7/13/2008 11:11:00 AM
The Observer 13 July
Would-be gang members in university cities are being told they have to attack and steal from students as part of their initiation.The existence of the ritual - known as 'bag a student' - in at least two major cities has been identified by academics at Huddersfield University, who are researching the prevalence of crime against students.The main findings of the research, from the university's Applied Criminology Centre, was that those studying at city universities were far more likely to become victims of robbery than local residents because they were seen as the 'archetypal easy victim'. They warned that universities were failing fully to inform hopeful students about the crime risks because of 'concerns that raising awareness would damage reputations'.The studies found that criminals aged 16 to 18 thought students were 'naive', 'un-streetwise', carried 'desirable and valuable' goods and were easily identifiable. Many lived in housing estates that bordered deprived areas where locals became jealous of their affluence.'Offenders said they targeted students because they felt it was easy,' said Michelle Rogerson, one of the researchers. The study has involved work in Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham. 'In a few of the cities it was a requirement for gang initiation to "bag a student".'Guardian
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