The last few months have witnessed an alarming increase in violent attacks throughout Bournemouth.
A vicious assault on a taxi driver, grandfather Thomas Newton, during an altercation with two men on Monday night, has further highlighted the perilous continuation of violence in the area.
Mr. Newton's aggressors had demanded money from the father-of-four at the culmination of a journey that was supposed to end peacefully in Boscombe. When the taxi had pulled up in Adeline Road, the attack began, which included the use of a knife, leaving the driver with a neck wound that required three stitches.
The 66-year-old victim has courageously vowed to return to work on Wednesday evening and told the Bournemouth Daily Echo, "It’s made me nervous and I keep looking over my shoulder...I want these men caught and also want to make other taxi drivers aware of the very real dangers they face.”
Violent crime numbers fell across the Bournemouth Division according to the latest statistics made available by Dorset Police. Between April 2007 and March 2008, cases of 'violence against the person' fell by nearly 10% although detections actually fell by close to 600 instances.
Details of Thomas Newton's harrowing ordeal were published as news of another story of violence emerged on Wednesday. These issues will currently appear far more pertinent than outdated police figures. After all, were it not for passing sanitation workers, Mr. Newton could have endured a far worse fate.
Three men are wanted for questioning following an incident on February 4 outside the Bournemouth International Centre where a 22-year-old man from Poole sustained bruising to the head.
In a week that has also seen the conclusion to one of the most high-profile murder cases in the town's history and the conviction of Alan Pickersgill, fears of violent crime have moved onto the agenda.
Pickersgill, 37, has been given a life sentence for the murder of Julie Bywater at his Southbourne flat in May 2010.
The Echo's Neal Butterworth, in his summation of the tragic event, somewhat reductively labelled Pickersgill 'a wrong 'un', which he undoubtedly was although such terminology obviously doesn't begin to describe the full extent of his complex psychosis.
The fact remains that whilst any large town has to grimly expect the inevitabilities of social disorder; Bournemouth's residents have had recent cause to closely examine the deteriorating situation around them.
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4 comments:
You recount 2 drunken attacks and a completely different kind of case involving an obsessive man and you conclude that Bournemouth is getting more violent. Even though you quote official stats which suggest the contrary. A non event of an article.
Firstly, thank you for commenting. Perhaps I should have been clearer and stated that a series of 'prominent' violent attacks have been making headlines recently, enhancing a perception that there has been an increase in violent crime.
Despite violent crime falling, as outlined by the statistics used in the article, these successive recent attacks are what residents are more likely to focus on, certainly in the short-term, hence the line "These issues will currently appear far more pertinent than outdated police figures."
The Pickersgill case is unique however the point was that this was another high-profile instance of violent force meted out upon a victim, which, combined with the two other examples I offered, besides others that weren't, (The 'Moordown stabbing') are not entirely isolated despite no obvious causal link between them.
Incidents such as the murder of Julie Bywater, attacks on taxi drivers and other reports of random violence all contribute to an image of violence and fear in Bournemouth. Again, in this regard, these stories are not wholly unrelated.
So if I'm following you correctly what you are saying is that "perception" of violent crime is increasing. So this unmeasurable concept of increased perception is more important than actual (if, as you say "outdated") stats? So in essence your blog might as well just say don't believe facts and figures believe me because I say so. Its basically the Gillian McKeith school of science, if you say something often enough and with enough conviction it becomes fact. A very dangerous road to go down, and you as a journalist should know better.
Granted, there is no measurable parameter of perception however that does not mean it is irrelevant.
The statistics were an intrinsic part of the argument. Yes, violent crime is apparently falling however that was based on figures available between 2007-2008. I was referring solely to the here and now. What is there to say that this falling trend has continued since then, especially given people's fears based on recent events?
Likewise, just because 'I' say violent crime or the perception of, is increasing in Bournemouth, doesn't necessarily make it irrefutable fact as you are correctly alluding to or that everyone has to agree with my opinion, expressed through this personal blog.
This is not mere backpeddling, however. I have strong enough convictions to repeat that in the last few weeks and months, violent crime, most definitely its perception, although statistically debateable, is on the rise in Bournemouth. This is not soapbox ranting or sensationalist journalism, this is a tangible feeling, experienced whenever you read one of our local news outlets or speak to residents.
Perhaps I should have presented something more concrete, such as findings from a survey. If asked, 'in your mind, is Bournemouth becoming a more violent town?' or words to that effect, I'm pretty confident what the answer would be.
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