Do YOU feel safe in Southampton?

Every week there are reports of robbery and sexual attacks in Southampton. Not all attacks are towards students, but many members of the public also become affected by these assaults.

The city council website claims that crime rates have dropped by 14 per cent, this is according to their 2009/10 figures. However these figures are now outdated, and it would be interesting to see if they have increased or decreased in three to four years.

Nationwide, Southampton has a relatively low theft rate, especially when it is compared to cities such as Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham, which have some of the highest theft rates in the country. This does not change the fact that some people do not feel safe around Southampton, especially young students.

The UK Crime Stats website, which is updated monthly, states that Southampton had 211 violent attacks in January this year, these occured in the Itchen and Test areas of the city.

Southampton Solent University do promote things such as the “The Knight Bus”, “Take a mate” and “The Walking Bus”, all of which help students get to where they want to be safely. And as for the University of Southampton they provide a service called the “Safety Bus”. On the other hand these services only run up to a certain time meaning that when it comes to nights out students either pay for a taxi or walk home.

As for the local authorities they are constantly trying to cut down on the amount of crime that is currently in the city. The community have asked for a cut down in theft and fraud in shops and business and theft from a person, therefore Hampshire Constabulary have been working closely with SOBAC and shopwatch to target repeat offenders, even though it does seem that it isn’t always repeat offenders which do the crime. However there are still many attacks which have taken place.

George How, 19 was in Subway on Friday evening when he was approached by a tall male who asked to “borrow” his phone. He said “I handed my phone to the man in Subway and thought he’d call who he needed to then and there, but it turned out I found him slowly edging towards the door… I followed him out of the shop until I found myself in the park opposite Café Parfait” he continued his story by saying “He pretended to trip and the next thing I knew he’d gone and so had my phone.” After getting in contact with the police they said “We will get in contact with Subway at the beginning of the week, and check the CCTV footage for you. But for now you will just have to wait.” He was then given their contact details.

It isn’t just anyone stealing, students have stolen for students too, according to Leo Norton, 19. He said “I went to a flat party to find my phone had been taken out of my pocket… this was done by another student and I can’t understand why people feel the need to do this. I would never do this to anymore and I fully believe in karma.”

The Daily Echo has also reported that an investigation has begun into the robbery and sexual attack of a 19 year old boy. It happened in the early hours of Monday morning near St Mary’s Church. It has been said he took cash out of the nearest Tesco Express, and shortly after was followed by a man. Police are appealing for witnesses that may have been near to the scene at the time.

As for sexual attacks in the city boys and girls are warned to avoid areas of the city at night due to there being previous incidents in the area. During the first few weeks of freshers there were reports of several sexual attacks, which worried many, however it is all about taking care and being safe.

These same questions are always asked “Is the city safe enough?”, “What can be done about it?” and “Why isn’t anything changing?” Students are told from the beginning to avoid small alley ways and the parks around central Southampton, and as for members of the public they are also likely to know that these areas are not to use when daylight hours are over.