David Agnew

We live in a high crime society. We shouldn't have to, as cutting crime is easy, but of course, our politicians won't do it. (New Labour won't even ensure that there are enough prison places, or that the prisons are drug free).

But what does living in a high crime society mean in practice? My experience of crime is: 2 thefts (one umbrella, one bicycle) and one assault (mild). I have never been burgled (unlike my next door neighbour) and I have never had my car broken into (unlike my sister and my mother). So I assume that I have got off lightly. But have I?

What is your experience of crime? (And why don't our politicians do anything?)

Alex McKee

One serious assault and one attempted mugging.

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BonnieDundee

Cutting crime really isn't easy.

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"It is poor civic hygiene to install technologies that could someday facilitate a police state."
-Bruce Schneier

How to Overthrow the System: brew your own beer; kick in your TV; build your own cabin and p*ss off front porch whenever you bloody well feel like it.
Edward Abbey

Leopold Kohr.

Anthony Butcher

One garage break-in (i phoned the police to stop them breaking into the neighbours' garage), one car theft (my mothers, but I was the one in the house at the time), two car break-ins, one internet fraud, one mad Irish stalker making death threats (I actually got to use Interpol!).

They dusted for prints in one of the car break ins, were very quick to respond to the next door garage break in, the stolen car was found burnt out, they did nothing about the Internet fraud because he was 15; i didn't even get my money back, and Interpol went and had a word with my Irish stalker in Holland... and left saying that there was nothing they could do because he was completely mad. Comforting.

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NoMoreEUSSR

Once a victim, forever a victim, say the statistics. Against me:

One assault (minor), threats of violence, too many thefts to name - guess I can be careless sometimes. No muggings or really nasty stuff so far, thank God.

Aardvark

3 burglaries - no action taken.

2 assaults - First guy was cautioned, but accused me of assault and I ended up in court; the case was dropped as the evidence was overwhelmingly in my favour;I question why the case was brought at all. Second guy was also cautioned; ongoing harassment complaints by me against him for 'minor public order offences'.

Car written off by sober driver on wrong side of road who rammed into me. Dealt with through insurers. After insurers paid off loan I was left with £100.

Car written off by drunk driver who was uninsured, hadn't passed his test, had no permission to drive the car, gave a false name and then did a runner. I was in bed at the time. He got done for 5 offences and got community service. He paid me £150 compensation. I lost a car worth £3K; after the loan was paid by the insurers I was left with £100.

One chequebook theft by the bank's own staff! I was recompensed for the £700 plus that I had given to Mr Ncube by way of a cheque with a clearly forged signature.

House trashed by drunken thug at daughter's party in my absence. He smashed my £300 'phone fax, a plant pot and plant and a picture. Police wanted him for other things so added criminal damage to charges. He got 6 months for other things and 30 days to run concurrently (ie nothing) for criminal damage. I got no compensation, but at least he's back in Warrington where he's out of my life. He had to leave our town after he nicked a couple of TVs from the back of the local Co-op and used them to pay drug dealers. The TV's had been returned as faulty and didn't work so the drug dealers beat him up with an iron bar and a Samurai sword; how we laughed.

Wife's brand new bike nicked from garage; no criminal identified.

Envy scratches on MGB GT's chrome; no criminal identified.

Large number of items of military kit, especially crewmen's long leads, nicked from lockers on 230 Sqn; suspect other military personnel, almosy certainly NCO crewmen as nobody else would have a use for them. No action taken by military authorities.

Don't stand too near me, I bring bad luck.

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"I do not wish to form my opinions by thoughtlessly quoting others; I wish others to support their opinions by sensibly quoting me." Paul Wesson (Aardvark) 13th April 2008

Ea of Dune

Well here is my lovely encounters......

Witnessed a friend have his head cracked open by some thug (he spilt his drink apparently) leading to hospitalisation. I went and gave a witness statement at the police station, police did nothing. Friend got no compensation and was left with permanent scars.

Several weeks later I witnessed some idiot smashing windows on historic buildings, rang police, police turned up 20 minutes later by which time the culprit had legged it.

Had an argument with a bouncer after he wouldn't allow me to re-enter the club without paying him (long story, but in short friend still in club, me new student to city, another friend had been mugged by folks with a baseball bat in this area, so I wanted to leave off with my mate who was still inside the club waiting for me having not realised I had left). Had a big argument, police got involved at my request, police did nothing, I swore rather loudly as I walked off up the street I got the boll*cking.

Swiftly learnt, don't bother asking police for help. They don't care. Swifly realised being naive 18 year old student from the countryside can get you into trouble in the city.

House burgled and a bike stolen, bike found in 2nd hand shop down the road. Police never caught the guy.

Was attacked by two African immigrants walking home one evening whilst visiting a friend, my wallet was stolen, friend I was with got chased down an alley and took a bit of a beating. The two kebab shops next to where the incident happened refused to help, one shops owner knew the muggers. The other shop next door's owner pulled a knife on me when I ran in and told him I'd been mugged and asked him to ring the police.

Police turned up, threatened to arrest my friend and I for yelling at the kebab shop owners who did nothing to help and where lieing to the police (I couldn't f**cking believe it, my friend is standing there bleeding everywhere). Went to the station and gave witness statement. Never heard anything about them being caught.
Wallet turned up in a hedge some day later, I was working 200 miles away. Police asked me to come and collect wallet, I asked them to post it as I couldn't get to the police station some 200 miles away. Police grumbled and complained, eventually wallet was posted back.

Witnessed some guy go nuts in a pub where my band had played a gig, he knocked out some 18 year old kids and hit some people with some furnature. I followed the guy outside and watched where he went and rang the police.
8 months later after I had moved house, police rang up old house to see if I could give evidence. I obviously wasn't there so they left it at that.

Last incident, was walking home one evening and some yobs threw things at me, I challenged the guy verbally who threw the offending objects and his gang of chav friends set about me. Thankfully I came off OK and a bouncer nearby came to my aid, as did a police officer. One of the thugs was grabbed and ended up in court. Apparently he had also attacked the bouncers by throwing things at them as well.
He got community service.

Had enough and left the country.


Ea of dune

Smidgey

Two burglaries and one assault (broken nose).

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chikrodah

Now he tells me!

Chip

Interesting that it would seem the Police do nothing or very little and that when caught the perpetrators are not really punished. Compare this to dropping a fag end in the street £75 fine via the Council Gestapo, 4 speeding fines and you lose your license. What an awful place this country has become.