Does England really deserve this slur?

[flecc]

Much as I have sympathy for Neville Lawrence over the tragic loss of his son to mindless racism, I really do strongly object to his repeated portrayal of a lack of safety in England.

Again he's on TV today saying he lives in Jamaica now since he isn't safe in Britain.

What utter nonsense, he must be aware of Jamiaca's long held notoriety as having one of the highest murder rates on earth. The fact is that one is a staggering 34 times more likely to be murdered in Jamaica than in England, and that's taking the figures most favourable to Jamaica after a recent crackdown on gangs. Looked at overall, the rate rises to a horrifying 54 times more likely.

Even if only the figures relating to the black populations and black people murdered are used, Jamaica remains far more dangerous. I do wish an interviewer had the courage to remind him of what I'm sure he already knows.

 

[mike killay]

Out of all the murders over the past 20 years, this one took on a political life. That is why it ran for so long. Others were not detected and forgotten, but then they were not political.

 

[tillson]

Much as I have sympathy for Neville Lawrence over the tragic loss of his son to mindless racism, I really do strongly object to his repeated portrayal of a lack of safety in England.

Again he's on TV today saying he lives in Jamaica now since he isn't safe in Britain.

What utter nonsense, he must be aware of Jamiaca's long held notoriety as having one of the highest murder rates on earth. The fact is that one is a staggering 34 times more likely to be murdered in Jamaica than in England, and that's taking the figures most favourable to Jamaica after a recent crackdown on gangs. Looked at overall, the rate rises to a horrifying 54 times more likely.

Even if only the figures relating to the black populations and black people murdered are used, Jamaica remains far more dangerous. I do wish an interviewer had the courage to remind him of what I'm sure he already knows.

The high murder rate in Jamaica is most likely related to the country's drug problem. Involvement in the world of ilegal drugs exposes you to an increased risk of a violent end.

 

[flecc]

The high murder rate in Jamaica is most likely related to the country's drug problem. Involvement in the world of ilegal drugs exposes you to an increased risk of a violent end.

True, but no different from many parts of Britain, especially London, where black-on-black murder and other crimes are mostly drug related. In Jamaica the risks to all residents is very high and it was the increasing incidence of the innocent suffering, random shooting, robberies etc that led to the authorities there cracking down on the gangs recently.

Even after the recent crackdown and murder reduction, the murder rate was one per 2700 residents, but over the longer term of years, more like one per 1600 residents. In Britain it's one per almost 100,000.

Obviously the risks in Jamaica are horrifically greater than here, hence my complaint.

 

[Stumpi]

Neville Lawrence is clearly wrong in his comments regarding our streets in general. However the man has seen his son murdered for no other reason than he was black. He's seen the case badly handled by incompetent or racist police officers (or both). His sons killers walk the streets for years and then only two of them brought to justice. Under the circumstances I can cut him a little slack and understand why he may have a slightly jaded view of the UK

 

[JuicyBike]

I think this is about how vulnerable a person feels in relation to others.

Viewers at a fireworks display, all the passengers on any one aircraft, everyone in a cable car crossing a very high ravine, all perceive their own personal threat level, but all believe it to be the same for their immediate companions.

Being Black in the east end of London (some parts) or English in Glasgow, causes concern for that individual because the threat levels are not the same for everyone. A person can feel more likely to be attacked than others nearby.

In Jamaica the threat level is the same for everyone Jamaican, though by all accounts much higher than in the East End.

 

[Biker44]

Neville Lawrence is clearly wrong in his comments regarding our streets in general. However the man has seen his son murdered

I have great sympathy for him - and don't resent the success he's had getting some of the killers locked up.

He's seen the case badly handled by incompetent or racist police officers (or both). His sons killers walk the streets for years and then only two of them brought to justice. Under the circumstances I can cut him a little slack and understand why he may have a slightly jaded view of the UK

I can cut him a lot of slack - in fact I'm full of admiration for him. But I'm not satisfied that his success is either good for him or good for me. His legacy is that anybody who assaults him is much more likely to be prosecuted than anyone who assaults my dad (or me). That's in nobody's interest ... or I don't think it is.

 

[mike killay]

Well, as I have said, this case took on a political life. It is OK to suggest that the early failure was down to poor or racist police, but was it?
The only evidence available even now is a minute speck of blood that could not be analysed years ago.
Somehow, I don't think that we the public have been fully informed about the case and various axes have been ground over the years.