Is It No Longer Safe For Our Children To Walk The Streets Alone?

[anotheoldgit]

In the first case the two men are described as 'white' and in the second case the five men are described as being 'non-English'

Before anyone jumps in with "it matters not what nationality these men are", I agree, but I just added that because in recent such cases the police have been reluctant to issue such valuable information, when asking the public for their help.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3813190/Teenage-girl-snatched-street-walked-school-two-men-silver-car-seriously-sexually-assaulted-four-hours.html

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3811942/Police-hunt-five-men-ski-masks-tried-bundle-11-year-old-boy-Transit-van.html

[grasscarp]

And not much safer for adults!

[andy-hughes]

No it's not safe, and hasn't been for years.

My two oldest children are forty-one and thirty-nine - they were not allowed to travel home alone after dark until they left home.

[anotheoldgit]

Pongoparrot

/// I don't believe it has been safe for our children to walk/play on our streets or recs alone for ...ooh.... the last 50 years! ///

I agree, but some would say "yes but we get to hear of it more these days".

Funny that since 50 years ago we still had TVs, Radios, and Newspapers.

Even the News of the World.

[Gromit]

// the police have been reluctant to issue such valuable information //

The only time the police do not issue descriptions is when they don't need the publics help because they already have CCTV images, names or accurate descriptions already. It is false to suggest they hamper their own investigations because they are scared to say the ethnic origin of suspects.

-------------

Sadly, childre and you g girls have always been the victims of preditary men, and this is nothing new. I doubt there is any significant increase in these crimes. Two incidents reported recently is not proof of an increase in the crime.

[hc4361]

That must have been awkward in the winter when they left work in the dark at 5pm, Eddie

[andy-hughes]

AOG - // agree, but some would say "yes but we get to hear of it more these days".

Funny that since 50 years ago we still had TVs, Radios, and Newspapers.

Even the News of the World. //

That is true, but modern media is far more accessible with the internet, smartphones and computers - so news is instant and all-pervading, which is both wonderful and dreadful at the same time!

[fiction-factory]

Maybe as they we wearing ski masks and presumably spoke a foreign language unfamiliar to the poor young lad they couldn't give a better description at this stage. I think the police may be hoping the van will give more of a lead

[Islay]

I think the reason we here more cases are because people are not so repressed and are more willing to talk about such abuse than 50 years ago.

[joggerjayne]

I wonder, do we think it has become worse in the last 50 years?

Was it safer to walk the streets in, say, Victorian London?

[anotheoldgit]

Gromit

/// I doubt there is any significant increase in these crimes. Two incidents reported recently is not proof of an increase in the crime. ///

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33160361

[RandyMarsh]

Is that comparing apples and apples AOG?

[hc4361]

From your link at 12:05, AOG

"It is probable sexual offences are actually falling despite cases coming to light in recent years, he added."

[joggerjayne]

Quite safe in Victorian London, then.

[fiction-factory]

Yes, child abuse covers many more things and are often in the home. And the NSPCC report did say "A spokesman said high-profile cases had "played a contributory factor" in encouraging people to come forward." which is really along the lines of Islay's point. (A bit like hate crime stats recently).

[fiction-factory]

Sorry for repeating you hc- sometimes it takes several minutes for me to complete a simple post as AB freezes

[hc4361]

It must be remembered that many of the sexual offences recorded over the last few years occurred many years ago - historical offences that either weren't reported at the time or were dismissed or covered up.

This distorts the crime figures.

[anotheoldgit]

Why are some reluctant to admit that we have a growing problem?