The London Crime Map November 2008

The London Mayor has launched a tool to help us determine where the best places to live  are. As we boldly declare that Pimlico Flats are one of the safest & most crime free places to live in London this has been of great interest to us, & here is our view of the initial map of crime.

An examination of the whole of London reveals that all boroughs have an average crime level with the exceptions of Islington, & Camden who have an Above average level, & Westminster where crime is High. My initial reaction to this is one of alarm! Sober consideration of the statistics (one standard deviation represents above average, two represents high) makes me note that nowhere is below average, so these statistics are pretty similar everywhere. Having said that, it still contradicts my subjective opinion that Pimlico Flats are in a crime free area – we haven’t had a crime since …….. well, we haven’t had a burgulary for 8 years (I was targetted personally by someone who knew me under the mistaken belief that our business keeps cash on the premises), & there was a well publicised mugging of Michael Howard’s wife when she went shopping (smart mugger – attack someone with armed police protection!) & that probably summarises the crime in Pimlico for this Century! So why does Westminster come out so high?

Well as you drill down the map you see that Pimlico Flats are in an Average Crime Ward, & when drilling down to the Sub-Ward we are in an Average Sub-Ward.  The High crime rates occur in the adjoining Sub-Wards where all the shops are. So the next port of call is to examine the actual statistics – the devil is in the detail, but remember

“Lies, damned lies, and statistics” is part of a phrase attributed to Benjamin Disraeli and popularised in the United States by Mark Twain: “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” The statement refers to the persuasive power of numbers, the use of statistics to bolster weak arguments, and the tendency of people to disparage statistics that do not support their positions.

When you look at the actual crimes you will find that Westminster is:

Violence Against the Person – 2nd highest (136)

Rape Zero (0) Lowest out of a total of 40 rapes in London

Other Sexual (9) Highest out of a total of 96 Other Sexual in London

Methinks that Soho’s presence in Westminster may be significant.

Pick Pockets – Westminster 14 the other 31 Boroughs between them – 16. So now we know that pick pockets target tourists.

Well after examining the figures I can only conclude that criminals are geographically savvy creatures, & that Shoplifters don’t waste their time trying to steal from areas without shops, that Pimps only operate in Red Light Districts, that Car Thieves don’t steal bicycles.

Meantime may Pimlico Flat’s crime free existence continue for the rest of the century. Maybe we are lucky, or maybe it’s because we are in a quiet residential backwater, in a Neighbourhood Watch area, & because we employ maintenance, and cleaning personnel who keep our properties under continual observation. ” The harder you practice, the luckier you get.”