VANDALS deface a memorial in a Farnworth park. A Westhoughton shopkeeper is forced to shut up shop after being raided 20 times.

Then a woman in a wheelchair is tipped to the ground by a gang of would-be thieves - and local shoppers just watch.

People who live in the areas concerned may not only know the names of those who carried out these crimes, but can stop them happening in the future.

How? By standing up to be counted.

People are quite literally passing by on the other side of the street when crimes occur. Forget any thought of being a Good Samaritan - they want to be invisible.

Ordinary citizens, probably basically good-hearted, get a case of Galloping Apathy when something happens that might involve them dialling the police, shouting at yobs or simply comforting a victim.

Instead, we get fellow customers at Asda in Farnworth not only failing to step in to help the disabled victim of a particularly nasty attack, but actually viewing it like some terrible reality TV programme.

I have no doubt that there was a fair bit of tut-tutting while it was going on. Plenty of "It shouldn't be allowed," "Where are the police when you need them?" and "Those lads should be locked up."

The truth is that we have turned into a nation of "couldn't care less-ers". We fear involvement - even simply getting help.

But yobs who carry out attacks on the vulnerable are basically gutless creatures. Shout at them, encourage other people to do the same and they may not hang around.

You don't have to risk life and limb, and if they give you a mouthful back, well, words don't scar. Then help the police with good descriptions to catch them.

Because one day you may have no choice about getting involved. That's the day you are the victim.