Forum Topic

Worried parents

We are increasingly concerned about the rise in crime against school children in and around Putney. What can be done about it? Are there police who are able to patrol the streets 4-6 especially as the nights draw in? If there are plans to combat this rise in crime could you let us know please thanks

Bethan Deakins ● 2583d9 Comments

Realistically I think the only vaguely practical solution is for parents to arrange to accompany their children in a rota system (one parent with a group of kids from the same area). There are not enough police to patrol the streets, or to catch the scroats doing the muggings. People power prevention is the way

Sean Hodges ● 2583d

I have lived in Putney for more than 30 years and raised 3 children here. All of them have been mugged for their phones with threats of violence, in their years attending local secondary schools, mostly by small gangs of youths looking for mobile phones, on their way home from school.One of my lads took to hiding his phone in his pants. He had worked out that one of the many ways that these gangs are dumb is their homophobia. They'll pat down a smaller kid's pockets in front of their mates but would never stand the ridicule of their peers if they patted anywhere else!At least 6 incidences over 20 years. This is not a new problem, but it becomes very worrying as your kid moves into the target zone. Don't expect the police to solve this.

Bill Christie ● 2583d

My sons did not have mobile phones, and were not robbed. Still, one was coming home with a friend when he had his stolen. Bigger boys.

David Ainsworth ● 2583d

This cannot happen in Putney. Does anyone know if these individuals are carrying knives.As I've said before, I really would like to see security around the train station area. This is not uncommon elsewhere. I am going to contact our Bid Manager in relation to this.I do trust the police to sort but it might take time.If this is not cleared up then we will have to as citizens look at protecting these children.

Nick Gulliford ● 2583d

I agree, this is awful. Our son is getting to the age where he will get a phone :(

Matt Palmer ● 2583d

This has been going on for years. It used to be bigger kids taking little ones' dinner money, but now it is mobiles and Airpods (whatever those are). Parents give children mobiles to keep them safe, but they don't in this case.The subject came up at the Safer Neighbourhoods Board public meeting last night. The Police said that one of the problems is that children usually wait till they get home to tell their parents what has happened and then, even if the parents alert the Police at once, it is too late to catch the culprits. They advise parents to tell children who have been robbed to go into the nearest shop and ask the shopkeeper to dial 999.

Caroline Whitehead ● 2583d

That all rings true. I suppose where the Police could take some action would be to increase Stop-and-Search between 4 & 6 p.m.on weekdays, and profile school-age youths not in school uniform. (I'm not suggesting that kids without uniform are more likely to be robbers, but if a kid in uniform commits a crime they are more likely to be identified by the victim.). Not some sort of temporary crackdown but random and unpredictable searches over the long term to deter the carrying of knives. This won't stop all mugging, of course, I'm sure these youths often just insinuate that they are armed, but may reduce the threat of a mugging ending in a stabbing, which is our greatest fear.

Bill Christie ● 2583d

I hope parents are telling their kids not to walk around  talking or listening on their phones. Wait till they get home, unless it's an emergency of course. It makes it to easy and obvious for gangs to target them. Caroline's advice makes sense - if  near a shop then go into it and either ask to phone 999 or wait till gang gets bored and disperses?

Lucille Grant ● 2583d

http://www.putneysw15.com/default.asp?section=info&page=concrimeteenrobberies001.htmRemember also that when the Met launch an initiative in one area it can push whatever is happening along into another. It is something that is happening all over London.https://www.bigissue.com/latest/child-poverty-in-the-uk-will-hit-a-record-high-in-2019/

Philippa Bond ● 2583d