'Happy slapping' craze an epidemic in the UK

[Memnoch]

Check this out.

Torture attack linked to slapping film craze By Peter Zimonjic and Chris Hastings June 2, 2005 . A terrified teenager is tied to a railing in a dark stairway. His face is marked with a black pen. The voice of a vicious thug taunts his victim, hitting him repeatedly while another yob films the disturbing act on his mobile phone. . Visibly weary and unable to resist, the victim's head slumps forward as more punches rain down. His attacker wants money - £75 ($180) - and he will not accept any answering back. . Accomplices to this chilling crime can be heard cheering in the background. At one point the torture is interrupted as another man passes in the stairwell and carries his bicycle up the next flight of steps - barely raising an eyebrow. . A spokesman from the UK's Internet Watch Foundation, which tracks abuse of children, described the film as a damning indictment of Britain's youth culture. . From the accents it sounds likely that the attack took place somewhere in the south-east of England. Although there is no evidence that it happened in London, officers from the London Metropolitan Police are looking into the incident after footage of the attack was made available to them. . A spokesman said: "We are reviewing the video and will be making inquiries." . Torture and extortion of this nature appear to be an escalation of the "happy slapping" craze that began with teenagers slapping adults on public transport and filming the incidents on their mobiles to later exchange like Pokemon cards. . Since the disturbing trend began in south-east London six months ago there has been a shocking rise in the severity of violence being filmed, according to charities monitoring the practice. . Graham Barnfield, a youth studies expert with the University of East London, said: "In the case of 'happy slapping' the motive appears to be humour, sick though it is. This film is on a whole new level. It appears motivated by the desire to strike fear and terror into an individual. . "In the past, people committing crimes like these tried to hide the evidence. This film shows just how brazen and dehumanising thugs have become." . The video was posted on an American website where clips of security camera footage of real crimes, jokes and prank videos are shown alongside clips of "happy slapping". . Police cannot have the site shut down because hosting the films is not illegal. . A spokesman for the Internet Watch Foundation said: "It is a matter for the police - clearly it is an assault. But it is not illegal to show the films. This phenomenon is a sad indictment of our society." . Telegraph, London

Here's an example of this (in .mov) format, you'll need Quicktime to play it:

Happy Slapping Video

Somehow I don't think this craze will take off in the US, for obvious reasons. Never know who might have a permit for a concealed firearm, eh.

[machinehead]

Now there is someone who needs to have his face introduced to a part of his anatomy that he probably has never seen up close and personal.

[shamrock_uk]

Bloody townies! Here's another one, this girl was temporarily paralysed.

There is a whole section of the British populace I would be quite happy to see lined up against a wall and shot. They simply lack the most basic moral instincts that any civilised being should have.

[Aragorn1]

I hate townies.

I have never seen this down here, is it some kind of estate humour, something you do to pass the time between interbreeding at the age of 11?

Man if i caught one of these guys...

[Charlie]

Originally posted by Memnoch: Somehow I don't think this craze will take off in the US, for obvious reasons. Never know who might have a permit for a concealed firearm, eh.

I think this craze? started in the USA. The first time I heard of it on our news (a good while back) it was a U.S based thing, kids are usually targetted as opposed to possible arm bearing adults. It has subsequently been taken up by some of our youth. I think you're right though, it seems to have caught on here more than the States, possibly for the reason you mentioned.

[shamrock_uk]

Originally posted by Aragorn1: I hate townies. *snip* Man if i caught one of these guys...

...don't do anything! There seems to be about one adult a fortnight getting killed from confronting a gang of youths at the moment

[Charlie]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: ...don't do anything! There seems to be about one adult a fortnight getting killed from confronting a gang of youths at the moment

I think two have been killed in the last seven days.

[shamrock_uk]

And looks like adults aren't the only target. Here's a gang of 11 and 12 year olds arrested for attempted murder

What is happening to my country?!

[ 06-02-2005, 01:09 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[Sir Degrader]

Blow them away, concealed firearms are there for a reason.

[Sigmar]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: And looks like adults aren't the only target. Here's a gang of 11 and 12 year olds arrested for attempted murder What is happening to my country?!

The police aren't being allowed to police in an effective manner.

Instead they've been given the "Licence to fill in time consuming forms".

The youth doesn't fear the police, they think they rule the streets.

Zero tolerance, that's what the country needs. Also bring back capital punishment, unfortunately, the liklihood of either of those things happening is slim to one.

So I hope to get my university degree and then leave the UK and I never, ever wish to return there.