UK Insurance News

Research from Insurance provider LV= has come up with the startling statistic that a third of all mugging victims in the UK fall into the age group of 11 to 16 year olds.

This group are easy prey for thieves says the study, because 92% of the victims carry a mobile phone while out with friends, 74% carry cash and 42% carry an iPod around with them.

The clothes and gadgets carried by the average young teen on Britain’s streets are worth £246 says the report, singling them out as targets for thieves, while 21% of 5-8 year olds carry a mobile phone and 17% carry cash when they’re out and about with friends.

While parents are anxious to keep their offspring safe by allowing them to carry a mobile phone, they may inadevertently be responsible for increasing the risk of theft and mugging.

Furthermore, by focusing their concerns on outside threats such as stranger danger, parents could be blinkered with regard to their children’s safety knowledge in and around the home.

The LV= Streetwise research shows that 38% of 5-15 year olds would not know how to leave the house safely in the event of a fire, and 15% don’t feel they are able to cross the road safely.

Mike Rogers, LV= group chief executive, said:

“Helping to steer your children safely through the world around them is one of the biggest challenges for parents today. While most parents will warn their children to be careful when carrying around cash and expensive gadgets, they may not pay the same attention to the safety risks in and around the home.
Our purpose as an insurer is to protect people’s lives and possessions, so naturally we also feel strongly about helping to educate families about safety and risk prevention. As a founder member of the LV= Streetwise charity we have a long-term commitment to child safety, and the message is going nationwide this summer as our safety bus roadshow visits summer fairs across the UK, to educate youngsters about safety.”

The LV=Streetwise Safety Bus Roadshow is currently touring the UK helping to educate children about safety in the home, on the streets and at railway crossings.