i know that this isn't a very nice topic but i was in the pub last night talking to my friend who was mugged down frog walk a few weeks ago. I myself have been attacked in Sheffield as have two of my other friends. I just realised at that point that it was quite alot within one friendship group and wondered how many people have been attacked or mugged whilst in Sheffield.

I'm not asking for any details at all, as I understand that this is a senstive subject. Thanks guys.

clicked no...touch wood i won't, but i know people who have.
personally i try and be careful not to be walking on my own at night and would probably get a taxi. i appreiate though such things don't always occur at night time and in quite places.

yes down in the bus station late at night.

Apparently defending yourself isn't popular with some users here as I got accused of being a thug!

Originally posted by onedizzybird
clicked no...touch wood i won't, but i know people who have.
personally i try and be careful not to be walking on my own at night and would probably get a taxi. i appreiate though such things don't always occur at night time and in quite places.

well i'm ultra-paranoid anyway so i do the same, but unfortunautely it appears not enough, as my friend was attacked in frog walk at 6pm....and i walk that way home from work thinking i'll be okay because its not dark. she was caught in a split-second when there was no other people down the alley : (

Yeah, its wierd - I'm from the rough end of Wolverhampton where I always felt on edge being alone at night - but nothing EVER happened to me in 18 years..

I feel totally safe most of the time walking alone in Sheffield (admittedly I only walk tend to walk around Sharrow, Ecclesall Road and Crookes.. not the roughest parts of town) but nevertheless, the only time i've ever got attacked was here! Still.. I put it down to unluck, on the whole, I feel really safe in Shef.

I've been attacked in Sheffield, at Ponds Forge. Around 8pm. I think this was a one off though. They caught the guy. Sheffield is generally a very safe city, so long as you use common sense.

The muggers in Sheffield are rubbish: Not like the proper ones you get where I come from (Glasgow)

My attempted mugging went something like this;

Mugger: Give me your wallet
Me: Why
Mugger: 'cause I've got a knife and I'll use it
Me: Me too (A lie, but confidence is everything) so give me your wallet.

I think it was the sheer confusion that made him run away :suspect:

But anyway - I wouldnt advise that as a course of action for others (I'm quite a big guy, with an apparently scary Glasweigian accent) - this would be my tip of the day:

Get one of those tiny whisles, or rape alarms and attach it to your wallet or purse (or handbag) - if you are confronted blow it and run like the wind! Most would be muggers will not chase you anyway, and the shock / attention attracted of the whistle/rape alarm should send them in the other direction. That along with steering clear of stupid place like underpasses, dark alleys and the like should keep you and your money safe!

Otherwise - just give them the money, make the decision now if it is really worth it?

I grew up in Sheffield and have been stopped in the streets a few times by people wanting to ruin my evening through various means. A couple of these have been around where I grew up in Fulwood and were usually because of school-yard disputes carried over and on one memorable occasion was just through bad luck running into a local trouble maker (now detained at Her Majesty's pleasure, I believe).

Having said that, I used to work at BED nightclub and walking back from there behind what is now Waitrose, I was once pursued by a small gang. Luckily, I'd spent the night sipping RedBull whilst working which had, for once, most definitely given me wings!

I've also lived just on the outskirts of Brixton for two years and in Camden for a year and never had any problems whatsoever in these so-called dangerous areas. However, I was much more conscious of my own safety when living there.

Friends of mine who have moved to Sheffield from Leeds, Leicester and Nottingham are always very quick to praise Sheffield to its safety.

It's worth considering for all those who think that the measure for danger in an area is how often old ladies get mugged that statistically the most likely type of person to be attacked in young men aged between 15 and 25 by other young men...

Doesn't Sheffield have one of the lowest (if not the lowest) rate of crimes against the person in the region? Anyone know where to find the facts and figures?

i got mugged once when i was living back in the homeland (early 90s)
i was out at a gig, walking back through town, up spital hill, up burngreave, just before the garage a crackhead pulled out a fire axe and demanded money or he'd stick it in my head, i told him i didnt have any left cos i'd just been out, showed him i only had a few coppers left, tried to talk him out of sticking the axe in my head, eventually he took the few coppers :) and left me alone :)

I was attacked once by a mugger and I nearly got prosecuted for defending myself when he made a complaint against me :)

He never turned up at court and the case was dropped as the CPS offered no evidence.

Originally posted by Internetowl
I was attacked once by a mugger and I nearly got prosecuted for defending myself when he made a complaint against me :)

He never turned up at court and the case was dropped as the CPS offered no evidence.
LOL
cool

sounds like one of those idiot, weedy, foolish criminals you see on those crap american tv shows......the ones with ski masks without eyeholes and stuff :)

i had to walk from queens rd via park himm back home to crookes one day , was absolutely fine on park hill but then got mugged at knifepoint in broomhill ! no matter how 'rough' or not an area is theres always exceptions innit.

Never been mugged *touch wood* but then again when ever in in and around town im never alone really , ive been attacked twice while walking home from different pubs in my hometown (dronfield) by local trouble causes who just wanted a scrap (was with 4 friends and theyre were 10-12 of them) and again by some nobs from jordo who had come down looking for some lads (funny enough the same kids who kicked off with me and my friends) other than that no trouble. Even now after what happened i still dont mind walking around on my own ,ive learnt to punch quick and run fast ;)

My son was mugged in broad daylight in centre of Sheffield took his trainers and 70 cash. My sister was mugged in toilets of a bar in city centre.

someone tried to mug me other month ,unfortunatly for them i didnt take kind to this and beet the living daylights out of them ,dont no one dare say i was in the wrong,i am self employed so everything i earn involves work stress and paperwork and for someone to come along and try to take it is their bad luck .i am not blowing my own trumpet saying im ``hard`` but when they started i got so frustrated i burst into anger (and at 6`4" and 18 st im not an easy target) and lost control i left them in the middle of the footpath groaning . this is not right to hurt others but if they start they get it back

thanks for listening
codeman

codeman - no complaint from me , more power to your elbow - its time the streets were taken back.

I've not been mugged but as you know, my 15 year old daughter was last October. He was caught and sentanced last month to 12 month supervision order, 6 months of which is intensive with tagging etc, 7pm-7am curfew and £50 compo to my daughter.

He robbed her of a measly £2 but pinned her up against a wall and threatened to smash her head in if she didn't turn out her pockets. She managed to slip her phone up her sleeve which was quick thinking on her part.

This happened in broad daylight and he is a persistent offender, well known to the police and the court. I just wonder when he will eventually get a custodial sentance.

Originally posted by redrobbo
Doesn't Sheffield have one of the lowest (if not the lowest) rate of crimes against the person in the region? Anyone know where to find the facts and figures?

safest major city in the uk1

Originally posted by redrobbo
Doesn't Sheffield have one of the lowest (if not the lowest) rate of crimes against the person in the region? Anyone know where to find the facts and figures?

Home Office Crime Statistics (http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk/output/page1.asp)

Looking at "Violence against the person / 1st Quarter 2004" very quickly (not all cities), the region seems to be well below the national average.
But Sheffield is the worst in South Yorkshire (marginally).

Offences per 1000 Population

Rotherham 2.2
Barnsley 2.5
Doncaster 2.8
Sheffield 2.9

Leeds 4.2
Birmingham 6.0
London 6.3
Liverpool 7.6
Manchester 8.3
Leicester 8.4
Nottingham 8.5

Originally posted by cgksheff
Home Office Crime Statistics (http://www.crimestatistics.org.uk/output/page1.asp)

Looking at "Violence against the person / 1st Quarter 2004" very quickly (not all cities), the region seems to be well below the national average.
But Sheffield is the worst in South Yorkshire (marginally).


Yeah, but it's the biggest city in South Yorks, and with that comes certain social problems.

The stats for Nottingham comes as a bit of a shock, though. It used to be so nice!

From my experience of being here you've either got to be gobby or right unlucky to get in any bother.

Though someone did try to tax one of my mates walking up Spital Hill on his own about 3.30 in the morning.

Apparently conversation went like this:

"Give us your money"
"Mate, if I had any money do really think I'd be walking up here at this time of night on me own? If I had any cash I'd be a taxi wouldn't I. Think about it...."
"Oh yeah, off you go then".

Sometimes a bit of logic works wonders. And failing that sucker punch em.

People say on this thread , amongst other things , "Sheffield is a safe city".
Yet almost a quarter of those who have polled about mugging , report either being mugged or threatened-----which , I guess is almost as bad. Don't forget , too that a lot of people who get mugged are the Young and the Elderly , people who are probably under-representated on the poll.
Won't this finally convince the Bleeding Hearts , Hand-wringers and Apologists for Scum that , not only Sheffield but all of Britain has grown VERY much more violent over the past 30 years.
To hear the Bleeding Hearts talk , you would think that this is a very minor problem , affecting very few people and committed by a few young "lads" who just need a bit of affection to make them see sense. The truth is that all violent crime has shot up and that's why people are turning to the extreme parties , who promise to Do something -----or , alternatively , not bothering to vote at all as they're sick to the teeth of Parties promising to do something , but doing sweet f-all.

Just looked at the statistics and they're much lower , admittedly , than the S.F. poll.
However , this could mean that people don't always report incidents -----or is it that the Home Office fiures are for CONVICTIONS of violent offences. ?
Also it would be interesting to get a full picture of crimes of violence , over the past 30 years.
It seems significant to me that both Tory and Labour governments have accused each other of letting violent crime grow. When that happens the government in power never seem to deny that it HAS grown , they usually reply ' " Yes , but it grew faster under YOU".
Somehow , for some reason , it does keep growing !

Not had any trouble as such, but had a few close shaves. Mostly itll be a guy asking you to "come here a min." Coming from manchester i recognise the tone and walk away from them. You just got to not even answer them. If you dont answer the guy they dont have any idea of who you are or could be. If ur ****tin it they will clock it and go in for the kill. Compared to manchester its such a difference, there doesnt seem to be the amount of people proffesionaly muggin students. The police prescence in the city seems to help a lot. I agree with defending yourself but with all the cases of the "victim" getting sued i dont think its worth, except when there is no other choice.

What a strange coincidence to be reading this thread and my mail, which includes a letter letting me know my mugger is being released from prison this month.

Originally posted by Fareast
Just looked at the statistics and they're much lower , admittedly , than the S.F. poll.
However , this could mean that people don't always report incidents -----or is it that the Home Office fiures are for CONVICTIONS of violent offences. ?
Also it would be interesting to get a full picture of crimes of violence , over the past 30 years.


It would be unwise to try and draw any relationship between the very small SF poll and the Home Office Statistics.

The statistics quoted are for those reported crimes that are then chosen by the police to be recorded. The guidelines are that reported crimes found to be true and those without evidence to the contrary should be recorded.

I and many others regard these statistics as just that ... statistics. They should only be used when the full context of the data is understood.

In addition to the Recorded Data is the British Crime Survey which you can look at on the same website. This takes 40,000 samples from the population each year since 2001 with regard to reported, recorded and unreported crimes.

The BCS (national) comparisons under the 'Violence' heading are:

41% of crimes within the BCS were reported to the police
62% of those reported crimes were 'recorded' for the Crime Statistics.

So the recorded police statistics represent 25% of those crimes registered in the British Crime Survey.

It is very difficult to make long-term comparisons because of the way reporting and recording of crimes have changed over the years.
It is difficult to be objective with the data when the people who make the decision as to what goes into the statistical records or not are the same people who are appraised by those statistics.

I've always been really sceptical about this 'safe city' title.

From my own experiences, Sheffield seems to be rife with crime albeit of a fairly petty nature. Perhaps we should also look at levels of home or car insurance as well. As Sheffield is such a poor city maybe it's the case that many people don't bother reporting breakins or vehicle crime as they aren't insured.

Additionally, there is surely a culture of not going to the police amongst our population. Whether this be because many people accept a bit of a beating from time to time as an occupational hazard of being a wide boy or from long standing suspicion of the police (from the miner's striker, for example) I don't know.

What I can say is that I have living for years in a particularly dodgy area of London and I have yet to experience any crime (cue immediate intervention of fate!).

M

no but i hav a fear of it happening i hate been in crowds

Originally posted by ADC_28
Yeah, but it's the biggest city in South Yorks, and with that comes certain social problems.

The stats for Nottingham comes as a bit of a shock, though. It used to be so nice!

its also bigger than most of the others on that list, apart from brum and london

Originally posted by melthebell
its also bigger than most of the others on that list, apart from brum and london

Well, it's bigger than Nottingham, Leicester and Liverpool, but I wouldn't say it's bigger than Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham or London.

I guess my point was that compared to our neighbouring small towns we look like a haven of scum and villiany (Star Wars quote!) but, compared to other biggist cities we are most definitely of the light side.

fully agree with cgksheff, the wonders of statistics!

don't suppose your a law / criminology student cg? the repsonse to statistical analysis sounded a bit like an essay i had to do!

Originally posted by ADC_28
Well, it's bigger than Nottingham, Leicester and Liverpool, but I wouldn't say it's bigger than Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham or London.

I guess my point was that compared to our neighbouring small towns we look like a haven of scum and villiany (Star Wars quote!) but, compared to other biggist cities we are most definitely of the light side.

i thought sheff was the 3rd or 4th largest city, behing london, birmingham and maybe manchester??

Originally posted by onedizzybird
fully agree with cgksheff, the wonders of statistics!

don't suppose your a law / criminology student cg? the repsonse to statistical analysis sounded a bit like an essay i had to do!

Thank you dizzy,

No, I'm just someone who gets robbed/burgled once a year on average and likes to see behind the smoke and mirrors of the police, politicians and, more importantly, beaurocrats.

Originally posted by iffypop
Yeah, its wierd - I'm from the rough end of Wolverhampton where I always felt on edge being alone at night - but nothing EVER happened to me in 18 years..

I feel totally safe most of the time walking alone in Sheffield (admittedly I only walk tend to walk around Sharrow, Ecclesall Road and Crookes.. not the roughest parts of town) but nevertheless, the only time i've ever got attacked was here! Still.. I put it down to unluck, on the whole, I feel really safe in Shef.

If you're in a rough area, then wouldn't you naturally be quite cautious and adjust your "behaviour"?

Whereas if you are somewhere that is perceived as "safer" then you may be a little more complaceant?

I think that the student areas in particualar are potentially the most high risk, because students may be viewed as easy pickings? Away from home for the first time, drunk on the way home etc?

I was beaten and stabbed when I was 12 on my way home from a youth club..

What made it worse was I knew them from School and it was their way of ending a disagreement that happened earlier that day..

Originally posted by Deejay
I was beaten and stabbed when I was 12 on my way home from a youth club..

What made it worse was I knew them from School and it was their way of ending a disagreement that happened earlier that day..

OMG that is awful... I think I am going to cry...

I want to give you a big cuddle Deejay...

It happens Miss..

What takes you down only brings you back stronger I reckon..

The insult to injury.. £150 compensation from both of them for ABH & GBH :roll:

blimey thats unlucky cg, once a year! good for you though to be bothered to do you research rather than making assumptions on current states of affairs!

your right about knocks making you stronger deejay, it's unfortunate that we have to take the knocks though...

hmmm .... dreaming of an ideal world....

Originally posted by onedizzybird
blimey thats unlucky cg, once a year!

Not all assaults though.

Car Windscreen smashed – on street, overnight
Car Window smashed, coat & stuff stolen – on street, overnight
Friends Car Window smashed while visiting - evening
Car Fuel Lines slashed – off road overnight
Car front doors & locks screwdrivered tried, needing repair - off road, overnight
Car Window Smashed/CD Player stolen – on street afternoon
Garden Shed (Brick) burgled – Garden Power Tools stolen
Garden Shed (Brick) burgled (again)– Garden Power Tools stolen
Sneak thieves in front door, disturbed, grabbed phone – afternoon
Smack Head, in back door, confronted, me assaulted – midday
Front Gate, stolen – night-time
Car passenger door frame pulled back, minor theft - off road overnight

All over last 10 years in an area that you would not regard as at risk!

cgk:D

Cemetary road for me. only had a tenner on me as i was 13 so is all good!

Originally posted by codeman_cas
someone tried to mug me other month ,unfortunatly for them i didnt take kind to this and beet the living daylights out of them ,dont no one dare say i was in the wrong,i am self employed so everything i earn involves work stress and paperwork and for someone to come along and try to take it is their bad luck .i am not blowing my own trumpet saying im ``hard`` but when they started i got so frustrated i burst into anger (and at 6`4" and 18 st im not an easy target) and lost control i left them in the middle of the footpath groaning . this is not right to hurt others but if they start they get it back

thanks for listening
codeman

Nice one mate!!
Wish people would think like you more!

Getting away from statistics for a moment , there's another aspect to all this.
If you are elderly or vulnerable in any other way you're not likely to be re-assured by cold statistics and someone telling you that you live in a comparitively safe place.
Take some old lady who'd like to nip down a couple of side streets , jump on a bus , to visit her sister , instead of watching the telly all night. Now , she SHOULD be able to do that. However , she's just read in the paper that an old lady 's been attacked a few streets away. She doesn't sit there working out her chances ; she thinks , " If I go out , will I be next ?"
This goes for kids too , who OUGHT to be able to nip out to the shops if they wish at any time but don't because of the fear of attack. So , it doesn't matter if there are 1,2,3 or 10 attacks in a given neighbourhood , the effect is pretty much the same.
It doesn't matter how much successive governments fiddle around with statistics------unless there has been a gigantic conspiracy by millions of people to tell lies year after year , then all the evidence points to there being a massive increase in crimes of all kinds , over the last 30 years.

Nearly another statistic tonight.

Twice tonight whilst out with friends we had an incident...

First, a guy walked past, twenty metres on a can of sprite lands on my mate. Who unsurprisingly yells something. The guy (big as it happens) turns around and walks back. We defuse the situation. Pretty certain that he threw the can though, no one else was around.

2nd incident, we are walking past the catherdral, heading for a kebab and then home... Some guys (2 of them) heading the other way start yelling abuse. I keep saying "ignore them, it's not worth it", they follow us for a while heading up west street. Apparently intending to catch up and "have a go". So I call the police and report it...

The police turn up 10 mins later. The first officer takes the details, seems fairly reasonable.. The 2nd officer then acuses me and my friends of being extremely drunk and of basically making the story up!!!... I'm extremely peeved by this, we were clearly not that drunk and had no reason to have made up such a story. Whilst we walked away there was every reason to suspect that the pair would assault someone else and the police responded quickly enough to be able to identify and apprehend them.
I will be making an official complaint.

I used to be proud to tell Americans how safe the streets of Britain were. Now , as I walk the streets ans avenues of Manhattan in reasonable safety, !.m not so sure. Maybe its because I might be packing a bigger gun than the other guy.

2 boys tried to mug me a couple of weeks ago - I was in Nether Edge near Machon Bank Road. I only had my phone with me and when they saw how rubbish it was they ran off!

wow thanks for all your responses guys, well it seems that the stats say sheffield is safe but it seems to me that more and more people are being attacked. Whether sheffield is safer than 'said city' doesn't matter to me...its not safe.

Maybe i'm just too paranoid but once you've been attacked it makes you scared when you're out anywhere at any time. I was walking to work at 8:30 am when some psycho ran up behind me and started punching me in the head....luckily a vliant knight in a white van chased him off after a few minutes. But now i'll jump everytime i hear someone running behind me just find that its someone jogging to work.

I think most of the time its mates or drunken gangs trying their luck, but you never know.