A policeman was murdered in Stockport last night. PC Gareth Francis was on his way home from a night out with friends when he was attacked on Castle Street, Edgeley. He died in hospital. Two men have been arrested.
We shop on Castle Street all the time. It is just up the road from my church. I have been on it at night, on an evening out with friends.
I was desperate to leave South Africa in 1996 because of the violence. We heard many terrible stories while we lived there, and witnessed violence ourselves, upon occasion. I always thought it could happen to one of us while we lived there.
I never expected it to happen so close to home, here in the UK. We have a lot of petty crime but we feel safe walking the streets.
It is dreadful to think of that young man, a man who was valuable in his community, who made a difference, being killed as he walked home.
Such a tragic waste.
The Laughing Housewife 
Oh my… May he rest in peace
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I am so sorry for the loss of a man who was looked up to and respected by the community. you be careful when going out after dark. the world is not as safe as it used to be
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I am sorry for this loss to your community and to his family. Senseless.
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So sorry for the loss to your community and to his family; and for the loss of that sense of security in your neighborhood. There is no rhyme nor reason anymore.
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😦 so very sorry for the loss to your community. I just don’t understand our world anymore!!
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This makes me sad and angry – the world is going to hell in a bucket when this kind of thing can happen in what seems like a safe environment. I grieve for his family. Thank you for your thoughtful post.
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RIP and Godspeed Sir.
Oh….you know how deeply I feel this. Left Brain’s having a moment silence for a fallen comrade. There are quite a few former British officers on his team here. I am sure they will all be hard hit by this too.
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How awful for you and your entire community. May the young man rest in peace and my thoughts are with his family. Violence is such a senseless act and such an unnecessary part of our world, I wish that this hadn’t happened. 😦
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This is terrible.
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Linda, I am so sorry. We certainly know how vulnerability feels. And loss. The whole world is full of it. Peace to you, Dear Friend, and may safety be yours, too. ❤ K
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Hard to understand senseless violence, Tilly. He was just a young guy, trying to live his life. Did they know he was a cop, do you suppose? So sad. Safety? It doesn’t exist.
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Tragic. I hope they throw away the key on those perpetrators.
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That is such sad news. I send prayers for the family of that young man. We are not safe you know. We may believe we are, but there truly is no place where we can be protected.
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Such senselessness.
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My condolences…what a waste…and senseless.
I know what you mean by moving to be in a safer place and then it seems what you tried to escape is right there. Sigh. Thanks for sharing.
((( ♥♥♥)))
Peace and love,
Siggi
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Alas…crime and drugs are everywhere…no real safe haven anymore…sorry to hear about his death…prayers.
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This is so very sad. So very, very sad. Too many tragic acts of violence. There is nothing one can say beyond that.
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RIP. What a waste of young life.
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There will be no words to describe the pain his family must be feeling now. All I can offer are sincere condolences at the loss of a respected and worthy member of the community. R.I.P. Gareth…
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I too was saddened by this news,
Unfortunately it seems to happen everywhere in the world, We try to escape to unknown places but evil can still follow.
My deepest sympathies are with his family and friends in the community.
May God forgive those who caused his death…I would find it very difficult even as a Christian but God is the Greatest
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Such a senseless crime. Our streets are not safe anymore, and it’s the same the world over. even in our own little communities.
Thank you for this thoughtful post; my heart goes out to Gareth’s family.
RIP Gareth.
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I’m so sorry that violence has touched your town. We in our own neighborhood had a murder of an 18 year old last week by a 16 year old (with a gun) who belonged to a group of 15 to 17 year olds who have been terrorizing the university community nearby with robberies and burglaries. I don’t often thin of such violence in terms of small cities in Britain but I guess it does happen everywhere. Again I am so sorry and my prayer go out to your community and his family.
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It is always such a tragedy when a life is taken away in it’s prime. It is even sadder when it is completely unexpected and unwarranted. But then again, when is death ever justified? I am sorry it struck so close to home for you. Stay safe and I’m sending up a prayer for Gareth.
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This is so sad. I don’t know what’s going on with this world, and how we’ve gotten worse to each other over the years, somehow.
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RIP Gareth… A terrible tragedy…
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