A wee while ago the BBC reported that Leicestershire police tried "yarn bombing" (placing hundreds of pom-poms and other knitted items on trees) in Bede Park and Great Central Way.
The rationale being to encourage people to use the areas more, and thus reduce crime.
Needless to say many people rushed to condemn the idea as being bonkers.
However, in my humble view, the police may have a point.
There are two ways to make an area feel "safe":
1 Have it visibly patrolled day and night by a large number of policemen, or
2 Ensure that it is used, day and night, by a large number of decent law abiding citizens.
The sad reality of many "no go" areas in the UK is that they have become "no go" because of people's fear of crime. Once people have become afraid of an area, they avoid it thus leaving it free for use by the criminals.
As "easy" as it may be to simply patrol an area day and night with a phalanx of policemen, aside from the cost of diverting scare resources and the feeling that one is living in a police state, this does not make the area fell any safer as it in fact reinforces the image of danger.
Until people over come their fear and use the afflicted areas themselves, en masse, the criminals will always win.
That's a pretty sad state of affairs to be in.
I credit the Leicestershire Police for at least trying something innovative.
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You can get people to use parks more by killing the myth that there are armies of paedophiles hiding behind every bush and tree waiting to pounce on children.
ReplyDeleteYou can encourage councils to reinstate playgrounds by eradicating the compensation culture that leaves them liable if there is the slightest accident.
You can get recreation areas used by reinstating team sports and allowing well-meaning adults to interact with children without the need of a criminal records check.
But pom-poms on trees????????????????............What the fuck!
Please put on your hi-viz vest and report to your local attitude re-adjustment centre......You display far too much commonsense for Nanny's brave new world:-)
DeleteI cannot see how pom-poms on trees are going to make any difference whatsoever either in the use of parks and other public places, or in the reduction of crime. However, full credit to Leicestershire Constabulary for trying something.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous, I agree with your points. I should also suggest that crime reduction will not take place until such time as real criminals are actually punished, rather than given a slap on the wrist, a situation exacerbated by the Human Rights Act and the European Court on Human Rights.
Had a trip or fall at work?
ReplyDeleteHad an accident that wasn't your fault?
Have you fallen out of a tree whilst trying to retreive a pom-pom?
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Really you do live in a 'police state' where the police enforce the politics and the criminals make sure you cause no trouble.
ReplyDelete