Jacqui Smith & Hackney

I've finally read in full the Sunday Times profile of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith that got the rest of media all excited for a day or two. Here's the passage about our borough:

"Would she feel safe walking alone at night in, say, Hackney, east London? She looks alarmed: 'No. Why would I do that?' Perhaps deprived Hackney is an unfair example – what about well-heeled Kensington and Chelsea? 'No. But I would never have done, at any point in my life. I just don’t think it’s a thing that people do. I wouldn’t walk around at midnight. I’m fortunate that I don’t have to do so.' Later an aide calls me fretting about these comments. The home secretary might have given the wrong impression and meant no slight to Hackney."

The aide, presumably acting on Smith's instructions, only made matters worse for her boss. It resulted in the "news line" (journo jargon) taken from the profile being more damaging to Smith than it might have been. The story didn't do much for Hackney either:

"Last year in Hackney, police recorded a 10% rise in crimes to 2,715, including 580 violent assaults, 112 muggings and seven rapes."

I'm puzzled by these figures. I can't find them in any police data published online and the claim of a 10% rise seems to flatly contradict the large fall reported here, and claimed earlier this month by Jules Pipe here and during the recent ITV London Mayor debate. The Council press office says it too is mystified. I've asked Hackney Police if they can shed any light on them. Until someone does, the publication of these stats only adds to my impression that the Sunday Times news story was a shabby bit of work. Lots of people, especially women, would be anxious about walking streets anywhere alone at night, let alone a part of London where, let's be honest, vicious street assaults are not unknown - as this story shows [thanks to Glyn for bringing it to my attention].

But am I painting too gloomy a picture? Diane Abbott responded to Jacqui Smith's remarks with this piece for The Guardian. She wrote:

"I am frequently out after dark, whether walking home from the bus stop, popping out to the corner shop or visiting my local chippie on Kingsland Road (one of the best in London). I see plenty of people on the street. In fact, far from being a depopulated wasteland, Hackney has a buzzing night-time scene."

Is this a truer description? Well, yes and no. The gist of my MP's argument is that it's too easy to get the street crime problem out of proportion. Agreed. But, at the same time, the problem does exist and the fear of it is very real. I was out alone after dark yesterday evening just after 9.00, walking home from the North East Neighbourhood Committee meeting (of which more soon). For most of the journey down Upper Clapton Road I felt fine, but further along, around the Cazenove Road junction, I became less relaxed. There were plenty of people - including women - around and most were, of course, completely unthreatening. Yet I carefully avoided eye-contact with two groups of youths and a wild-eyed guy hassled me for money. Did I feel afraid? No. Was I watchful and mildly relieved to get home? Yes. Things aren't as bad here as the Sunday Times chose to imply, whatever the crime figures may be. But, Diane, there is no room at all for complacency.

Comments

[Ben]

Sounded like monthly crime figures to me. The Met reports somewhere in the regions of 2,000 crimes in Hackney per month - here: http://www.met.police.uk/crimefigures/boroughs/gd_month%20-%20mps.htm

It's quite probable that the Times have taken the figure for a particular month and reported a year-on-year rise for that month. Fairly slack, but surely the point of not feeling safe at night is wrapped up in a perception of violent crime levels, not car theft and robbery? And we do know that violent crime in Hackney has been on the up, as the Mayor admitted.

[Dave Hill]

Thanks Ben. Mind-bending, these stats.

[Guy Strickland]

I walk home from the bus or the train station at Clapton late at night often and although I don't feel threatened on all occasions there are times when large groups of young people make me jumpy.

And I don't know if its the same wild -eyed guy but there is someone who is often around the Pond often, asking for money, and his manner of asking is pretty forthright.

[Glyn]

Perception is king, where crime is concerned. I`ve got into discussions this week, with people, where they admit that they would refuse to come to Hackney after dark; I`ve had friends refuse to visit me at night because "...well, it`s Hackney. It`s a different world". As someone who`s lived here for 4 years, I`m quite aware of how violent and rough it can be, but I do think that Jacqui Smith over-egged the pudding with her suggestion that people simply don`t go out at night. The kebab comment has just compounded this.

[annie]

As a resident of 5 years, (& non-car-driving single woman), I've often had to walk home at night on my own. Have I been twitchy? Yes, of course. Have I ever had any trouble,of any kind, ever? No.

(As for 'I just don’t think it’s a thing that people do...'
- words fail me.)