East London yoof trouble

[stelfox]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3645532.ece

second murder was in my hood. it's not terribly peaceful in london

 

[john eden]

however, there IS trouble. the trend i referred to of black vs bengali strife is down to two schools being closed down in hackney

What strikes me is that one of the causes of the upsurge is purely economic, but the tabloids report it as if it is just down to moral issues like kids being evil or badly parented, or "PC-madness" in schools.

Schools being closed in Hackney is definitely a cause, as is the closure of a lot of youth facilities because the council screwed up its accounts a few years back. (If in doubt, blame Hackney Council...)

People are also shit scared of kids in a way they were not before, which creates a barrier between us and them.

 

[Ach!]

I think there have been at least five teenagers murdered in Edmonton since the beginning of the year. Postcode wars, which I guess is a situation reflected across other poorer London boroughs.

 

[mos dan]

What strikes me is that one of the causes of the upsurge is purely economic, but the tabloids report it as if it is just down to moral issues like kids being evil or badly parented, or "PC-madness" in schools.

Schools being closed in Hackney is definitely a cause, as is the closure of a lot of youth facilities because the council screwed up its accounts a few years back. (If in doubt, blame Hackney Council...)

didn't know about this. what's a good source for local info btw, wd you recommend the gazette?

 

[Mr. Tea]

Bow crim scum update: there's a large area of pavement on Bow road taped off with Do Not Cross tape, officers at the scene and everything, right outside Thames Magistrates' Court. A witness getting shanked after giving evidence there, or something? God knows. There's a cop shop just across the road too, though I've no idea how often it contains any real live cops.

 

[john eden]

didn't know about this. what's a good source for local info btw, wd you recommend the gazette?

The gazette and hackneyindependent.org

The gazette isn't a bad local paper but like all local papers ends up by default being a mouthpiece for the council or police or various middle class "cause celebres". The letters page can be very lively indeed when it's all kicking off, though.

A mate of mine at work who lives in Surrey or somewhere has an almost pornographic interest in all the crime reportage and slightly bonkers agony aunt problems...

 

[crackerjack]

There's a cop shop just across the road too, though I've no idea how often it contains any real live cops.

That cop shop has more horses than police. there's be trouble if anyone tried stealing sugarlumps or hay; other than that the crims are pretty safe.

 

[Mr. Tea]

Well it was gone by 9.30 this morning, so the sugar-lump thief has presumably been brought to justice.