Is Glasgow a safe place to live?

[GoodnessGraciousMeh]

My DD has recently moved to Glasgow for a job. She is shocked at how rough it seems, and there is a programme on iplayer which is on later tonight on player about Glasgow which was filmed recently. It's really shocking. She is living alone in a not particularly nice area and I am really worried. For people who have experience of Glasgow, please tell me your thoughts.

She doesn't want to flat share anymore and has a cat. I'm really concerned. She can't really afford to rent in the more expensive areas.

Compared to London Glasgow has 5 x the volume of rapes and 4 x of sexual assault.

I’ve lived in the east end of Glasgow my whole life. I’ve raised DS14 here with no concerns, I’ve genuinely never felt unsafe here. DS isn’t allowed to go into town alone but I have obviously been in plenty and have never had an issue. Obviously common sense plays a part - stay in well lit areas, don’t go wandering off down dark alleys alone etc but to me, that’s the same in any city. My neighbours are all lovely and would do anything to help DS and I out. What are does she live in?

Tollcross

She could try further out like Paisley and get the train in? Its a lot more affordable with some nice areas and it's only 10 minutes on the train if she's travelling in and out at the usual times then she will be fine going to and from the station.

@MessyNDepressy I think it's one thing if you are from an area then you just have a sense of it and you also kind of fit in or know how to but that's different for someone coming in fresh. I grew up in a rough area of Glasgow and it was fine for me but I felt anxious when I lived in Catford in London for example.

I think every normal human feels anxious in Catford!

Tollcross is fine. No, it’s not the west end and some people will be a bit more rough around the edges but it’s absolutely fine. There is a beautiful, popular, well maintained park, I walk my dog regularly there. A few nice cafes on the main road, a good gym, great swimming pools, plenty of yoga classes. If she does want to move somewhere a little nicer but not as expensive as the west end there’s Mount Vernon, Garrowhill, Swinton, Sandyhills and Dennistoun nearby.

Thanks , that makes me feel a lot better.

Whereabouts? I’m Eastend born and bred, Shettleston to be precise.

Tollcross, I mentioned that above.

Tollcross is absolutely fine, a bit rough around the edges but I’ve never felt unsafe, I lived there for 5 years and never had any bother. Glasgow city centre is a bit of a mess due to the fire and lots of ongoing work but again not wandering off the beaten path and she’ll be fine. It’s a great city, but I’ve lived here all my life so am a bit biased.

Is she ground floor?

If not, no worries whatsoever.

I know I always felt anxious living alone on ground floor but the only issue I had the one time I did was someone fighting with my awful neighbours - panned their window in and it sounded like it was mine and they were breaking in.

You want to feel safe inside your own home.

I lived not far from the old Govan baths, a long time ago.
Always remember Glasgow as generally friendly.
OP, I'd say most areas have problems these days. There will surely be apps now which give advice about particular problems and maybe transport/safety suggestions, for example the park is usually fine in the day but most people wouldn't go alone later, and maybe there's transport for students (I wasn't uni there, but where I did go had some student only buses provided at times, so it's thing s like this that might be handy to investigate?)

I still have to watch this disclosure programme but honestly I’m a bit cross at Glasgow being portrayed as a crime ridden shithole. It is a fantastic city full of the friendliest, warmest most genuine people. Yes the city centre is struggling, as many cities are, with the move away from high street shopping, and wfh and cost of living reducing numbers going out at night. And our historical social struggles with alcohol and drugs are still a massive challenge. Nonetheless There are great opportunities to be had here not least the ability to grow your street smarts and be sensible about where you walk and when!

I love Glasgow and never once felt unsafe there until this last year and especially the last 6 months. Up until Christmas i enjoyed trips to restaurants, pubs museums and the theatre now i won't even step out of Central Station. The centre of town is so dangerous.

Tollcross is fine. It's not the prettiest area but it's absolutely fine. I live about a mile from there. Moved up from.Wales 20 years ago...raised kids here. They are both at uni in the west end..got good education. We regularly go out in city centre and no problems

I live just outside and it’s such a dump in the city centre at the moment - roadworks and rubbish everywhere, especially around the four corners (bottom of Union Street).

Open drug dealing in the streets, constant smell of weed, “new Scots” bottling and machetying each other as different drug gangs. Beggars everywhere. SNP want everyone cycling so are spending a fortune on cycle lanes - but the weathers not great for cycling so all
you get is bloody uber eats delivery drivers zooming along them on illegal e-bikes.

Ive been travelling in and out to Glasgow for 30 years plus and it breaks my heart to see the state it’s in. West end and other naice parts but city centre is a riot at the moment!

I moved to Glasgow about 2 years who from a smaller U.K. city. I spent a year in the east end and had a very positive experience. I think specific areas in the east end are supposed to be high crime areas (easterhouse) but I doubt that’s where your daughter is. I lived in a lovely place with lots of families and would live there again!

I wouldn’t worry OP

I moved up to Glasgow from England when I married and I lived there 40 years. I grew to absolutely love the place and although of course there were bad areas I felt generally safe there.
But I moved out to Ayrshire 10 years ago and tbh when I go back to Glasgow I increasingly don't recognise the city I used to love.

I was reading the article on the BBC website today which is connected to the programme they are showing and the picure it presents of the city centre is really frightening.

I remember the transformation Michael Kelly's Glasgow's Miles Better campaign did for the image of the city in the the 1980s. And it's so sad to see that image being tarnished by what appears to be going on now. I have no doubt there are still really good areas of the city but it's the stuff that's going on in the city centre which is so off putting.

You really are catastrophising. It’s a city, she is no worse off than any other city. Glasgow is not a big, scary, crime ridden no-go city. It’s friendly, has great pubs and restaurants and things like that are only improving due to Glasgow becoming a huge filming location now.
There are rough areas, like everywhere else. But the show you keep talking about, where Glasgow is going to be shown as a dump full of gangs and drugs could be filmed in any city. You could also make a film of Glasgow being the wonderful, cultural, art filled place it is.

Rape and sexual assault happens, like anywhere else. She needs to be careful, like women do everywhere. But you really don’t need to sit at home at night worrying.

No she is third floor thank god

Worst part. Could have told you that in advance!

It’s my nearest city and I love it (originally from London)
Watch the documentary- it’s a very specific set of events and manipulation going on. Think right wing/ propaganda/ Musk/ replacement theory tosh. And it was filmed in June when it was unseasonably hot and long long days. Scotland, specifically Glasgow is very good at innovative social policy (eg knives a generation ago, hpv).
Somehow the young white kids need to see they’re being manipulated.
(I know that horrific sa statistic doesn’t fit into my narrative and I’m trying to get my head round it.)

Aye because there was no gang violence in Glasgow until the 'New Scots' arrived. Get over yourself, Glasgow has literally been a gang violence capital of Europe for decades.