Leicester
Forest East - Still a nice place to live? Submitted by Gerry
29 Jan 2008
Do You Feel Safe Walking Around LFE At Night? View
the crime statistics by category on the Police web site
I have lived in LFE for over 40 years and it
is only lately that I have started to feel uneasy at seeing
groups of youths gathering at various points around the area.
Recently there was a group across the pavement
by the traffic lights next to Booze Busters, which involved
about eight in total including two young girls.
One of the youths was being particularly aggressive towards
another ‘nose to nose’ thrusting his head forward
and his arms and body back whilst appearing to get a youth in
a fight.
The group made no attempt to move out of my
way so I walked through tem without making any eye- contact.
There was no reaction and I carried on and it transpired that
this was a mock confrontation as the non- aggressor just laughed
and there wasn't’t a problem.
It was probably done to impress the girls or
maybe a rehearsal for the real thing - I obviously misjudged
the original position. However a middle-aged lady was coming
the other way so I held back as she had to walk between the
groups. Once again it wasn't a problem but I wonder how the
lady felt as she was on her own.
Maybe as I become older I look at the youth of today in a different
light but even 14/15 year old look intimidating particularly
in their ‘hoodies’
I know that a lot of people are concerned about
personal safety be it in the City Centre or in our own area
but irrespective of the right to move around without fear.
I have every sympathy for our overstretched
police force who have a most unenviable job to do with massive
restrictions which weren't in place years ago.
However a greater VISIBLE presence I am sure
would help to restore public confidence and let any prospective
yobs know that they don’t rule the roost.
Am I asking for the impossible?? Leicester
Forest East Neighbourhood Policing Newsletter Autumn/Winter
2007
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