Attacks on Chiswick women in the mid-nineties
Reading about the death of Carl Royal, for whom no tears will be said, dredged up some unpleasant memories. I remember when I first hear about the attacks I was uncertain if they were true. There was no internet in those days - well not for me anyway - and stories often circulated about terrible crimes. I don't recall much TV coverage and if you didn't buy the newspaper on the right day, you wouldn't get to hear about it. It wasn't until the trial that what actually happened was confirmed for most people.I was a daily commuter from Turnham Green at that time so started doing calculations of what were the chances of the victim having been me rather than someone else and the conclusion was terrifying. I never liked walking out of the station to home after dark but I started either calling my husband to collect me or using a cab from the rank if he was not around.As the memory of the crime faded, such precautions started to seem unnecessary and about a decade ago I stopped calling for a lift or getting a cab. Lone women, who had virtually disappeared from Chiswick streets after dark were returning and men's attitudes had changed, for instance crossing the road so they wouldn't be walking behind you. Last night I walked home alone late in the evening without a second thought. Crimes against women are far from a thing of the past and there is no room for complacency but Chiswick, London and the rest of the country are much safer now than they were thirty years ago. Some people seem determined to present London as a crime-ridden hell hole but the reality is that we, men as well as women, are probably safer now than we were at any point in our history.
Anita Blake ● 1d5 Comments ● 13h