please empty your brain below
You've written a lot about London, but never mentioned are there any places in London were you wouldn't recommend a non-tourist looking visitor to go (safety reasons only)?

Sekula | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 8:59 a.m. | #

Were you mugged by a dog once?

Emma | 07.08.06 - 9:13 a.m. | #

Yes it is true, after living in the country it really is safer in the anonymous city then in the country where the chav's have invaded and the proximity of you and them is heightened by the space (rather than the buildings) in between and the familiarity of people.

Phill | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 9:25 a.m. | #

Emma - I can confirm that DG was indeed petrified by an escaped German Shepherd dog, in the dark, in the country, once. I was there, and I was scared too. Our respective other halves, however, rounded it up, put it in the car and took it to the pound.

I, however, still prefer the country, because I've twice been the victim of an attempted bag-snatch: first time,as a pedestrian, off Gower Street in 1983 (thief on a bicycle, got away, nearby patrolling policeman I approached simply told me, "It happens all the time love" and did nothing at all), second time, mid-90s, driving down Mile End Road with the door locked but the passenger window about a third open, bloke leant in through the window and tried to remove my bag from the seat - I stabbed him with my pencil that I happened to be writing a list with at the time, as I was stationary in traffic. The lead snapped off in his hand. He called me something I won't repeat and ran off.

Blue Witch | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 9:36 a.m. | #

You can only speak as you find, and I've never once felt unsafe or threatened in London. I spent a year living in a small town in Yorkshire and saw quite a lot of violence and verbal abuse.

I suspect there is more 'professional' crime in London, which you can take some precautions against (avoid dark subways, look after your belongings and don't flash them around etc.) In a lot of other places I think you are more likely to suffer random violence from bored and alcohol fuelled youths. Just my personal opinion based on my own experiences.

Gerald | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 10:29 a.m. | #

A close friend of mine is a 'crim' (barrister working in criminal courts), and I am reliably informed that there is more rural crime than urban.

Chairwoman | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 10:53 a.m. | #

Having lived in both, I can say that I felt safer living in Colwyn Bay than Liverpool.

However, I think that's because of the city (you see lots of chavs and verbal abuse), rather than a generalisation. On a night out, I did feel safter in Liverpool.

Also, I was in Liverpool for both 9/11 and the London Bombs. Something made me think Liverpool were going to be next (Al Q'uaida don't like the Beatles....)

All in all, in my opinion. Rural safer than Urban. But it is my very warped opinion.

Rhys | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 11:13 a.m. | #

Blue Witch: your pencil defence rocks. 2B or not 2B?

Generally, I prefer the countryside. That said, about a year ago, my car broke down in the middle of nowhere. As I waited for the AA, I noticed there was a very creepy man stood about 50m away watching me. Cue much thought of hammers and the fact that the nearest house was about a mile away. In London, you never have too far to run before your screams can be heard...

On a slightly different note, I certainly feel more threatened in provincial town centres on weekend nights: alcohol related violence seems more prevalent.

Huw | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 11:36 a.m. | #

Sherlock Holmes felt the same way. In one of the stories he's on a train going through the countryside and Watson remarks on how peaceful the cottages etc look. Holmes disagrees, saying that worse horrors lurk behind those doors than in any London stew - I quote approximately and from memory.

Christie | 07.08.06 - 11:41 a.m. | #

Oh I agree, urban areas - even Hackney where I live - are much less intimidating than the small, streetlightless roads and wooded snickets of the tiny countryside town I spent my university years in.
I have, of course, had my wallet nicked innumerable times in London and was never so much as looked at strangely in the country, but London is home, and has the attendant feeling of safety that home should do.

Jack | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 12:15 p.m. | #

I think this has to do with our perceptions. Urban livers are aware of the potential of crime, violence. Even if it's not palpable, it's still there. So DG you said you had your camera out in a "please steal me fashion". Even though you didn't feel intimidated, the possibility crime and violence was still in your psyche.

In the countryside, with open space and it's general bucolic naturalness, we're not so attuned to these thoughts.

Thus, when crime occurs in urban areas, we're more blasé about it, it was something we expected. Crime in rural areas, however, comes with more of a shock.

Also - I feel your fear of dogs. It irks me greatly when dogs are running about parks in London. Especially when it's two strange dogs who could start fighting and snarling at each other.

Adrian | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 12:43 p.m. | #

I live in a rural area in Yorkshire and regularly enjoy the riverside walk to my local pub - the only thing that spoils it are the ubiquitous unleashed and often out of control dogs - I now always carry a few dog biscuits with me which seems to pacify any that are particularly 'boisterous' or vociferous.

Paul | 07.08.06 - 1:13 p.m. | #

We used to keep cats when I grew up in the country, and they never lasted - in the country, they didn't expect a busy road and invariably got squished.

In the city though, cats expect danger and deal with it. I think it's the same for people, like people've mentioned. It's all about expectations and what you know. I feel safer in what is generally recognised to be the dodgy area where I live, than in supposedly less dangerous parts that I'm not familiar with...

Simon | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 1:36 p.m. | #

I don't have a problem with dogs but the countryside at night gives me the creeps. I have always felt safer in cities, especially when there are plenty of people around.

Pete | 07.08.06 - 2:24 p.m. | #

forget dogs, what about cows?

Knit Nurse | 07.08.06 - 2:48 p.m. | #

I totally agree with your outlook on dogs... or that is with irresponsible dog owners.

Here in the states, cable TV is filled with programs about dangerous bears, sharks and cougars... however I'm sure that dogs easily kill and maim more people than sharks, bears and cougars put together... yet no one seems to think of dogs as anything but but furry loveable pets.

Amazing oversight!

John | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 3:35 p.m. | #

When I used to work in Peckham there was a lot of fairly visible drug dealing going on. Initially I was really scared standing at the bus stop surrounded by kids who were acting as runners for the dealers. Quite quickly though I realised that they weren't remotely interested in me and the major disadvantage was that often the buses wouldn't stop becuase there were so many young men milling about.

I got really blase about it all until one day when I was walking towards the bus stop I was surrounded by dogs and bitten. So town or country nowhere's safe.

ganching | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 7:12 p.m. | #

Dogs are just as scary in town.

stroppycow | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 7:55 p.m. | #

Dogs are more likely to be on a lead in town. By no means certain, but much more likely.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 8:01 p.m. | #

I have been victim of an attempted mugging too - just wish I had a pencil to hand!! Love that one.
I also have a German Shepherd and he has never mugged anyone! He has licked a few people though. Irresponsible dog owners annoy me too because they cause people to generalise abnout dogs and assume they are all nasty. They are not all nasty! I have been attacked by cats, but never dogs!!

Emma | 07.08.06 - 8:10 p.m. | #

Yes but the worst thing about walkways like that is the inevitable smell of wee. And often the source of it still available in the person of a rancid old tramp. Mind you the countryside niffs of cows so I guess they are pretty much even ...

Debster | 07.08.06 - 8:45 p.m. | #

I know exactly how you feel. I may be a country boy, but in the city I have never been chased by dogs, attacked by hens, been charged at by cows, or almost knocked down by a horse.

Gareth h | Homepage | 07.08.06 - 9:13 p.m. | #

poor terry
it's not easy is it?

bow squatter | 07.08.06 - 9:14 p.m. | #

dog wussy? easy, walk with a stick. You'll not use it, the threat is allways enough

Amicus | 07.08.06 - 10:17 p.m. | #

When children are abducted and found mutilated and dead some time later, it always seems to be in the country. Not only that, it is always in something called a "close knit community" I don't know what this means (do you ?) but I'm always grateful that we don't have this kind of community in London. We're really loose and baggy, and if it keeps our children safe, that's fine with me.

daisy | 07.08.06 - 10:57 p.m. | #

Town and country difference? Easy. In town the mugger has a nice street light to work by, in the country (well round here anyway) they'd need a torch. You're more likely to get run over than mugged due to the lack of pavements combined with unlit roads. By the way it's a lot easier to dig a shallow grave in soft country earth than it is in tarmac.

willie | Homepage | 08.08.06 - 12:53 a.m. | #

I'm scared of the country; there are no street lights.

Also, think of the horrendous crimes that happen in the country - the Russells, Abigail Witchalls, Sarah Payne whether they get more attention because they're in the country, I don't know, but they would be very difficult to be carried out in cities in broad daylight. suburbs possibly, because no one walks in the burbs. But round my way, no way.

Gert | Homepage | 13.08.06 - 7:44 p.m. | #











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