Luckily, I don't seem to be in too bad an area for this considering the rest of the town, but I've always, and still am wary of groups of kids.

And it's not about being old, it's just to do with changing times, and it's a shame. There seems to be no child innocence now. It makes me sad to hear kids swearing and worse.

Unfortunately there's nothing we can personally do about it now considering the laws protecting them...

Kids have never been innocent. Naive, definately, but not innocent. They're evil little buggers.

I usually feel safe. I don't really put myself in situations where I don't feel comfortable, but then I think it's got to a lot to do with your attitude, the way you come across when you're walking down the street etc. If you look afraid then you're an easy target.

I've not had any problems with teenagers except for a few weeks ago. I was waiting to collect a pizza in our local pizza place when I noticed 2 girls messing with my car which was parked opposite. I stuck my head outside the door and said politely "Can you please leave my car alone?" to which I was screamed at "What did you say you F*&£^$! S"^%?" I repeated my request, just as polietly so this girl, who must have only been about 16 years old, came charging over the road, got right up in my face and asked me if I wanted to start. I told her that no I didn't 'cos I was a grown up who hasn't had a fight since I reached puberty and I wasn't going to start now. At this the little wildcat threw herself at me and started pulling my hair (like teenage girls do ), my ex jumped up and tried to pull her off but she was hanging on for dear life. I thought Sod this so she recieved two swift punches to the face, which completely threw her off guard and made her stop and start hitting the manager of the pizza place! In the end they both ran off calling me lots of names. The police came but after a quick word I told them I didn't want to press charges 'cos I wasn't hurt and I was off on holiday the next day and didn't need the hassle. The manager told the police he wanted to press charges so the police went to find the girls. As they were leaving I told the police that when they got them the one girls face was a bit of a mess (she bruised straight away and I'd managed to scrap off half her face with my nails ) but he told me not to worry about it and didn't even want to take my phone number! If I'd have been someone else who couldn't look after themselves it could have got quite nasty. As it was the girl must have woke up in the morning with a hangover and thought she'd walked into a brick wall, LOL. I didn't ask for any trouble that night. I don't fight. Ever. I have a big mouth and can talk my way out of situations But it makes me wonder whether these girls deliberatly were out looking for a fight - I doubt they'll do it again in a hurry 'tho.

With regards to keeping my property safe I *never* lock my car outside the house, even overnight and it's not been stolen yet (I keep hoping )


(Edited by Teresa 18/04/2002 10:00)

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by Teresa
I *never* lock my car outside the house

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Really?

*always wanted a bigger car*

theres some right brats around here, 5 years old shouting out swear words and throwing stuff at cars, but i feel safe as i'm young and tough and no one messes with me coz i look pretty dodgy, but for other people they should be scared.

As regards the kids, it seems there isn't a chip shop or branch of Victoria wine in Liverpool whose entrance isn't occupied by several teenagers after about 7pm every night. I imagine most of them are harmless enough, out there simply because they feel they have nothing else to do. However there are a minority who simply go looking for trouble.

You hear of youngsters who have committed literally hundreds of crimes and terrorrised neighbourhoods and the justice system has no power to do anything about them. Within hours of leaving court with a mere restraining order they're back on the streets committing more crimes. I'm sure all it would take for many of these kids to stop is one good slapping and a subsequent trip to hospital!

(Edited by DJ Billy 18/04/2002 10:22)

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by DJ Billy
(quotes)
*always wanted a bigger car*

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Not the only bigger thing you want is it???

I've lived in London for nearly 6 years and have always felt safe. I have often walked home in the early hours of the morning and have never had any trouble.

Last year my gym kit was stolen from the front seat of my car (the kit was probably worth more than the car was!) but that is the only time I have personally suffered.

It has been my experience that most people are all mouth and no trousers without the stomach for a face to face confrontation. As previously posted, a friend of mine recently had her purse stolen from her bag while we were in a bar in the West End. When I chased after the guy, he ummed and ahhed before handing it back and hurrying away. Afterwards it occurred to me that perhaps I felt too safe?

I don't feel all that safe out there in the big bad world cos I know how nasty it can really get.

It's not so much the personal violence issue that worries me cos I'm pretty sure that I'm gonna come out ahead on that count

It's the theft and vandelism that bugs me. The break-ins and the window smashing, mostly for stuff that is easily replaced on insurance but that can be so very intrusive upsetting to deal with for the victim. When I was last burgled, I knew just how Yvonne feels. Violated, and not in a good way

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by DJ Billy
You hear of youngsters who have committed literally hundreds of crimes and terrorrised neighbourhoods and the justice system has no power to do anything about them. Within hours of leaving court with a mere restraining order they're back on the streets committing more crimes. I'm sure all it would take for many of these kids to stop is one good slapping and a subsequent trip to hospital!

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Personally I'd lock the little scoundrels up for a night in prison. In the sex offenders and pedophiles wing. See if that doesn't change their evil little minds about a a life of crime.

I feel prety safe most of the time...admittedly this is partly because I am youngish, male and 6'5, and partly because I don't often find myself in situations where it's much of an issue - my local is a Hell's Angel bar, where everyone is astonishingly well-behaved. Generally, I keep a hand in my wallet pocket if I'm wandering around crowded streets, but that's about it on the personal security front.

I have been mugged once, but it was such a profoundly embarrassing experience for all concerned that I didn't think the muggers were likely to try it again...

Tell you what, though - I do like MonsTer's idea of using nonces to rehabilitate the young. Problem is, there may well be too many young offenders for the current nonce woing population, so the Metropolitan police forces will have to start training up nonces....

It's political correctness gone mad, I tell you.

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by Teresa
(quotes)

Not the only bigger thing you want is it???

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A bigger bank balance would be nice too

Mon - Now that's an idea that would stop them in their tracks!

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by DJ Billy
As regards the kids, it seems there isn't a chip shop or branch of Victoria wine in Liverpool whose entrance isn't occupied by several teenagers after about 7pm every night.

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A few months ago, I heard an interesting approach to dealing with this problem on the radio. A shopkeeper in Wigan set up a sound system and began playing classical music outside his shop. Apparently it was rather effective in driving away the gangs of kids.

Personally, I've never felt unsafe walking around, even when possibly I should have done when I lived in one of the dodgier areas of Manchester. Lots of people I know have been mugged, but I've never had any trouble myself. Maybe I've just been lucky..

I dont tend to put myself in situations where i feel unsafe so it's not really a problem.

I do lock my car doors, i think thats common sence. I also carry a small hairspray bottle as my version of mace since it's illegal to carry mace or pepper spray in this country.

But if i ever was in a difficult situation i still dont feel scared. thats thanks to Paul who taught me how so break someones nose and break their neck if necessary, so i am confident i can handel what ever comes my way.

A gang would be harder but i would always put up a fight. I'd rather die trying to get away than die being attacked.

When we moved from Coventry to Oxford I felt much safer. However, when we came back from holiday a few weeks ago we found that a friend's flatmate had been indecently assaulted in the middle of the day just round the corner from us and that a womas had been mugged at 6pm (when it would still have been light) in the lane behind us where I always walk the dog. So now I don't feel so safe. However, maybe it's the years of living in Coventry but I am always very aware of what's going on around me and of possible escape routes/strategies. When I drive alone I make sure that only my door is unlocked and I always have my phone with me and know that someone knows where I am. I still take the view that even if it can be dangerous, you can't live your life scared to leave the house, especially when these things seem to happen in daylight as much as in the dark.

As for the kids, I was attacked by a group of boys who couldn't be more than 13 on a bus last summer. I'd been shopping in town and went to catch the bus home. This kid accused me of pushing in front of him (the cheek! I hadn't, and anyway when I were a lass you let adults get on first.) When I pointed out that in fact he was pushing in front of me he started effing and blinding at me, and eventually I walked off and decided to get the next bus.

Unfortunately, the driver of the first bus had obviously seen what was going on and decided not to let the kid on, because he and his mate were sat behind me when I got onto the next one. At first they were just shouting abuse at people out of the windows, but when they noticed me they started tapping me on the head and calling me names again. When I stood up to move away their response was 'Aaaah, running away again?' Admittedly that was the instinctive reponse but the comment made me decide instead to speak to the bus driver who told them to get off, which they refused to do until he threatened to call the police. I had sat down in another seat, and as they got off each of them once again tapped me on the head and swore at me. I know I wasn't physically hurt, but I was very shaken up

The only trouble i've ever had with a gang of kids was a few years ago in the cinema. I was watching independance day with a friend and there was a group of kids behind us swearing and throwing pop corn at us. I told the stewardess (Or whatever there called)who went to get help and throw them out. They unfortunately caught on and after she left got up to leave on the way out one of them stayed behind and punched me in the side of the head (from behind ). I was so [swearing censoring] annoyed [/swearing censoring] that I punched him in the stomach and even though he was still effing his head off he started to back down the stairs and leave. I was so furious at the time because my brother a week earlier had been beaten up by a gang of boys where we lived.(my first reaction was to push him down the stairs). Afterwards though i was still shaken up probably just as much as i would of been even if i hadn't stuck up for myself.

Reason: The use of the used word is only allowed in quotes. Please keep this in mind so we can keep this place a nice and family friendly place to post. It might be wise to read the updated swearing policy in the membersguide to avoid edits like this in your post.

(Edited by Chambler 18/04/2002 19:51)

I never had any worries about things like that for years. I used to walk home at 2pm on a Friday and Saturday night without batting an eyelid.

I went to University in Sunderland, which admittedly isn't the most desirable of cities and is pretty rough but its not that bad in general. Anyway, i'd gone on a night out with someone i'd just started working with and was staying at her house. We'd just got back after a pretty good night and while she was getting her key out this couple came up outside the gate and asked if we had any fags. I replyed v politely that i was sorry but i didn't smoke and my friend replyed at the same time that she only had menthol fags and they were welcome to them. They were obviously just out for a fight because tehy ignored my frind and the girl picked on me with "I didn't ask if you smoked i asked if you had a fag" I ignored her - obviously not wanting trouble, but she did want trouble and resorted to walking into the garden and punching me.

Now, i was pretty drunk, wearing really stoopid platform mules and standing on a narrow step (and she was very hard) so i went flying onto the ground. Instaed of leaving it there she started to drag me about by my hair and pummel me about the head giving me a few cuts and a bust nose in the process. I don't want people to think i'm soft - i can hold my own in a fight but as i was on the floor already i wsan't in a commanding position - the best i could manage was wiping my bloody nose on her pristine white tracky bottoms (i hope it never came out )

When my friend eventually pulled the psycho off me and bundled me into the house i was just angry at first (rather a lot of expletives issued forth) but i went to wash my face and when i looked down there was blood pouring from my leg. Suffice to say that panic mode ensued - I phoned the police but couldn't tell them where i was or much of what was wrong - i was practically screaming down the phone and the fight was still going on outside with my mate. (She got a black eye)

Police got there after they had disappeared and it looked like they knew what they were doing and had almost planned teh whole thing. The police saw a girl answering the discription i gave them leaving the estate as they came in and the ambulence saw the bloke as they came in from teh opposite direction. I needed 23 stiches in my leg and nearly didn't manage to secure the job I'd just started after i failed my assessment test because i was so shaken up.

I was never the same after that and hardly ever walk anywhere in the dark now. I did get £1750 from The Criminal Injuries Compensation board but that wasn't much considering that I've got a very visible 6" scar on my lower leg and I don't feel particularly safe anymore.

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by Sydney
I went to University in Sunderland, which admittedly isn't the most desirable of cities and is pretty rough but its not that bad in general.

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heee heee i go there, and Sunderland isnt a "city" as mucyh as it would like to be! as for here in south shileds i feel its pretty safe. i mean theres the usual group of little borstals on the corners but if they hassle you just give them abuse back they usually back off and don bother with you.

I've just remembered something that happened last year....

I was walking past Virgin in town and I saw a couple of blokes. As I got closer I could see that a *very* large gent (in his mid twenties I'd say) was being stopped by a security guard. Completely out of the blue he started hitting the guard - not just enough to be able to get away, but over and over again. Security came streaming out from other stores to try and help the guard and it eventually took about ten of them to subdue him.

When the police came to take him away he refused to go quietly and the were even some neanderthals in the crowd that had gathered cheering him on

Sometimes I really can't comprehend the anger and ill intent stored up inside some people