mugging along lordship lane

[DaveR]

I think there are very few places in London where simply being out after dark puts you in danger. Using a cashpoint makes you more likely to be a victim because it is apparent that you are going to have something worth taking i.e. cash, even if only a small amount, and if the time and/or place mean there are few people around, it becomes more likely again. Having read this thread I'd think twice about using a cashpoint on LL in the early hours, even though the actual probability of being mugged is tiny. I'm certainly not going to stay at home after dark.

[louisiana]

Last night around 8.50pm I was clearly being marked by two youths in Kennington Road (northern end, western side). I ended up swivelling around, turning about rapidly and jumping out into the road twice. Having been mugged three times in the past, and having covered street crime as a journalist (including accompanying police on the their rounds and interviewing them about street crime), I do think I have a feel for such situations. I have to say I've never experienced any such situation in ED. It's a fairly safe place.

Obviously anyone at a cash machine is vulnerable, but that's true wherever you are. There are countries where cash machines are mostly in bank lobbies, but these tend to end up being dosser hang-outs, and I've also seen the fairly bloody results of muggings inside bank lobbies so I'm not quite sure how much real security they provide. It's really best to draw cash in daylight hours, and preferably in the bank if the amount is large.