Army sergeant tells Blacon boys that dying in combat is no more likely than being stabbed in street

Feb 27 2009 by Selena O'Donnell, Chester Chronicle

AN ARMY recruiting sergeant told Blacon schoolchildren that the risk of them dying in combat was no greater than the threat of them being fatally stabbed on the street or run over.

In a week that saw four soldiers killed in Afghanistan, that was the message to a group of teenagers at a presentation held at the Delta Centre, Norris Road, Blacon, by two representatives from the Army Careers Information Office, Watergate Street.

The pre-arranged event was attended by about 20 young people, aged between 12 and 18 on Monday night.

Invited to ask questions, one teenager asked “what are the chances of us being killed?”

The sergeant, who earlier talked of his childhood growing up in Blacon, responded “Like the chances of walking out on the street getting run over or stabbed.”

A youth leader at the Delta Centre, Lisa Pritchard, who has worked with the young people – many of whom have been excluded from school – for the last six years, said: “I do think that maybe he shouldn't have said it.

“I would hope that they aren't categorising Blacon like that, that would be defeating the whole point of them coming along to engage with the young people.”

The talk marked a new relationship between the police and the army, who are working together in Blacon in an attempt to offer 'different options' to young people.

Following Monday's presentation, Ian Thorpe, inspector at Chester outer neighbourhood policing, said: “Compared to other cities in close proximity to Chester, it is an extremely safe place to live and work.

“Overall crime has fallen by 6% compared to last year, violent crime by 14% and serious violent crime is actually 20% lower than last year.

“We are continually making inroads into violent crime.”

The sergeant went on to tell the assembled group that they wouldn't be discriminated against because they were from Blacon.

A spokesman for The North West branch of Ministry of Defence (MOD) said: “The Army stands by the comment made by this soldier. His comment did not mention Blacon, nor intend to imply that he was specifically referring to Blacon.

“He would have given the same answer had he been speaking to a youth group in any other area of the country.

“He was simply saying that there are risks associated with everything we do in life. We have received no complaints from anyone present at the meeting.”