Friday 12 July 2013

Yes, London's Streets Are Safe...

...oh, wait:
Pupils are launching a safety scheme with neighbourhood police, Tower Hamlets Council and the London Citizens organisation following concerns about safety when they leave school.
SchoolsWatch is to be rolled out across the East End with 12 secondaries signing up. A pilot kicks off at Bethnal Green Academy tomorrow with youngsters being accompanied along monitored routes by neighbourhood police officers, teachers and volunteer sixform ‘student wardens’.
Now, why would there be 'concerns about safety'?
The Met’s Borough Commander for Tower Hamlets, Chief Supt Dave Stringer, said: “This will help security and increase the perception of safety as well as contribute to a sense of well being.”
Interesting choice of words - 'increase the perception of safety'...
The scheme involves mapping safer routes between schools and bus-stops, including whatever CCTV is available, then recommending those routes to the youngsters.
It also includes ‘safe havens’ such as shops, businesses, social housing sites or other suitable venues to give temporary refuge for a child if needed. The ‘safe havens’ were introduced by London Citizens last summer in the school neighbourhood around Columbia Road and Hackney Road.
Never do they say why these 'safe havens' and school patrols might be needed.
School principal Mark Keary said: “The safety of our children is every adult’s responsibility. This scheme protects them and also develops a sense of civic responsibility.”
Actually, if 'the safety of other people's children' is my responsibility, perhaps I should have a say in what's done about it. Do you think head teacher (we aren't Yanks, chum!) Mark Keary would like my proposals?

No. I don't think so either.

9 comments:

Steve Finnell said...

You are invited to follow my Christian blog

Anonymous said...

Make sure the kids are permanently sewn into Hi - Viz jackets. That should keep 'em safe.

Anonymous said...

Keyboard evangelist ?

So you're kinda like Rick Wakeman ?

Anonymous said...

This will help security and increase the perception of safety as well as contribute to a sense of well being.
East London learned years ago that cesspits were bad.

Why have they been reintroduced, I wonder?
2010 result: Labour 21,784 42.9
(another 19% to Respect, draw your own conclusions)

Labour voters deserve to live in the filth they create.

Leg-iron said...

They wouldn't like my proposals either because mine would use the C-word... cull.

As for other people's children being my responsibility, stuff that. Why would I care about the future? I'm not in it.

Anonymous said...

The streets of London were very safe during the war. As a child then I could get aid from practicaly anyone but especially from uniorm - bus conductresses and the like.

Anonymous said...

Hopefully any information will be published in arabic/bengali only.

JuliaM said...

"Make sure the kids are permanently sewn into Hi - Viz jackets. That should keep 'em safe."

Every single school outing that I've seen recently has had this. For walking ON THE PAVEMENT...

"Labour voters deserve to live in the filth they create."

Quite! Other people, however, don't.

"As for other people's children being my responsibility, stuff that. Why would I care about the future? I'm not in it."

A good point! ;)

"The streets of London were very safe during the war. As a child then I could get aid from practicaly anyone but especially from uniorm - bus conductresses and the like."

No need for 'safe havens' then.

Lord T said...

I hope these 'safe havens' have all been CRB checked. Nothing like putting these innocent little kids into harms way.

Nice though o funnel them all along defined routes. Saves the pervs having to wander around the rest of the estate.