How many times do you hear people say crime is not on the increase in Britain? Too often for comfort, in my opinion. The simple fact of the matter is, we cannot make such an assessment by examining crime statistics alone.
During this pandemic, I have had the opportunity to chat to people at length about a range of subjects, and crime in Britain - the very real fear of it - is of huge concern to many British people. More worryingly, it is becoming increasingly evident that it is impossible to know the true extent of the problem, as many incidents of crime go unreported.
After years of city life, I opted to move to a sleepy, rural village, where crime - or the lack of it - was very much the motivating factor in my decision to relocate. I knew instantly I had made the right decision; life was more tranquil, more relaxing and a place where I have felt blissfully and undeniably safer. Until recently, that is.
Of late, there have been reports of street robberies happening locally. This has been profoundly shocking as these types of incidents just don't happen where I live. Life in lockdown has been more relaxed, and I have become less organised in my routine as a result. At times, this has meant popping out to the local store after dark when I have run out of milk. But just lately, I have realised that we are living in changing times, and nowhere feels safe after dark now as a lone woman.
Last night I was given a stark reminder of that very fact as I popped out to the store. The streets were empty and life was happening behind closed doors and curtains; people settled in for another evening of lockdown living. As I walked into the empty store, I was beginning to wonder why I had not cleaned my fridge earlier in the day and got out sooner, instead of staying to finish the tedious task.
Although brightly lit, the shop felt uneasily quiet and lonely; not unexpectedly so, given the late hour. As I picked up a shopping basket, I became aware of a presence behind me. Turning around quickly, I noticed a tall male wearing a beanie and face covering, right behind me. Social distancing was clearly not on his mind. I had not been aware of him entering the store at the same time as me, but I did know he was making me feel very nervous. A sort of pretence he was not following me, ensued, which was not fooling me for one second. There is always that sense present in us all, when we feel we are in danger. Shopping suddenly became the last thing on my mind, as I clutched my handbag a little closer, somehow just waiting for the guy to snatch it. Panic setting in, I turned a corner, where I found the sales assistant approaching me. A feeling of relief swept over me, as the guy following me, continued on and out of the store.
I have no doubt at all in my mind, that the person who had followed me into the store, was not there to do his shopping.
The pandemic has revealed the reality of life in Britain, and that is the reality that truthfully, no place is safe any longer. People I live alongside, talk about their lives in a much more fearful way these days. Doors are no longer left unlocked, curtains are drawn at night, milk is taken in off the doorstep soonest as it has been taken on occasion, if it is left there too long. Packages and parcels are no longer safe left at the door, as they too will be stolen. Sheds have been raided, hanging baskets removed and cars broken into or stolen. My neighbour has made the decision to install CCTV on his property - something he says he thought he would never need to do.
Why is this happening? Has the pandemic caused such hardship that people are turning to crime? I believe it is a much deeper problem than can readily be explained by acts of opportunistic crime. It is a picture of a changing face of Britain. A criminal element that is slowly, but steadily seeping through the very fabric of our society. Slowly, so as not to make us immediately aware of its presence, but it is present and it is growing.
My village may not yet resemble Midsomer, but on a more serious note, we cannot ignore the very obvious increase in crime. What is the reason for this? We certainly need more of a police presence on our streets and many people believe our sentencing is too lenient. We must also not overlook the rise in people entering Britain without security services having any means of checking who they are or where they have come from. And those are just the ones we know about. Others are entering our country smuggled into the backs of lorries and by other means.
Whatever happens in the future, this problem can only get worse. The changing face of Britain, is the crime of our time.
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