Earth quake insurance quote

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Most of the buildings are boarded up while they dry out or repairs are made. It is still very muddy.

“It’s like going to visit an old friend in hospital,” says Roger Little of Boscastle Pottery - one of the few businesses in the harbour area to have reopened.

“You know they will get better, but you don’t feel it. It’s very, very sad to see them ill and you wonder whether they will ever get back to normal.”

The 10ft tidal wave of water which burst through the village after torrential rain on 16 August demolished four buildings completely and ruined many others, causing damage estimated at millions of pounds.

Cars and vans were swept out to sea - 32 have still not been found at all - and police described it as a miracle that no-one was killed.

Although the cheerfulness and solidarity among the residents remains striking, some frustration and despondency about the time it is taking to get back to normal is setting in.

There are still a couple of problems, but everybody’s reasonably happy. It’s pretty upbeat, really. Easter is the deadline Graham Findlay Parish council chairman

Peter Templar, owner of the Riverside hotel which had two floors trashed by water bursting through its windows, is nearing despair.

Repair work has hardly begun on his building, because the quotes he is getting in have been wildly higher than the amount the insurance will cover.

“I’m feeling very frustrated. We should be - not up and running, but well on our way to recovery by now,” he said.

“But I can’t see myself being open next year, let alone by June (the start of the main holiday season).

“It’s been a nightmare. The most horrible thing is we have 12 or 14 full-time people working here in the season, and if we don’t get going soon they’ll be out of work.”

How is the village of Boscastle, hit by floods in August, looking as Christmas approaches? In pictures

He is also worried about him and his wife becoming homeless, as they used to live above the hotel, and they need to leave the holiday cottage in which they have been staying by February.

Others are having a little more luck.

Nev and Sue Chamberlain saw their home and business wiped out when water burst through their bakery, knocking down two of its walls, and made its way into their flat above.

They still haven’t been able to return home, but repair work is carrying on apace, and they are fairly cheerful about the future.

“We hope to be back in the flat by February, and have the business up and running by Easter,” says Sue.

Although they lost much of their furniture, for which they were not covered, they have received some help in the form of BBC’s Changing Rooms programme, which redecorated their kitchen for them.

“It’s lovely,” says Sue.

Report awaited

But some people are starting to wonder whether the village as a whole will ever be the same again.

The four buildings demolished in the flood include a visitor centre, an outdoor clothing shop, a gift shop, and the Harbour Light/Pixie House tea room - a Boscastle landmark and its oldest and most-photographed building.

Repair work has hardly started in Peter Templar’s Riverside Hotel.

Yet there is now a question mark hanging over whether they will ever be rebuilt at all.

Planning permission has been put on hold pending the January publication of an Environment Agency study into the flood, and the likelihood of it happening again.

It may well find that such flooding is likely to happen again and that building on the area is simply too risky.

Similarly, the district council is waiting for that report before it decides how to - or even whether to - repair the car park where most of Boscastle’s tourists and day-trippers usually stay.

“In an ideal world this would just get up and running, but the problem is that in Boscastle everything’s interdependent,” says council spokesperson Annie Moore.

“There would be no point in repairing the car park, say, if after the Environment Agency report we just had to dig it all up again.”

Roger Little queries whether the delays mean the village will have time to recover for the next summer season.

“The place will still look like a building site,” he predicts.

Easter deadline

But things are moving, nonetheless.

The National Trust, which owns much of the harbour area, last week reopened its footpaths to visitors.

Work is nearing completion on the Valency river - one of three rivers which burst its banks and sent the water hurtling into the village - and many of the businesses and homes which suffered more minor damage are back to normal.

The Boscastle Bakery could be back in business by Easter

And most of all, there is a quiet determination that
the village will be back in business for visitors by Easter.

“The work is getting quite well advanced in a lot of cases, and if not people are working with great enthusiasm to get it further advanced,” says parish council chairman Graham Findlay.

“There are still a couple of problems, but everybody’s reasonably happy. It’s pretty upbeat, really. Easter is the deadline. A few won’t meet it, but that’s the deadline most people have set. I should be surprised if there’s many that aren’t ready to go.”

Graham King of the Witchcraft Museum is certainly determined to be open by Easter. He has had flyers printed up announcing that the doors will be open by 25 March.

‘Bloody close’

“I’ve been working seven to seven most days, I’ll be working through Christmas. I’ve got to be open by Easter or I’ll be bankrupt,” he says.

But he is feeling very positive. Precious artefacts have been salvaged, and he has been “overwhelmed” by the support he has had from other museums and previous visitors, as well as a “large cheque” from the flood appeal.

There is a quiet determination to get back to normal by Easter

Without that help, would he have been able to survive thus far?

“It would have been bloody close,” he says.

Others are keen to point out that although the harbour area is still a bit of a wreck, much of Boscastle is untouched or completely repaired.

Dave “College” Fletcher’s Myrtle Cottage B&B was closed for about two months after the floods, but is now open again.

He says Boscastle offers as much to the visitor as ever.

Much of Boscastle is untouched and still offers plenty for the visitor

“The harbour’s still looking a bit of a nightmare but walk around the headland and nothing has changed. And that’s what the place is - great churches, fantastic cliffs.

“The Valency Valley has changed out of all recognition, but it’s still just a spectacular place to walk.”

And, he grins, one Boscastle highlight has stayed open almost throughout the whole saga.

“The Cobweb pub’s been open most of the time, and that’s the best pub in the world.”

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Police in Gainsborough are taking action to restore peace and keep motorcyclists away from wooded areas.

They say those using bikes noisily and anti-socially risk having them seized.

Police field a dozen calls each weekend from residents near Norbury Hills wood near Knaith, Lea Park, Laughton Forest and Trent Bank, Morton.

Insp Maria Staniland said: “Bikers use the woods as though they are race tracks, scaring those enjoying a walk or taking their dogs out.”

She said police were to take action under the 1998 Crime and Disorder Act.

‘Peace and quiet’

Insp Staniland said: “Everyone has the right to live their lives peacefully and without fear.

“Residents whose homes back onto the wooded areas say they are desperate for peace and quiet at weekends to relax in when they’re not working.”

She asks motorcyclists to consider joining Gainsborough and District Motorcycle Club at Blyton Airfield.

Police said the motorbikes in the woods are often ridden without tax and insurance.

Officers are to give bikers one warning but those who carry on will have their bike seized.

Two second-half strikes from Danny Invincibile ensured nervous Kilmarnock’s passage to the third round of the CIS Insurance Cup.

Killie had not scored in the competition since their 3-1 semi-final defeat of St Mirren in 2001.

And both sides missed chances before Invincibile finished Allan Johnston’s cross after 63 minutes.

Gary McDonald drove the second in off the post before setting up Invincibile to hammer home the third.

Kilmarnock had been beaten by Ayr United, Airdrie United and Brechin City in recent years.

And spirited Accies came close to causing another upset when striker Brian Carrigan had a fine volley from the edge of the box that went wide of the post.

The Ayrshire men should have taken the lead in the 55th minute when Invincibile’s header back across the goal gave MacDonald a seemingly easy chance.

But the midfielder’s header from around four yards out was well saved by goalkeeper David McEwan.

Accies should have scored a minute later when a defensive mix-up in the box between James Fowler and David Lilley gave Mark Corcoran a gift, but somehow the striker screwed the ball past the post from 10 yards.

The home side eased some nerves when they stole into the lead after 63 minutes.

A flighted cross from the right by Johnston found Invincibile at the back post and the Australian made no mistake from close range.

Killie looked sharper now and scored a well-worked goal in the 70th minute to compound their newly-gained superiority.

The lively Johnston worked a neat pass to Boyd and, when the big striker slipped it to McDonald inside the Hamilton box, the midfielder drove his angled shot past McEwan and in off the far post.

Hamilton were out on their feet now and, in the 86th minute, Invincibile made it three when he hammered an angled shot past McEwan from 16 yards after good work by McDonald.

Kilmarnock: Combe, Fowler, Lilley, Dindeleux, Hay, Invincibile, Locke (Joly 80), McDonald, Johnston (Dodds 86), Dargo (Murray 59), Boyd.
Subs Not Used: Greer, Smith.

Goals: Invincibile 63, McDonald 70, Invincibile 86.

Hamilton: McEwan, Walker, Thomson, McLaughlin, Waddell (McPhee 78), Hamilton, Aitken, Tunbridge, Corcoran, Carrigan (Hodge 74), Keogh (Convery 66).
Subs Not Used: Blackadder, Jellema.

Attendance: 3,375

Referee: K Clark

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The roots of TCS go back to 1968 when, in what would later become known as outsourcing, the company started to provide software services for US insurance firm Sun Life.

TCS had a comparatively easy start, backed as it was by parent firm Tata, the giant tea to telecoms conglomerate.

Today the firm operates in 33 countries, has more than 35,000 employees worldwide, boasts an annual turnover of $1.56bn (803m), and a whopping return on investment of about 25%.

Giving chase

And after its $1.2bn stock market flotation earlier this year, TCS is ready to grow through an acquisition spree: “We will show some appetite now … [focusing on] IT firms in continental Europe - France, Germany, Italy and Scandinavia,” says Mr Vandrevala.

While TCS is nipping at the heels of giant Western IT services companies, a pack of Indian rivals is giving chase.

PROGRAMMERS’ SALARIES Romania: $2,400 India $5,880 Czech Republic $6,400 Philippines $6,500 Malaysia $7,200 China $8,900 Israel $25,000 Ireland $28,000 average wage/year Source: Nasscom

Local competitors Wipro and Infosys, which both have their fair share of ex-TCS staff, have grown into billion-dollar-turnover companies as well.

It is a huge achievement, and Indian IT executives find it difficult to hide the pride in their success.

Global reach

Regardless of whether one speaks to Mr Vandrevala, Infosys boss Nandan Nilekani or any other executive working for one of India’s rapidly growing tech companies, they are proud that it is their country making a mark in the world of high technology.

“We will be the new EDS,” says a confident Phiroz Vandrevala, and points to Western IT giants rushing to set up their own operations in India.

“EDS and Cap Gemini are now playing on my playing field, which makes it easier,” adds the TCS top executive.

At the same time, Infosys, TCS and others are working hard to extend their global footprint.

“We have to be where our customers are,” says Mr Nilekani, boss of 33,000-strong Infosys with headquarters in Bangalore, India’s answer to Silicon Valley.

That translates into regional services centres across America and Europe. TCS’s UK operation is typical. It employs 140 people, with another 2,000 engineers flown in from India to work on specific jobs on-site.

Both firms have also set up shop in China, to be closer to the Japanese market and to support the outsourcing operations of their manufacturing clients in China itself.

‘Made in India’

But with big Western firms still ruling the roost, how far up the value chain can Indian companies go?

INDIAN IT PROFESSIONALS 1991: 56,000 1997: 160,000 2000: 284,000 2003: 650,000 Source: Nasscom

There are plenty of critics who are dismissive of the challenge. Indian IT services firms, they argue, are mere body shops, churning through young graduates that do repetitive, boring and ultimately not very demanding work, and just about good enough for the outsourcing of some basic jobs.

Not so, argues Mr Vandrevala. “We are active in all six ‘boxes’ of the IT services industry - application development, IT engineering, IT products, infrastructure support, business process outsourcing, and consulting - which allows us to compete at the same levels as IBM.”

Ultimately, though, for most jobs firms like TCS are mere vendors and service providers, helping other companies to efficiently implement and run software written by firms like Microsoft, Oracle and SAP.

It’s “Processed”, not “Made in India”.

And so far only a few Indian software houses have had much success taking a different route.

I-flex Solutions is one of them. The company emerged 12 years ago from a Citicorp outsourcing outfit and has now grown to more than 4,000 employees.

Yes, traditional IT services provide a third of turnover and useful cash flow.

Rajesh Hukku of i-flex says software should be “Made in India”

But the potential of I-flex Solutions lies in the intellectual property it has generated, for example Flexcube, a software package that allows banks to integrate and mine the deluge of data flowing through their systems, and manage the risks involved.

Rajesh Hukku, chairman and managing director of I-flex, is another proud IT boss, with a calling card that lists three addresses around the world.

With the banking sector estimated to spend $70bn on IT over the next three years, he jets through Asia, Europe and the Americas, hoping to add to his long list of clients, which runs from Citibank, the world’s largest financial services firm, to banking outfits in Russia and Nepal.

And by having created something that bears the stamp “Made in India”, he believes that his company can set itself apart from the competition.

“With our product strategy, we generate the added value ourselves and don’t just earn money by helping companies run other people’s software,” says Mr Hukku.

Coping with the backlash

Whichever model ultimately succeeds, everybody seems to agree that there is plenty of space for more giant IT services companies, even though IT services exports from India are already worth about $18bn a year.

There is just one problem: For many in the West, outsourcing has become a dirty word.

“Outsourcing helps both sides,” counters Mr Nilekani of Infosys. “It creates jobs both in India and where the original jobs have disappeared from.”

Mr Vandrevala acknowledges that this is difficult to take if you are “Jill or Joe who is laid off in Newcastle, and you don’t feel the macroeconomic benefit” of outsourcing.

But protectionism or subsidies, he says, are not the way forward. Western countries “have to go up the value chain.”

He points Western critics of outsourcing to the fate of steel: “The US went for protectionism, but today there’s not much left of the US steel industry.”

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Ann Green’s experiences help to reveal why.

They highlight some of the biggest obstacles to women receiving a full state pension.

Ann is now 69.

She got married at 18, stayed at home for several years to look after her three children, and spent many years working either part time or full time in about 10 different jobs.

By the time she retired, eight years ago, she had paid National Insurance contributions for fewer than the 39 years needed to qualify for the full state pension.

Like many women she had also paid reduced National Insurance contributions, known as the “married women’s stamp”.

Even if they had said years later your pension will be a few pounds more, I couldn’t have done it because we needed the money to live on Ann Green

Under this arrangement, married women could opt to pay lower contributions, in exchange for receiving a reduced pension on retirement.

This was abolished in 1977.

Even if the consequences had been fully explained at the time, Ann doubts she would have done anything differently.

She and her then husband simply needed all their money to raise their family.

“We needed the money there and then,” she says.

“You can’t save, it’s impossible.

“Even if they had said years later your pension will be a few pounds more, I couldn’t have done it because we needed the money to live on,” she adds.

Pension credit

One government policy designed to improve this situation is the pension credit.

Help is available from the Pension Service web site

This was introduced in 2003. It is supposed to ensure that everyone aged 60 or over gets at least 114.05 a week.

Nearly 3.3 million pensioners now receive it.

The money doesn’t arrive automatically though. People have to claim it.

Ann found the process was very off-putting.

“I didn’t want to do it. You feel kind of ashamed that you are having to do it, telling people all about your personal financial income.

“They said it wasn’t means testing but it was.

“I rang the free phone number and it was an awful thing to go through, talking about your personal finances, horrible. You are exposing yourself. The whole process was intrusive.”

That may be one reason why around 20% of pensioners have still not claimed any of the new credit.

Poor take-up

Ann’s weekly pension is now 110 a week.

There are a lot of women who shock me. There are a lot whose income, a year ago, was 40 a week, now it’s just under 50 a week. If they went for pension credit they would get more Ann Green

She says getting the credit has been a real benefit.

“At first it got me 11 a week, which probably sounds like nothing, but when you are on a low income it makes a big difference. And now it’s 16 a week. And I don’t have to pay the full council rent and council tax.”

But each week she meets other women who seem to be living on pitifully small amounts of money.

They are among the women who come up to the stall which she runs in Leicester market on behalf of the Leicester Pensioners Rights campaign.

Ann hears stories from some women that astonish her.

“There are a lot of women who shock me. There are a lot whose income, a year ago, was 40 a week, now it’s just under 50 a week. If they went for pension credit they would get more. ”

It seems either they still don’t know about Pension Credit or just won’t apply for it.

Divorce

One piece of advice Ann gives to some of the women is to get a formal divorce if they have already separated from their husbands.

Ann did this herself a few years ago and as a result her pension went up significantly.

That is because the rules allow divorced people with fewer than the maximum NI contributions to claim an increased pension, based on the contributions made by their former spouses.

She says many women aren’t aware of this and are reluctant to jump through that hoop anyway.

“There’s a look of resignation on their faces. Maybe some go away and do it. But there’s a lot who aren’t.”

Ann Green’s preference is straightforward: a flat rate, non-means tested pension, of at least 114 a week.

“If we had a reasonable state pension that allowed us to do the things we wanted to do we wouldn’t have to go through those hoops. They should do away with means testing. I’d rather have a decent state pension so I could pay my own way.”

Ann said paying higher pensions was affordable.

“There are billions of pounds in the national insurance pot doing nothing, it could be used to give pensioners a better standard of living in retirement.”

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The 5bn payment protection insurance industry (PPI) has been referred to the Competition Commission by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

The OFT has been investigating the sale of PPI since last spring and in an earlier report condemned the market for “failing consumers”.

PPI is designed to help people repay loans, mortgages or credit card debt if they fall ill or lose their jobs.

Last month, the BBC learned that 10 banks face fines for mis-selling PPI.

‘Super-complaint’

The OFT highlighted several market failings, including:

• Consumers do not shop around for the best deal on PPI
• The complex nature of PPI makes comparison between different policies difficult
• Consumers in some cases assumed, were told or were given the impression that taking out PPI would help the application for credit.

This lengthy process… is doing little to protect people from PPI rip-offs in the meantime Sue Edwards, Citizens Advice

However, the OFT acknowledged that PPI could provide “worthwhile cover” for some consumers.

The OFT’s original decision to investigate followed a so-called “super-complaint”, made in September 2005 by Citizens Advice, that PPI was too expensive and was often sold to people who did not need it.

Citizens Advice, while welcoming the referral of the PPI market to the Competition Commission, was critical of the length of time it had taken.

“We need swifter action to protect consumers… this lengthy process, since our 2005 super-complaint, is doing little to protect people from PPI rip-offs in the meantime,” said Sue Edwards, senior policy office at Citizens Advice.

The OFT argues that it has to consult all parties before referring an industry to the Competition Commission.

The Competition Commission has the power to fine firms and force them to change the way they do business.

FSA fines

PPI providers are also coming under fire from the Financial Services Authority (FSA).

The FSA, which regulates the sale of insurance, has indicated that it is set to fine 10 providers for mis-selling PPI.

News of the penalties could prompt customers who believe they were mis-sold PPI policies to launch compensation claims.

Last week, GE Capital Bank was fined 610,000 over its PPI sales practices.

The FSA has said it wants to see an improvement of sale standards.

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A man accused of killing his wife after trying to take out life insurance for her has been found guilty of murder and jailed for life.

A jury at Bristol Crown Court took just four hours to convict Randle Williams, 43, of strangling and drowning his wife Natalie.

The 33-year-old’s body was found submerged in a river near their home in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, the day after her husband reported her missing.

Williams had denied having anything to do with her death, claiming that on the night his wife disappeared in April 2002, everything had been fine between the pair.

Financial difficulties

He said he had called in police after Mrs Williams went out to walk the dog - the animal returned wet and muddy, but his wife did not come back.

Sentencing Williams, Mr Justice Brian Keith said: “Why you killed her and what led up to it, we shall never know.

“Natalie knew but she has taken her knowledge of it to the grave.

“All we do know is that you clearly brought the life of this lively and attractive young woman to a premature end.”

Natalie Williams was strangled and drowned in a river near her home

The prosecution had alleged Williams was in financial difficulty at the time of his wife’s death.

Williams had also been trying to arrange a 665,000 life insurance policy to be paid to the surviving spouse.

Days before her death, Mrs Williams’ application had been turned down, but Williams still tried to claim on an accidental death benefit worth 500,000, without telling the company he had been charged with her murder.

Earlier, Wiliams had told the jury about problems between him and his wife, who he said suffered “Jekyll and Hyde” mood swings and had a number of affairs.

Mrs Williams, who suffered from depression and an eating disorder, had been arrested in January 2002 after threatening to kill her husband.

‘Depraved character’

Outside the court her sister Nichola Laverton read a statement on behalf of her parents, Robert and Muriel Hussey, who said they were happy with the verdict, but that it could not bring their daughter back.

She said: “The most horrible nightmare imaginable became reality the day police told us our youngest daughter, Natalie, had been murdered.

“No words can describe the pain we feel at losing our darling daughter - she was a stunningly beautiful, warm, caring and loving person - full of vitality and laughter.

“We will never come to terms with the loss of Natalie and we miss her every hour of every day.”

She added: “Randle Williams created a profile of lies about Natalie to discredit her and other innocent people and in doing so, he has revealed his true depraved character.”

She thanked police for their work which led to the conviction of Williams, who she described as an “evil, deceitful person”.

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A family’s summer holiday got off to a dreadful start when they were stranded overnight on the M5 and missed their flight.

A 10-hour delay getting to the airport is the stuff of holiday nightmares.

The Meacham family’s problems started when torrential rain began to sweep across the West Midlands on Friday, causing flooding near their home in Baughton, Worcestershire.

They were due to fly to Malaga from Birmingham airport the following morning - usually a 45-minute drive from their home.

But it soon became clear things would not be going to plan.

Daughter Danielle, 12, had been on a school trip and the family received a message that her coach was delayed by the weather and heading to an alternative location later that night to allow parents to pick up their children.

By 2200 BST, realising Baughton was itself susceptible to flooding, the family decided to set off for the airport early, the idea being they could collect their daughter on the way and arrive in plenty of time.

Danielle was still stuck on the school bus and we were trying to follow its progress Sue Meacham

“Our village was slowly filling up with water,” said Sue Meacham.

“We had to abandon our car and accepted a lift from our neighbour who has a 4×4.”

Neighbour Tom Warner set off with Sue, her husband Graham, and two other daughters Georgina and Stephanie.

“Danielle was still stuck on the school bus and we were trying to follow its progress,” said Mrs Meacham.

“We tried to go along the M50 but that was closed. And by the time we got on to the M5 it was also closed off due to the flooding. We just couldn’t get off the motorway.”

Still eight hours to go - plenty of time, she thought. Her daughter’s coach was stuck on the same road but they were in touch by phone.

New flight

Along with thousands of other motorists, the family spent the next eight hours stuck on the M5.

“I could only cat nap,” said Mrs Meacham. “We had nothing to eat and the toilet facilities were non-existent.”

I’m just hoping I will be able to make a claim on the insurance Sue Meacham

After the M5 reopened about 0830 BST, the Meachams got the message that their daughter’s school party had arrived at a pub car park in Worcester.

They finally managed to pick her up at about 0900 BST and she was very upset, said her mother.

They arrived at the airport within the hour, but knew they had missed their flights.

Mrs Meacham said: “I had already got my father to rebook alternative flights. It cost us 1,024 for five one-way tickets. I’m just hoping I will be able to make a claim on the insurance. I could not believe this was happening.”

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Window locks and sophisticated alarms are all very well, but the answer to stopping burglars could well be knowing your next-door neighbour’s name and regularly twitching your curtains.

“There is no such thing as society,” said Margaret Thatcher, which has since been interpreted by critics as the zenith of the every man for himself attitude.

But the then prime minister also went on to say: “There are individual men and women, and there are families. And no government can do anything except through people, and people must look to themselves first. It’s our duty to look after ourselves and then to look after our neighbour.”

This echoes the current government’s reported consideration of “don’t moan, take action” as a slogan for tackling of anti-social behaviour - that the first defence against crime is the attitude of the individuals affected.

While bobbies on the beat and tougher sentences are the most popular solutions to crime, a Home Office report now says “social cohesion” and crime levels are connected.

COHESIVE COMMUNITIES Sense of belonging Common vision Diversity appreciated Similar life opportunities Relationships between people of different backgrounds Source: Home Office

The study, which interviewed 10,000 people in 20 areas, found a sense of community is the strongest indicator of crime rates, particularly burglary and vehicle crime. As a predictor, it’s more important even than deprivation levels.

Prof Alex Hirschfield, director of the Applied Criminology Centre at the University of Huddersfield, has studied this phenomenon before.

“The most cohesive areas have crime rates similar to middle income areas. If you see somebody walking down the street in a cohesive area, perhaps going equipped for burglary, you have individuals that would challenge that individual, raising the risk of them being apprehended.”

So those nostalgic for the days of streets of terraces policed by fastidious residents might just have a point.

Recent arrivals

The death of traditional industries, extended families broken up by the search for better jobs, places where ethnic groups don’t intermingle, and the rise of the singleton - each a factor in the rise of places where people do not have the sense of belonging and fellow feeling they once did.

Nostalgic for the good old days?

Prof Hirschfield says that neighbourhoods where people don’t talk to each other have many recent arrivals and people living in rented accommodation. Nor are there residents’ association or community activities. “Socially mixed and very heterogeneous areas in terms of ethnicity do not tend to be the most cohesive.”

Which could describe London or other cities across the UK. How many of us can honestly say we ring the police when a car alarm goes off, or know the names of families at the other end of the street?

But it’s not simply that curtain twitchers defend their street against criminal strangers.

Criminologist Professor Paul Rock, of the LSE, explains that the pattern of where people commit crimes is like a dumbbell - a cluster where they live, another where they work and a thin strip between.

“Most offenders don’t tend to travel far from their own home. Familiarity with the housing type, familiarity with the terrain, you can make your exit quickly. People see the risk they will be recognised. In a cohesive community the ability to recognise is enhanced.”

In short, if your house is burgled it is likely to be by someone living nearby. And your chances of preventing that behaviour depend on the power of the community.

Criminologists and sociologists talk about “social control” - not vigilantes, but community “elders” who exert subtle pressure on offenders and their families.

Freedom v community

But in many deprived communities, there may be resistance against calling the police, either due to perceived police harassment, general ill-feeling towards the authorities, or a misplaced sense of solidarity. Those who do can often be intimidated, and not just by the suspects themselves.

It was known as Alcatraz, there was a lot of crime, community spirit went out of the window James McLoughlin Liverpool residents’ leader

But while many communities tolerate quite high levels of petty crime, there’s a notion of what is intolerable, says Prof Rock. “Over the more outrageous kinds of criminal activity - paedophilia, rape - cohesive communities do seem to be able to act together and almost drum people out of town.”

In London and other big cities some people speak of a trade-off - low community spirit, but more freedom and tolerance because of the lack of social control.

And community spirit can be a fragile thing. In Liverpool, Belle Vale and Netherley were new communities constructed in the 1960s and 70s as part of the efforts to improve housing conditions. James McLoughlin has lived in the area for 33 years and knows what it is like when community spirit leaves town.

“It was known as Alcatraz. There was a lot of crime. The council moved in problem families and community spirit went out of the window.”

Unlike the terraced houses in much of the rest of the city, there was little love for the mid-rise flats with their distinctive “walkways in the sky” - a now much-ridiculed facet of modernist planning.

“It was basically a haven for criminals. If the police were called, the criminals would be looking over the walkways laughing at them.”

But Mr McLoughlin has led local residents’ associations in encouraging people to report crime and anti-social behaviour, to install and maintain their own CCTV cameras, to get police to prevent intimidation of residents, and to lobby the council to maintain facilities.

Crime rates are down, house prices are up and community spirit is back, Mr McLouglin says. “People are becoming more and more together, interacting.”

And if Belle Vale can restore community spirit, there might just be hope for all of us.

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It’s a valid point about the tolerance and community tradeoff. It’s interesting to note that tightly knit communities tend to allow fear of the unknown to flourish. Back in the days of small local communities the arrival of an ethnic minority family or a homosexual relationship forming between locals would have caused an outcry. It wasn’t only criminals who got drummed out of town.
Stacy Smith, Sheffield

Interesting arcticle. Im a singleton and live in NW London and my experience seems to be contrary to your findings.
I live in a small 4 storey L shaped council block of 35 flats and maisonettes (inc small walkways in the sky) A mixture of half private and half council tenants with families, pensioners and singletons all mixed in.
We have a few people renting their private flats out and a mix of immigrants in the block.
This aside it is a very socially cohesive block of homes. Ive been there 5 years, others have topped 30 years.

We all know each other by sight and say hello on the stairs/street, aided by a shared garden which we all overlook, sit in and kids play in, and we have meetings maybe twice a year. We call on each other if we have a problem with our homes such as a leak or a fuse has gone etc. It feels to me like the safest place Ive ever lived with lots of freedom and tolerance.
Michelle, London

We got to know our neighbours. They were very friendly, always willing to help out, all the children in the street used to play together, the parents became good friends of us all. 6 months after they moved in, the father burgled our house whilst we were away! Get to know your neighbours… perhaps that should be carry out a security check on everyone you live next to before you get too friendly!
Anon, Derby

As an architect I always find these debates about the advantages of community v crime interesting. We were taught about the important link between the two, in the 80s just as society was supposedly dying, from theories decades old. It amazes me that we keep re-discovering the importance every few years.

I have the good fortune to live in a village where the sense of community is part of what makes it such a wonderful place to live. I can name all my neighbours, for the full length of the street and I can name lots on most of the other streets in the village. We do all look out for each other, both old and young. Oh and the crime rate is very low. The death of community/society has been greatly exaggerated - at least outside of London.
Vicky Smith, Stourbridge

I for one am reassured by the fact I have nosy neighbours! My next door neighbour sees and hears everything and whilst it is sometimes a nuisance I am always glad to know she is keeping an eye on my home when I’m on holiday or away for a few days.
Alison, Newcastle

In Japan, everybody knows their neighbour - it is customary to introduce yourself and bring a small gift when moving to a new place. You may rely on them to check on you/pull you out of the rubble after an earthquake.
SL, Japan

So why has crime fallen so much since the 1980s, if it’s all about ‘community cohesion’? I doubt that the correlation is half so definite as this article implies. There are more important factors at work here.
Lucy, Leeds, UK

This is so true! But surely if I ask a stranger why he is in the area, his right not to be asked is greater my right to ask him? Scrap rights and put in a code of practice instead, with actual acceptable words! In the US, kids are taught to respond to strangers ‘You’re not family’. No-one takes offence at this phrase.
Diane, Sutton, UK

I agree with the article. I also feel lucky because I don’t have any neighbours and am perfectly relaxed about leaving my front door wide open (not just unlocked) when I go out, or leaving the keys in the car. I used to live in a city and found that I was scowled at with suspicion for saying hello to neighbours. Forget the city, live in the country - its better for you!
Steve, Carnwath

Communities can only do so much. I live in an area close to council, and housing association properties. Large estates can breed terrible social problems, and when you live on the outskirts of it, dealing with the problems can be traumatic. Our area is close knit, we all know each other and look after each other, but it doesn’t stop the crime.

Many youngsters do not respect anyone, and certainly not authority. The UK has got too lenient in many ways. Also, in our area police resource is a problem. They do their best, but there are not enough police that can perform arrests. The rise of the community support officer, just means a cheaper option, with no authority in my opinion. I don’t normally agree with Tony Blair, but when it comes to social problems, I think you have to get tough. Many of these areas that breed criminals are not short of money and are not deprived, they just don’t respect anyone.
Beryl, Runcorn

Sadly in today’s society your neighbours are probably burglars too! Particularly where I live at the moment - in a very transient mostly rented environment with some flats owned by irresponsible housing associations who fill them with all sorts of anti-social types.
Shaun, London UK

An interesting idea but if you, for example, are one of a white minority living in a mostly Asian/Muslim area then you are automatically excluded from the local community. Most of the people in our area won’t even respond when I say ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Good Evening’ as I pass them on the street.
Stephen Mortimer, Reading, UK

It’s all good and well knowing your neighbours and curtain twitching but there are no local workable reporting and feedback mechanisms in place to encourage people to report anti-social behaviour in confidence.
Marie, london

Many people do know who is commiting the crimes but they are afraid of criminal damage to them or their property. I know its happened to me, in 2004, I made a comment to a mother regarding the riding of motocycles on the pavements by her kids and had first eggs then bricks thrown at the windows. I also called the police on an occassion when I saw someone trying to climb into a neighbours garden, the kids ran off not very far away and one threatened my husband with a golfclub when he gave chase.

Earlier this year the youths came back and broke our front gate, although on that occasion their actions were spotted by an off duty Met police officer who arrested them. On Monday a boy from the same family that smashed my windows who happens to have an asbo against him tried and succeeded in intimidating me as I walked past him. Have I contacted the police? No, to be frank with you I can’t afford the insurance bills nor am I prepared to face the baldfaced lying that will occur if I do say anything. Your report does not deal with the fear issues in such communities and insultingly tars us all with a solidarity with petty criminal types that in all probably does not exist, what evidence is there for this claim? Any ill feeling towards the authorities comes from a sense of achieving nothing for helping.
Karen Goldberg, Gravesend / Kent

This is all well and good, but what if (like me) you live on a street with a high turnover through rented accommodation, Asbo wielding chavs, and religious nutters? It’s difficult enough to even talk to my neighbours, let alone be friends with them!
Robert, Cardiff, UK

I wish our neighbourhood were “more together, interacting”… in our neighbourhood there is far too much jealousy as to who has the best house, car etc. In fact I think if anybody had their home or car damaged or broken into there would even be feelings of glee from some.
Jan, Croydon

I certainly feel a greater sense of security knowing that I know my neighbours and that some of them are ‘curtain twitchers’. Any unusual happenings would be noticed.
Freda McIntosh, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire

What incentive is there for public-spirited citizens to get involved when they are more likely to be punished than the offenders if there is injury sustained. There are far too many people willing to condone bad behaviour because of poor social background etc. It is not, and never has been, any excuse for becoming a serial criminal. Get tough with these louts, and stop expecting the public to do the job.
Jon, Norwich

We see this in Welsh-speaking areas of Wales. Immigrants move in and, by and large, refuse to learn our language. This destroys the community.
Huw Roberts, Caerdydd, Cymru

We’re just about to put our house on the market and I am terribly sad to be moving away from our fantastic neighbours. We owe them a huge amount - they’ve watched over our property while we’re away, took out the bins when we’ve forgotten and generally made us feel safe and secure. It has been a great street to live in, with a real sense of community. I didn’t believe this kind of thing still existed in urban Britain.
Ellie, Edinburgh

What has been said in this article about communities working cohesively to tackle crime also applies to communities of interest like church congregations. I have seen many articles in the BBC newsfeeds of churches being vandalised or robbed and the vicars / pastors and congregations in these churches can work together to protect these churches.

We just simply need to be vigilant while we go about our worship at these premises and look for anything that is out of the ordinary. For example, if a stranger is tracking where the collection baskets or plates end up after the offering, or is paying attention to where valuable equipment or artefacts are being stored, we need to be ready to challenge that person.
Simon Mackay, Fairfield, Victoria, Australia

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