Is London a crime infested shithole?

I mean London is terroble and lawless it is true. There even some actual jostling when we went to try and see the new big rabbit at the local animal walk.

I walked along the Cut and Lower Marsh every working day and also often in the evening for almost 20 years. There were a few interesting characters around, most memorably the man with no legs who used a sort of skateboard to scoot himself around. But no trouble from anyone. You were unlucky.

Epsom is NOT in London although after much wrangling Oyster was extended here less than ten years ago. It's classed as zone 6 but is very much in Surrey.

I've lived in london 40yrs.
We are approaching lawlessness now.

You can do what you like with virtual impunity.

Sadiq's solve for phone thefts is a yellow line...

I see abuse and violence on tfl far more regularly these days.

I just try and keep to myself.

That’s how I describe where I live in the NE. It’s terrible here

Your attempt to stir up fear is pretty undignified too, OP.

Awful things happen everywhere, unfortunately. London's just about the safest big city in the world.

I live in London and not even one of the nice parts (SE) and I don’t feel unsafe at all. Nothing dangerous has ever happened to me or anyone I know. My road and surrounding areas are extremely quiet and peaceful.

I didn’t realise Epsom was in London.

as a Londoner yes there’s crime but it happens in ALL cities.

I've lived in zone 2 for 20 years. DC were teenagers when we moved here. We used to live in a large village and when we left, the police were after a rapist who had raped a couple of different women late at night, dragging them into lanes/fields. I don't know if they caught him. Here I never needed to worry about DD coming home late at night. She'd either get the night bus to the end of our street, or the tube, where the station was 5 minutes away and plenty of people around. I wouldnt have let her walk home alone in the village.

Someone on a bike did try to grab DS phone once but didnt manage it. That's the sum total of it in 20 years! You just need to take basic precautions and be aware but that is true of anywhere.

I wouldn't describe it that way but I've had incidents about 20% of the time when I've had to go there in recent years.

One of the worst was walking down The Cut and some bloke came up to me and said I'd done something to him and needed to pay. He looked unhinged and It looked like he had a weapon on him. It was terrifying - this was about 6pm and everyone else just got out of the way in a 'mad bloke about to attack - clear' sort of way.

I think I assured him it was mistaken identity and he sort of let me go quite quickly without touching me. I basically ran for it the moment I had the chance.

I suppose that could have happened anywhere anytime but it's put me off London ever since.

Your humour is misplaced bearing in mind a heinous crime has taken place. It's inappropriate.

Still haven't answered the questions @Netcurtainnelly

I keep seeing these claims about Lobdon and the UK on social media (we're in the grip of Sharia law, are ruled by Muslims, blah blah) - posted either by MAGA idiots or bots.

On the other hand, a friend from New York was in London for a fortnight last month - I went down and spent a couple of days with her and had my usual, great time there.

The day before her flight home, she got back to her hotel to find her iPhone missing. She assumed it had been stolen - then found out she'd dropped it and one of those awful Londoners had taken it to the nearest police station.

She's been visiting London since 1986 and she left after 2 amazing weeks, even more in love with it and the UK in general.

Your attempt to weaponise the horrible crime is pretty poor, so put your stones down, OP.

No, London is not a crime infested shithole.
This crime took place in Epsom, which is in Surrey.

It took place outside the Methodist church in Ashley Road. The location is well lit, on a busyish road where even between 2am and 4am, there would usually be passing traffic. To hear of this happening there astounds me.
On the whole Epsom is a pleasant, safe, market town, less of a racing town than it used to be and the student population has grown exponentially. Like all towns ot has its seedy pockets and n'er do wells but fewer than elsewhere. Generally crime is low here although the centre of town can be rowdy at closing time.
I hope the young woman is getting all the help and support she needs, and more.
It is notable that there was a murder in adjoining Ewell not so long ago - a young man, killed by young men. DH has noted that there are more dodgy characters on the later trains coming in from London, post 8pm/9pm and there are some rumblings of County Lines activity.

All big cities have crime … I once had to tackled a pickpocket in Rome.

That said, I don’t think that the punishments are harsh enough to be a deterrent. Petty crime is probably more impactful, on a day to day level, for most people, than major crime … but the resources don’t seem to be there to deal with it.

i feel less safe walking in Blackpool in the evening, than I’ve ever felt in London

There is a link between poverty and crime, and I guess you lots of people in the former category in London.

Glad you and others on the thread find the poor young woman’s gang rape such good comedy material. Gross.

I havent been to London for many years
But would assume London like most big cities has its fair share of crime but.to write off the entire city,is a bit ridiculous.

It's bad for petty crime, that's for sure. Both my DH and my DS have had their mobile phones stolen - DH's was snatched out of his hand outside a tube station (and yes, he knows what an idiot he was to have it out), and DS and his friend were mugged for theirs on the tube. It's always been bad though. I was robbed and mugged in London in the early 2000s too. I am now very careful and very vigilant. I don't wear nice jewellery, I don't get my phone out in public unless I've checked my surroundings first - it's a shit way to have to live.

I saw that ridiculous message on the other thread too. No, London is fine. It is a great city and safe as long as you use commonsense (as you should do anywhere) regarding pickpockets, keeping to busy roads when walking after dark (females), etc. That said, I am a Londoner and in 71 years so far (walking a lot in London alone), have not yet had my pocket picked nor had anyone attack me (like anywhere, I did encounter a few flashers when I was younger, as did most people in my age group but I have met one or two in the countryside too).

This thread is awful.

And is in Surrey, one of the (if not THE) most affluent counties

I hope not. I haven't been for about 30 years but I've got a trip booked this month.