Sheffield student murders: Dark side of America’s sunshine state

There were concerns that the death of the two innocent tourists who accidentally stumbled into the wrong part of town would put off those who come to the sunshine state in search of beautiful scenery, beautiful weather, and a safe holiday hotspot.

The murders of James Cooper and James Kouzaris, both former students of Sheffield University, shone a spotlight on a murky background behind Florida’s sunny surface, with some suggesting the murders were a symptom of a community plagued by gangs.

According to the Florida Gang Investigators Association (FGIA), there are more than 20 youth gangs operating in the wider Tampa Bay area, some “sets” sponsored by national gang alliances, and other grass-roots gangs indigenous to the area.

Gangs often bring higher crime rates, including drugs, burglaries, and car theft, as well as weapons possession and violent crime.

According to FBI figures, 101,969 violent crimes were recorded in Florida in 2010 - the most recent full figures - equating to 542.4 violent crimes per 100,000 inhabitants.

This was lower than figures for 2009, which showed 612.5 violent crimes per 100,000 people, but remained towards the higher end of the scale for rates in the US.

While central Sarasota is picturesque and quaint, just two miles away, Newtown is an impoverished area devoid of businesses or shops.

Late at night, police cars patrol regularly in a bid to cut crime but officers say they would definitely not venture into the area as civilians.

But despite the bad publicity and fears it would affect wider tourism, the murders of Mr Kouzaris and Mr Cooper last year did not cause a slump.

Virginia Haley, president of the Sarasota Convention & Visitors Bureau, said they had actually seen a rise in tourism.

“We’re on the west coast of Florida, a little bit slower-paced than the east coat, with beautiful white sand beaches, lovely restaurants, there’s a lot of culture here.

“It’s a great place to sit outside, enjoy a frozen cocktail and watch the sunset.

“We obviously monitored this tragedy very closely, and we really haven’t seen an impact from a tourism standpoint.

“Our UK-based PR firm closely monitored for any reports of cancellations from the tour operators and there were none. That is also the case now.

“In fact UK visitation increased last fiscal year by 2% and then this Fall we had a 7% increase in the visitation.”

She added: “This is a very safe and friendly city but like any vacation destination you always have to use good sense so if you are going out partying with friends, pre-arrange a car service to take you back home.

“These simple, simple steps can make all the difference and make sure that you have a great vacation holiday.”

Captain Paul Sutton, from Sarasota Police Department, said until the killings last year, there had been no murders in Sarasota in 2011.

He said there were only a total of seven in the city last year - all in the north district of the city, where Newtown is.

Mr Sutton said tourists were intelligent enough to know crime could happen anywhere: “I think the British are very intelligent people, they grow up hearing stories of Jack the Ripper but they didn’t avoid London because crime can happen anywhere,

“I have seen crimes happen in neighbourhoods I couldn’t even dream of living in.

“The area where the tourists were shot is not an area that is frequented by tourists.

“We have had no other tourists who have been victims of serious crimes, this was an isolated incident.

“I personally love Sarasota, it’s not my first home, I was born in St Louis, then Chicago, and ended up in Sarasota, I would live nowhere else.

“It’s very difficult to find a community this small that has so much to offer.”