areas of the UK that now "belong" solely to Muslim gangs.
David Fletcher, Perth, Western Australia
What is a muslim gang David? are all white gangs cristian gangs or maybe black gangs are baptist gangs? Are triads buddhists? Maybe these muslim gangs have a godfather Imam.
Its not like the Aussies come over here and stick to their own, with their own area in London and their own drinking establishments.......or is it?
Jimmy, London,
The belief in the natural superiority of the English and her institutions still pervades our politicians, though all else have long since grown cynical and weary, prompted only rarely to anger.
Here in Colombia police are ubiquitous and armed. So are security guards. Though security can never be guaranteed, the cities, atleast, are safer than in the UK. Whilst in Dubai a vigin, though perhaps not naked, could walk at two in the morning.
Wake up ..it is later than you think.
ron plant, cali, colombia
Please stop turning these issues into politics. The truth of the matter is that a lot of people feel unsafe and that teenagers are out of hand. We need to ACT NOW, not discuss the issues any longer. We need a strong movement that is less concerned with PC-ness and determined to put a stop to the many, yes MANY, disgracefully violent teens roaming around our cities.
ingrid winslow, cirencesterUK,
I have visited New York twice in the past five years. I walked about at night to see the sights, dined with relations who live there and walked back to my hotel almost a mile away without feeling in any way nervous or threatened. Why? After all New York was the place to expect to be assaulted or worse during the 1970s and '80s. The answer is simple. That city is now policed effectively; the fact is obvious, police officers are out on the beat in considerable numbers. They keep a high profile and deal swiftly with law-breakers. Why can we not have a similar approach here? It is not rocket science. Ok it is, no doubt, expensive in terms of police pay but, probably far cheaper in terms of insurance claims and hospital bills. Above all it returns the streets to those who are the basis of our society, the decent, law-abiding majority. As for the human rights of the criminals, they forfeited most of these when they chose to depart from the normal standards of decent behaviour and offend.
Tom Healy, Plymouth, UK
That a visitor/ tourist can walk the sterile streets of Singapore (which is, in some ways, a totalitarian state, albeit a benign one) in the dark in relative safety without the fear of being accosted, mugged or rape is attributable to the success of LK Yew in having created, among his many other admirable accomplishments, a society based on the strict observance of the rule of law. Its combination of patriarchic rule, the use of the English language as the passport to knowledge, meritocracy as the guiding principle, plus a constant reminding of the citizens of its conservative Confucian heritage, and not least, a little control freakery have brought this island republic to its present renown. But then some S'poreans, no sooner they cross the border into neighbouring Malaysia are known to regress to a solipsistic and less salutary pattern of behaviour, of which 'kiasu' or 'fear of losing' in the Hokkien dialect is one; the others being littering, aggressive driving and one-upmanship.
SD Goh, PJ, Malaysia
Henry Percy - You raise an interesting (and disquieting) question : just why is the government (any UK government) so keen to disarm the public ? It is always asserted that this is to promote public safety - but in the entire 20th century fewer than 150 (one hundred and fifty) persons have been killed illegally by privately-owned and properly licensed firearms. Every death is a personal tragedy but an average of 1-2 a year hardly constitutes a major problem deserving of draconian legislation.
So there must be some other motive behind the drive to disarm the citizenry. Is it so shameful (fear and distrust of the people?)
that it cannot be publicly acknowledged ?
J R Hinton, Skipton, Yorkshire UK
Until we actually get together and march the streets, nothing will be done. Gordon and his cronies will just bin the campaigns and letters but if we the people take to the streets and march we just might convince this government that we demand action. Whilst we all sign petitions and ring phone ins - nothing will change and more innocent lives will be lost. We all need to get off our butts and demand action NOW!!!
B. Hill, Nottingham, U.K
I think we can put this issue in perspective by considering the point as to why adults of good behaviour are not allowed to carry Mace by law or even to have it as a defence in their own homes. Given the fact that the law cannot possibly guarantee a person s safety at all times, and especially at the present time, this prohibition has an aspect which is potentially discreditable of authority. Perhaps you would like to explain why this is so. One reason why crime figures were low 100 years ago is because people carried personal weapons.
Henry Percy, London, UK
When I was a teenager the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police told people “keep off the streets and you won’t have any troubleâ€. He was directing his advice to criminals, and the “trouble†was the police. Now it seems the Home Secretary is giving that advice to the law abiding “hard working families†she is supposed to protect. What do we gain if we save our souls from terrorism and lose the streets ?
Brendan Archer, Frome, Somerset
That anyone can walk the sterile streets of Singapore (which is in some ways, a quasi totalitarian state, albeit a benign one) in the dark in relative safety, is attributable to the success of LK Yew in having created, among his many other admirable accomplishments, a society based on the strict observance of the rule of law. Its combination of zero tolerance of anti-social behaviour and corruption, patriarchic rule, meritocracy as a guiding principle, the use of the English language as the passport to knowledge, plus the constant reminding of the Confucian heritage and not least, a little control freakery have brought this island republic its present renown. But then, some Singaporeans no sooner they cross the border into neighbouring Malaysia are known to regress to a solipsistic and less salutary pattern of behaviour of which 'kiasu' or 'fear of losing' in the Hokkien dialect is one; the others being littering, striking an attitude, aggressive driving and one-upmanship.
SD Goh, PJ, Malaysia
What colour is the sky in her world then???
Lilith Barrett, London, UK
But Libby, it's not just Singapore, it's Hong Kong, Tpkyo, Taipei. They are all perfectlt safe after midnight. I take the tram back to my flat in Hong Kong after midnight and when I tripped over after a few drinks last year the locals came to my assistance ,and asked if I was alright and needed any assistance. I didn't.
And all of this applies equally, if not nore so, to females.
Indeed, even the so-called cities of concern such as Manila and Bangkok are far safer than London or a provincial English town after 10 pm. You simply observe a few sensible rules and don't worry.
oldasiahand, Guildford, UK
Whilst that sounds all well and good, how about taking it to the next level and writing about whole areas of the UK that now "belong" solely to Muslim gangs? I'm an Australian, and the last time I was in Britain discovered, to my horror, that there are now "no-go" areas in many parts of that once free country.
Reclaim the night, and the day, by all means, but let's not be squeamish about telling the complete story.
David Fletcher, Perth, Western Australia
Having travelled a bit and walked the streets of Paris, Amsterdam, London, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto (Japanese cities are all very safe) and my own home town of Melbourne Australia, it is every citizens right of freedom to walk where he or she likes free of fear and possible criminal attack. Sadly there will always be a criminal element hell bent on harming others, i for one would'nt mind seeing more Police on street corners. The politicians of both the UK and Australia need to leave their closseted existence and walk with their voters and experience the night life themselves.
Martin Close, Melbourne, Australia
I travel to London pretty frequently from Gloucestershire for opera & theatre visits - and never feel a moment's unease walking back to Victoria coach station to catch the last coach at half past eleven. If time permits I walk back from Covent Garden, the ENO, the South Bank, the Royal Albert Hall after my Proms visits, even the Barbican, in the dark, late at night.
If I'm pushed for time I travel on the tube -again not feeling any misgivings. I might add that I'm well into pensionable age, not a spring chicken. Walking in London is half the pleasure of my visits. I'm not sure what this says about either me or the Home Secretary..........
Margaret Eccles, Cheltenham, Glos.
Wow - she answered with OUT spin, and we don't like the answer. We complain about spin, but when we get an honest answer (although not a good answer) we slay the messenger. I don't like her answer at all - but at least it wasn't a load of rubbish answer like lots of Ministers have given in the past, and will give in the future.
Ned Voelcker, San Francisco / London, California / Westminster
As long as people hide in their homes after nine, criminals will continue to rule the streets. If you are out at night on your own, male or female there are certain rules. Don't look like a victim. Hold your head up high, walk tall and be aware of what is going on around you. In other words use your common sense. Stay safe but stay free.
Carolyn, London, UK
If the police started doing police work, that would help. Throwing all PC and ' progressive ' idea's' out of the window would also help. Of course this will not happen, so grab a stick when you are out. I expect sticks will become illegal, someone might hit a criminal with one. !!
Desmond Taylor, Houston, USA Tx
Absolutely, Libby. When will the Government, the Courts and the Police wake up to reality? When will they all realise that it is no more than their duty, and their prime duty at that, to protect the innocent from the guilty. In a civilised country, no-one should be afraid to go into any public place at any time, day or night. We have thus become catastrophically uncivilised, and it is time to take urgent steps. Time to abandon the quasi-liberal era, and to give parents, teachers, police and courts the right and the duty to use whatever means are necessary to crush this increasing wave of sadistic violence. Hard labour? Village stocks? Water cannon? All should be useful (and used) tools in the armoury against those who are destroying the country.
Alasdair Wyllie, Montauban, France
"Government exists to protect its citizens' liberties". I'm old-fashioned enough to agree. But the government is run these days only to provide careers for politicians. Liberty, defence, education, healthcare, transport. All of them can be subjected to the same sort of analysis as this here.
There is a (moderately) famous question in banking (the title of a book) - "Where are the customers' yachts?" So where are the taxpayers' spin doctors, pensions, and self-awarded over-inflation pay rises on someone else's tab ?
Why would anyone want to walk at night ? Because they have a different view of what the Home Secretary is paid to be there for, than the Home Secretary has herself.
P Orphyry, Skipton,
areas of the UK that now "belong" solely to Muslim gangs.
David Fletcher, Perth, Western Australia
What is a muslim gang David? are all white gangs cristian gangs or maybe black gangs are baptist gangs? Are triads buddhists? Maybe these muslim gangs have a godfather Imam.
Its not like the Aussies come over here and stick to their own, with their own area in London and their own drinking establishments.......or is it?
Jimmy, London,
The belief in the natural superiority of the English and her institutions still pervades our politicians, though all else have long since grown cynical and weary, prompted only rarely to anger.
Here in Colombia police are ubiquitous and armed. So are security guards. Though security can never be guaranteed, the cities, atleast, are safer than in the UK. Whilst in Dubai a vigin, though perhaps not naked, could walk at two in the morning.
Wake up ..it is later than you think.
ron plant, cali, colombia
Please stop turning these issues into politics. The truth of the matter is that a lot of people feel unsafe and that teenagers are out of hand. We need to ACT NOW, not discuss the issues any longer. We need a strong movement that is less concerned with PC-ness and determined to put a stop to the many, yes MANY, disgracefully violent teens roaming around our cities.
ingrid winslow, cirencesterUK,
I have visited New York twice in the past five years. I walked about at night to see the sights, dined with relations who live there and walked back to my hotel almost a mile away without feeling in any way nervous or threatened. Why? After all New York was the place to expect to be assaulted or worse during the 1970s and '80s. The answer is simple. That city is now policed effectively; the fact is obvious, police officers are out on the beat in considerable numbers. They keep a high profile and deal swiftly with law-breakers. Why can we not have a similar approach here? It is not rocket science. Ok it is, no doubt, expensive in terms of police pay but, probably far cheaper in terms of insurance claims and hospital bills. Above all it returns the streets to those who are the basis of our society, the decent, law-abiding majority. As for the human rights of the criminals, they forfeited most of these when they chose to depart from the normal standards of decent behaviour and offend.
Tom Healy, Plymouth, UK
That a visitor/ tourist can walk the sterile streets of Singapore (which is, in some ways, a totalitarian state, albeit a benign one) in the dark in relative safety without the fear of being accosted, mugged or rape is attributable to the success of LK Yew in having created, among his many other admirable accomplishments, a society based on the strict observance of the rule of law. Its combination of patriarchic rule, the use of the English language as the passport to knowledge, meritocracy as the guiding principle, plus a constant reminding of the citizens of its conservative Confucian heritage, and not least, a little control freakery have brought this island republic to its present renown. But then some S'poreans, no sooner they cross the border into neighbouring Malaysia are known to regress to a solipsistic and less salutary pattern of behaviour, of which 'kiasu' or 'fear of losing' in the Hokkien dialect is one; the others being littering, aggressive driving and one-upmanship.
SD Goh, PJ, Malaysia
Henry Percy - You raise an interesting (and disquieting) question : just why is the government (any UK government) so keen to disarm the public ? It is always asserted that this is to promote public safety - but in the entire 20th century fewer than 150 (one hundred and fifty) persons have been killed illegally by privately-owned and properly licensed firearms. Every death is a personal tragedy but an average of 1-2 a year hardly constitutes a major problem deserving of draconian legislation.
So there must be some other motive behind the drive to disarm the citizenry. Is it so shameful (fear and distrust of the people?)
that it cannot be publicly acknowledged ?
J R Hinton, Skipton, Yorkshire UK
Until we actually get together and march the streets, nothing will be done. Gordon and his cronies will just bin the campaigns and letters but if we the people take to the streets and march we just might convince this government that we demand action. Whilst we all sign petitions and ring phone ins - nothing will change and more innocent lives will be lost. We all need to get off our butts and demand action NOW!!!
B. Hill, Nottingham, U.K
I think we can put this issue in perspective by considering the point as to why adults of good behaviour are not allowed to carry Mace by law or even to have it as a defence in their own homes. Given the fact that the law cannot possibly guarantee a person s safety at all times, and especially at the present time, this prohibition has an aspect which is potentially discreditable of authority. Perhaps you would like to explain why this is so. One reason why crime figures were low 100 years ago is because people carried personal weapons.
Henry Percy, London, UK
When I was a teenager the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police told people “keep off the streets and you won’t have any troubleâ€. He was directing his advice to criminals, and the “trouble†was the police. Now it seems the Home Secretary is giving that advice to the law abiding “hard working families†she is supposed to protect. What do we gain if we save our souls from terrorism and lose the streets ?
Brendan Archer, Frome, Somerset
That anyone can walk the sterile streets of Singapore (which is in some ways, a quasi totalitarian state, albeit a benign one) in the dark in relative safety, is attributable to the success of LK Yew in having created, among his many other admirable accomplishments, a society based on the strict observance of the rule of law. Its combination of zero tolerance of anti-social behaviour and corruption, patriarchic rule, meritocracy as a guiding principle, the use of the English language as the passport to knowledge, plus the constant reminding of the Confucian heritage and not least, a little control freakery have brought this island republic its present renown. But then, some Singaporeans no sooner they cross the border into neighbouring Malaysia are known to regress to a solipsistic and less salutary pattern of behaviour of which 'kiasu' or 'fear of losing' in the Hokkien dialect is one; the others being littering, striking an attitude, aggressive driving and one-upmanship.
SD Goh, PJ, Malaysia
What colour is the sky in her world then???
Lilith Barrett, London, UK
But Libby, it's not just Singapore, it's Hong Kong, Tpkyo, Taipei. They are all perfectlt safe after midnight. I take the tram back to my flat in Hong Kong after midnight and when I tripped over after a few drinks last year the locals came to my assistance ,and asked if I was alright and needed any assistance. I didn't.
And all of this applies equally, if not nore so, to females.
Indeed, even the so-called cities of concern such as Manila and Bangkok are far safer than London or a provincial English town after 10 pm. You simply observe a few sensible rules and don't worry.
oldasiahand, Guildford, UK
Whilst that sounds all well and good, how about taking it to the next level and writing about whole areas of the UK that now "belong" solely to Muslim gangs? I'm an Australian, and the last time I was in Britain discovered, to my horror, that there are now "no-go" areas in many parts of that once free country.
Reclaim the night, and the day, by all means, but let's not be squeamish about telling the complete story.
David Fletcher, Perth, Western Australia
Having travelled a bit and walked the streets of Paris, Amsterdam, London, Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto (Japanese cities are all very safe) and my own home town of Melbourne Australia, it is every citizens right of freedom to walk where he or she likes free of fear and possible criminal attack. Sadly there will always be a criminal element hell bent on harming others, i for one would'nt mind seeing more Police on street corners. The politicians of both the UK and Australia need to leave their closseted existence and walk with their voters and experience the night life themselves.
Martin Close, Melbourne, Australia
I travel to London pretty frequently from Gloucestershire for opera & theatre visits - and never feel a moment's unease walking back to Victoria coach station to catch the last coach at half past eleven. If time permits I walk back from Covent Garden, the ENO, the South Bank, the Royal Albert Hall after my Proms visits, even the Barbican, in the dark, late at night.
If I'm pushed for time I travel on the tube -again not feeling any misgivings. I might add that I'm well into pensionable age, not a spring chicken. Walking in London is half the pleasure of my visits. I'm not sure what this says about either me or the Home Secretary..........
Margaret Eccles, Cheltenham, Glos.
Wow - she answered with OUT spin, and we don't like the answer. We complain about spin, but when we get an honest answer (although not a good answer) we slay the messenger. I don't like her answer at all - but at least it wasn't a load of rubbish answer like lots of Ministers have given in the past, and will give in the future.
Ned Voelcker, San Francisco / London, California / Westminster
As long as people hide in their homes after nine, criminals will continue to rule the streets. If you are out at night on your own, male or female there are certain rules. Don't look like a victim. Hold your head up high, walk tall and be aware of what is going on around you. In other words use your common sense. Stay safe but stay free.
Carolyn, London, UK
If the police started doing police work, that would help. Throwing all PC and ' progressive ' idea's' out of the window would also help. Of course this will not happen, so grab a stick when you are out. I expect sticks will become illegal, someone might hit a criminal with one. !!
Desmond Taylor, Houston, USA Tx
Absolutely, Libby. When will the Government, the Courts and the Police wake up to reality? When will they all realise that it is no more than their duty, and their prime duty at that, to protect the innocent from the guilty. In a civilised country, no-one should be afraid to go into any public place at any time, day or night. We have thus become catastrophically uncivilised, and it is time to take urgent steps. Time to abandon the quasi-liberal era, and to give parents, teachers, police and courts the right and the duty to use whatever means are necessary to crush this increasing wave of sadistic violence. Hard labour? Village stocks? Water cannon? All should be useful (and used) tools in the armoury against those who are destroying the country.
Alasdair Wyllie, Montauban, France
"Government exists to protect its citizens' liberties". I'm old-fashioned enough to agree. But the government is run these days only to provide careers for politicians. Liberty, defence, education, healthcare, transport. All of them can be subjected to the same sort of analysis as this here.
There is a (moderately) famous question in banking (the title of a book) - "Where are the customers' yachts?" So where are the taxpayers' spin doctors, pensions, and self-awarded over-inflation pay rises on someone else's tab ?
Why would anyone want to walk at night ? Because they have a different view of what the Home Secretary is paid to be there for, than the Home Secretary has herself.
P Orphyry, Skipton,
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