes against children are increasing, it doesn't mean that I don't worry or that I don't think that levels are too high. Imo any level of crimes against children is too high.

Original poster
dejags · 13/09/2005 13:10

brings me back to my point about what is being done about it.

In South Africa, they couldn't give a toss - each to their own and if you are murdered well bad luck to you.

I think that in the UK (civilised society), something should be done about this - fairly urgently.

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RTKangaMummy · 13/09/2005 13:32

My middle nephew was beaten up last weekend while he was waiting at a bustop He is 15 years

He now has a black eye

Original poster
dejags · 13/09/2005 13:42

That's terrible RTKM - what happened? This sounds unprovoked. This is the sort of thing I am talking about.

makes me really angry

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Marina · 13/09/2005 13:51

Sorry about your nephew RTKM and thanks for that Tabitha, I think your assessment of the situation nowadays is spot-on. In every aspect of life we are encouraged to speak out. Obviously when it comes to being believed/supported where abuse is happening, this is a really positive development. What used to be brushed aside as "uncle's funny little ways" is now taken seriously, and fewer abusers of children get away with the shame threat against their victims.
But this honesty translated into detailed media coverage is a two-edged sword IMO. I do wonder if happy-slapping were less written about, it might have become less prevalent. It's all back to the "normalisation" argument that Jane Longhurst's mother has used in her brilliant campaign to outlaw violent internet porn.
Brainless no-prospects teen reads about happy-slapping in the paper or sees it on one of those true-crime programmes and thinks, I'll have a go.
I live in London where stuff like this happens ALL of the time, but, equally, in 40 plus years of schlepping around on public transport at all hours (not latterly ) I have only ever witnessed two or three worrying incidents.
If it helps any I was very worried about you relocating to that hotbed of car-jacking/drive-by shooting/poverty-related crime Dejags...I think one often gets the worst-case scenario from many miles away via the press...

RTKangaMummy · 13/09/2005 16:18

I don't know exactly as my mum told me last night so it is 2nd hand iyswim

But he was at a bus stop and a group of teenagers came up to him and they duffed him up

This was at 10.30pm at night {which IMHO is toooooo late for him to be out - but still no excuse for him to be beaten up}

Sis took him to the police and they said the gang is well known to them

I am not sure what will happen now

Original poster
dejags · 13/09/2005 19:12

Thanks for thinking of me Marina - you are so sweet.

Things in Cape Town are not that bad - where we live, about 20 minutes out of the city center things are very quiet. There is some crime (mostly breaking into houses), but on the whole things are pretty safe. I certainly would feel much safer walking around Bromley at night, but I honestly think if I had to do it here it wouldn't be an issue. I often see lone female runners out at night in the winter months.

Other parts of the City and the country are awful though, very crime ridden and there is no justice systems whatsoever.

Ho-hum, that's living in Africa.

Hope you are well
dejags x

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Tortington · 14/09/2005 05:05

crime against children from other children is very high - in fact they are more likely to be mugged and other stuff by their peers than any other group - something i read from youth services.

RTKangaMummy · 14/09/2005 09:58

dejags interesting you say Bromley

That is near where my nephew was attacked

Tortington · 14/09/2005 12:56

and something we have experienced actually son has been mugged for his bike and beaten up by other teenagers

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