Is rural Rhuthun succumbing to a state of lawlessness?
I note there’s been some debate in the Denbighshire Free Press recently on whether Rhuthun and its rural hinterland is likely to take the law into its own hands. The Free Press reported a view that rural residents feel so under-protected they may consider vigilante-type action.
The paper asked whether Rhuthun could mimic the uproarious events of lawless New York in the 1950s. A stout reply from an ever-colourful Llanfair DC resident called this “febrile” and “irresponsible” journalism, playing into the hands of the North Wales Police who, he says, routinely wish to see taser-wielding constables. And, for those of us receiving council tax demands, the above-inflation increase is care off the police, the same police who reported at the turn of the year in the same newspaper that reported crime in Rhuthun was down.
While it may be a little disingenuous of the Free Press to feature such sensationalism, anyone connected with the town will nevertheless recognise a slow, creeping and gradual slide in disorder. Not that this is unique to Rhuthun - it's pretty much universal.
15 years ago no one had heard the term “boy racer”, now part of the town’s “culture”.
Even 20 plus years ago in town, it was still possible to leave your front door unlocked at night without fear. I distinctly recall town centre building sites left unguarded and unlocked at night. There was simply no fear of petty crime.
Rhuthun may be a long way from the horrors we sometimes hear of in Manchester, Liverpool or even Wrecsam, but petty crime is nonetheless just under the surface. Or so it seems. And it’s with some sadness that this has almost imperceptibly come to pass.
Not that in Rhuthun any of this in any way justifies either vigilantes or police tasers.
I note there’s been some debate in the Denbighshire Free Press recently on whether Rhuthun and its rural hinterland is likely to take the law into its own hands. The Free Press reported a view that rural residents feel so under-protected they may consider vigilante-type action.
The paper asked whether Rhuthun could mimic the uproarious events of lawless New York in the 1950s. A stout reply from an ever-colourful Llanfair DC resident called this “febrile” and “irresponsible” journalism, playing into the hands of the North Wales Police who, he says, routinely wish to see taser-wielding constables. And, for those of us receiving council tax demands, the above-inflation increase is care off the police, the same police who reported at the turn of the year in the same newspaper that reported crime in Rhuthun was down.
While it may be a little disingenuous of the Free Press to feature such sensationalism, anyone connected with the town will nevertheless recognise a slow, creeping and gradual slide in disorder. Not that this is unique to Rhuthun - it's pretty much universal.
15 years ago no one had heard the term “boy racer”, now part of the town’s “culture”.
Even 20 plus years ago in town, it was still possible to leave your front door unlocked at night without fear. I distinctly recall town centre building sites left unguarded and unlocked at night. There was simply no fear of petty crime.
Rhuthun may be a long way from the horrors we sometimes hear of in Manchester, Liverpool or even Wrecsam, but petty crime is nonetheless just under the surface. Or so it seems. And it’s with some sadness that this has almost imperceptibly come to pass.
Not that in Rhuthun any of this in any way justifies either vigilantes or police tasers.
Tags:
Police