Ecuador’s election wasn’t free — and its people will pay the price under President Noboa
Is crime everywhere? Be careful what you read on social media
Take care with online coverage, says PAUL DONOVAN

“GOOD morning. Thanks to everybody for your posts concerning the escalation of crime. If any members have a spare half-hour to walk around the streets during the day, especially after school time, keep a look out and report anyone suspicious.”
So read a post on a community hub in a middle-class, east London suburb, where the threat of crime has been hyped up out of all proportion to what is actually happening on the streets.
Crime levels have certainly grown nationally over recent times, no doubt helped by central government cuts in police budgets.
More from this author

PAUL DONOVAN applauds a timely play that explores the resonances of McCarthyite nationalism in today’s US

PAUL DONOVAN is fascinated by an account of the long history of Catholic Church’s involvement in espionage