Re: Violence in Spain
 

Forgetting the grassy knell and 24-hour TV news, and ignoring what happens in those eastern countries full of ignorant ragheads that we don't care about, what about your own doorstep?

I live on the outskirts of a modern Spanish city, and have lived in the same house for 13 years now. When we moved in all the houses had pretty, ornate and low walls so that people passing by could admire our well-tended front gardens and swimming pools. And perhaps a decent car in the driveway.

Ten years ago my city became the crime capital of Spain.

If you walk down our street now you will find two-metre high walls and gates you can't see through. Everyone has a burglar alarm and most have dogs, guard dogs. It's not an expat street, most of the occupants are still Spanish.

So from my little part of the world, I can say that things are not safer than they were in the past.

Re: Violence in Spain
 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome...r-old-son.html

http://www.metro.co.uk/news/45216-te...ve-by-shooting


http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk...d-1993271.html

http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local...6081-31441262/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/e...on/6541115.stm

Re: Violence in Spain
 

Gun deaths last year in the UK at 51 were down by 18 percent


http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/dan-...b_1209967.html

Re: Violence in Spain
 

Incredibly low then

If you were a male born in 1900 in the UK, you had a one in three chance of being dead by the age of 25. Now thats dangerous! And that presumes that you actually made it through childhood

Re: Violence in Spain
 

Maybe but not if you are one of the people shot.

As for people being decapitated not happening in civilised Europe

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13393694

Re: Violence in Spain
 

A one off incident by someone who has been certified insane

You guys dont seem to be able to quantify risk. There are 6 billion people in the world and 45 million in Spain. If a one off incident scares you then quite frankly you are a paranoid lunatic yourself

The big worries in life statisitically speaking should be driving, climbing stairs and ladders, picking a suitable partner and doing your best to ward off cancer and heart disease. This is what kills people, not gun waving maniacs :D

Re: Violence in Spain
 

why driving ? - who has been killed by driving a car ? it is not a risk activity
yes people have been killed by other people driving cars due to their stupd mistakes, preconceived ideas and couldnt care less attitude.
there are probably more people killed by cars who are not in one (i.e. pedestrians) than those actually killed in cars.

ipso facto - ban cars as they are used as a lethal weapon.

why climbing stairs ? - it isnt the climbing of the stairs but the strain the exertion causes that can kill, the extra effort to attain the goal of reaching the top - but how many people die from this, probably as many as walking under a ladder, or should that be "as few"

picking your partner - come on, show the statistics, statistics and damned lies, cos your making it up as you go along

if you have cancer or heart disease well there is nothing you can do to stop it. it would appear everyone has the cancer gene - what you have to do is stop whatever triggers it. Heart disease well at what age are you talking about and are you making allowance for all that climbing up goddamned stairs ?

Re: Violence in Spain
 

One off incident that was the first one that came to my mind, so it was a mental lunatic out on the streets that makes it ok for the womans family then. There are plenty of such people out there I,m afraid I have had to deal with some have you? You seem to love statistics, they dont injure or kill you and can be read many ways. We all know there are dangers in life some you can do something about some you can't. Any government has a responsibility for the safety of it's citizens and use the emergency services/forces as one means of doing this. Don't patronise me please with clap trap I have spent 22 years military and 18 years with the police and form my own opinions thanks.



By the way I have no idea why that is showing at the top as a quote from me because it clearly isn't

Re: Violence in Spain
 

You're entitled to an opinion. But focusing on a few cases in millions as an indication of the violent world we live in, is pretty stupid, in my opinion

There are good and bad policeman and army offices, like in any profession. If you found your work fulfilling then good for you, but dont make out like you were a martyr sacrificing yourself for the greater good.

As for cars, partners, health and ladders. On a personal note, taking a care in those 4 things will have a greater impact on your physical and mental health then obssesing about gun toting maniacs - whom you will only likely see on the TV or in the (usually bad) newspaper

Re: Violence in Spain
 

In Spain you are more likely to get murdered by your Husband or partner than by a stranger. Domestic violence is very bad in Asturias (according to stats)

Re: Violence in Spain
 

You are doing it again where did I ever say I was a martyr or sacrificed myself?? I chose to do what I did and enjoyed what I did.

I was talking to someone with similar negative attitudes to you re police a while back an expat. They went on about how they used to back and respect the police etc but following an incident (details not stated ) now disliked them and didn't trust them because they are all bent. I then mentioned I was a retired cop to which they said so when you arrested burglars etc I hope you gave them a good hiding!! I pointed out that I didn't. And would that not be abusing my powers and being a bent cop?
I do not pretend to be as you say but I have dealt with some awful people and awful situations and confronted angry people sometimes in such situations as the OP started the thread about. I will leave it at that thanks.

Re: Violence in Spain
 

Not only in Spain. In just about every country in the world - that isnt at war

Domestic violence in Spain is no worse than in any other European country, it is a lot more prominant because the Spanish media - and the previous government made it (quite rightly) a women's rights issue.

A study I read a few years ago said that there is a correlation betwen hours of daylight and amount of domestic violence, with the Nordic and Baltic countries and Scotland having the highest rate of domestic violence in Europe

For anyone is interested, you can find these kind of papers through a bit of clever googling

Re: Violence in Spain
 

I dont have a negative attitude towards policeman, I have rarely even spoken to one

I didnt like seeing them walking around London with machine guns every day. That wasnt a police decision, it was a political one. Policeman do a good job in the main, as far as I can tell

Re: Violence in Spain
 

Maybe you should try speaking to some rather than relying on Google :eek:

Re: Violence in Spain
 

You can google till you're blue in the face Cman,but it's common knowledge that many such incidents in Spain are swept under the carpet because of the shame involved.

Although Spain has moved on a little bit in this respect, it's still way behind the rest of Europe in respect of openness and transparency in such matters.