Safety for everybody - preventing crime

Tragedy

In December 2022 a major story in the newspapers, especially the American sections, was the murders of Kaylee, Madison, Xana and Ethan.

Relief 

It was a great relief to hear that a suspect had been arrested.

Why?

Why did the criminal do it? I keep reading about murderers who are obsessed with other murderers and criminals who got away. This person seems to have studied criminals and their thinking and then started to think the same way. 

Criminology Studies

Maybe we should be making sure that every criminology study is framed or bookended by two stories of people who used their intelligence to cure sickness or save lives. Or people who regretted their crimes and devoted their lives to making amends. 

Prevention

What is being done to stop or help the potential criminal? To control criminals, criminal actions, criminal thoughts or crimes?

Samaritans

We have Samaritans to stop suicides. Viktor Frankl succeeded in this, despite the example in front of him of hate and killing. 

Possible Prevention Helplines

We need a helpline to stop people who are divorced or homeless or bullied or bored from committing crimes and to give them another purpose in life. 

Books

Maybe every publisher of books on killers should be required to end with stories from the victims  families, from those who overcame the urge to kill, who regretted it, or avoided it, and a message to others that killing wastes somebody else's life, as well as your own.

Blogs

Even blogs like this one should end on a happier note. Instead of the lives of murderers, for every book and sentence we should write a sentence praising the victims and praising the work of the police who caught a criminal and prevented other possible crimes.

Useful Websites

Samaritans

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11589659/Bryan-Kohberger-went-teaching-University-Idaho-murders.html?login#readerCommentsCommand-message-field

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11586269/Parents-Idaho-victim-Kaylee-Goncalves-feel-incredible-relief-arrest-Bryan-Kohberger.html

Many countries have other names but have several phone lines for instant round the clock help for those who are troubled and want help. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritans_(charity)

Mint tea at home or hotel rooms

Mint tea served at hotels and restaurants and conferences is often made from several tea bags in a pot. But you can easily make your own mint tea with fresh mint. If you like Mint tea bag, try Twinings.

The Moroccans make wonderful mint tea with added sugar. You could add honey instead. Better still, simply sip sugar-free mint.

Different kinds of mint bought from garden centres will give different flavours. There's peppermint and spearmint or simply mint.

I tried mint grown in my own garden one summer, but found my mint was full of aphids, little greenfly. In theory you could wash the mint off first. Or strain them out afterwards. Or both. It was a whole palaver.

Easier to spend £1 or 99p on fresh mint from the supermarket. Start again.

Or buy mint in a pot from a supermarket, add hot boiled water, at home or in a hotel, and you have mint tea.

Warning - wait for boiling water to colour add water.  I burned my lip on boiling water, so I had to sip cold water, which I added to the mint tea. Now I know why I like coffee - because you can add cold milk so you don't burn yourself.

Photos by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Fresh mint in a pot from Morrisons in London in November 2015, bought by a member of my family.
We're here to help they say.
www.morrisons.co.uk
customer service helpline 0845 611 6111.

In the UK 0845 numbers are usually the price of a local call from landlines. Check your service provider or mobile phone company to be sure and if you have a choice of phones and there is a difference in charge, pick the cheapest or try to make a free call through Skype.

Angela Lansbury.
Travel writer and photographer.