Adam I wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:Note the word 'reported' in the figures (as with all 'crime' figures) as well.

Probably be rather more challenging to base statistics on unreported things...

Rick Reuben wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:[img]

Even though we're still way ahead of the UK in homicides, I've got to give you credit for managing the number you've got with so many less guns. I'm blaming near constant intoxication. We'll never catch you Brits on that.

honeyisfunny wrote:

Adam I wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:Note the word 'reported' in the figures (as with all 'crime' figures) as well.

Probably be rather more challenging to base statistics on unreported things...

Obviously. But to set up statistics on a subject where there are motives to avoid being part of those statistics means whatever you end up with is next to useless.
I.e. saying that there is a reduction in crime in the UK and therefore the Police are doing a better job than in 2000-and-whatever (as has happened in Nottm recently) is a meaningless statement because if someone gets beaten up and accepts the Police will do nothing then they won't report it so it won't figure in the statistics.

Adam I wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:

Adam I wrote:

honeyisfunny wrote:Note the word 'reported' in the figures (as with all 'crime' figures) as well.

Probably be rather more challenging to base statistics on unreported things...

Obviously. But to set up statistics on a subject where there are motives to avoid being part of those statistics means whatever you end up with is next to useless.
I.e. saying that there is a reduction in crime in the UK and therefore the Police are doing a better job than in 2000-and-whatever (as has happened in Nottm recently) is a meaningless statement because if someone gets beaten up and accepts the Police will do nothing then they won't report it so it won't figure in the statistics.

You assume that pressure to (for example) not report crime is higher in the UK than elsewhere, but I'm not sure that is the case. Wouldn't one expect all crime statistics (outside of exceptional regimes) to be similarly skewed, thus making comparisons fairly valid, albeit statistically vague in terms of actual numbers?

Fury at councillor's remarks on his website blog

Published Date:
08 August 2008
By Peter Lazenby
A Conservative councillor has told of the pleasure he gets from watching people involved in violence – and says he finds knives "cool."
He broadcast his views on an internet diary – and even linked his comments to film of violent confrontations including road rage and fighting in a park.

Now his views have brought calls for his resignation – but he says Conservative Central Office is standing by him.

Coun Philip Thomas is a science teacher representing Pontefract North on Wakefield Council.

He wrote on his blog of the "electric thrill" he experienced from waving a meat cleaver and machetes, listening to the swishing sound they made.

When his comments about enjoying watching real fights were queried by a reader, he responded: "I put conversation ahead of confrontation but sometimes a slap is well deserved."

His views have been strongly criticised by Labour opponents, including the leader of Wakefield Council Peter Box.

"The glorification of violence is all the more offensive when it comes from the mouth of a teacher and supposed community leader.

"This calls into question his ability to act as an elected member and he should now consider his position on the council.

"If he doesn't resign, local Tory bosses should sack him and send out a clear message that violence and knives are not cool."

And the Labour MP for Pontefract and Castleford Yvette Cooper said: "This blog is shocking and highly irresponsible.

"How can the Conservative Party claim to be serious about tackling knife crime when one of their Councillors uses his blog to display videos of violence and promotes knives as 'cool'?"

Coun Thomas said later that the problem was knives was the people who used them.

A Conservative Party spokesman said Coun Thomas's comments were "misguided," but that he believed knife crime needed to be tackled.

GypsumFantastic wrote:Sledgehammer

GypsumFantastic wrote:As I sit drinking my tea and reading my local paper I am hardly shocked to read about some poor fellow getting a sledgehammer to his head in some road rage argument about 100 metres from my front door a few days ago. Sitting in my local pub yesterday I was told about the newsagent at the top of my road being robbed by a sawn off shotgun weilding scumbag (bit heavy handed I thought) and also a severe beating just near by.

I don't know....I think I might stay in today.

Sledgehammer