I am now fortunate to live in an area of 'good friends and neighbours'. Many years ago used to walk, with my friend to Dulwich Hamlet School from Friern Road. We would take several routes, one of them being through Dulwich Park. While I never felt afraid or threatened then I would not allow my children now to do the same. Can you parents not get together and take it in turns to escort your youngsters to there various schools? This would still give children the 'independence' of not always being with their own parents but it would give them the support and safety they should have.