Frozen by Fear (Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats)

Oxfordshire Liberal Democrats <info@oxfordshirelibdems.org.uk>

Frozen by Fear

September 11, 2007 12:00 AM
By Cllr Janet Godden in County Council meeting

Fear of crime beyond all proportion to the risk of suffering it is harmful to the communities where it is widespread and it is the responsibility of councils at all tiers to endeavour to put out these flames of fear, and not allow them to run unchecked.

In most part of Oxfordshire there is probably a greater risk of being involved in a road traffic accident than being the victim of crime.

We have all seen the low crime statistics for most of Oxfordshire time and again. Yet we all know that in most of Oxfordshire more and more new gated developments are being proposed, more and more residents are building 6 foot front walls with gates to match, more and more people are saying that they are afraid to travel by bus in the evening and, saddest of all, more and more fit and mobile older people are saying that they are afraid to go out in the dark.

I hope the partnership will look seriously at this. The effects on community participation are obvious, as are the effects on loneliness and depression among the housebound. We know the links with low level anti-social activity, particularly among the young for whom the education system has done nothing. At the same time we need to note that many young people are intimated by older people.

Being told to "hug a hoodie" was a step in the right direction, but now it seems we have to hug a hoodie with zero tolerance - which is a confusing message. Those who propound it would do well to think again.