Cohen on violent crime - no comments

Useful article on urban violence, from Nick Cohen (yes, at CiF), that tackles what he calls the liberal myth that there has been no substantial long-term increase in violent crime:

[...] Richard Garside, the centre's director, was contemptuous of the notion that inner-city residents have been duped by the media or false memories of an imaginary golden age into barricading themselves into their homes. 'Commentators who live in prosperous areas don't understand that their fears aren't panic attacks but the result of objective experience,' he said.

I'm not sure how widespread the belief is, but Nick explains why it is a tempting one for those lucky enough to have been insulated from violence. I suspect the reason I wasn't prepared to make a big deal about it in the past was the fear that it would be used ('exploited', if you like) by the political right to justify tougher measures against offenders and, conservative social policies. I'm sure I wasn't alone. And yet a recognition of the impact and threat of violence doesn't presume any particular political response, only that those who are genuinely concerned with the victims treat the issue as the priority it is, and advocate radical policies that are likely - if not proven - to work.