Friend giving safety tips for London?

[breezeofqinter]

Maybe I sound horrible but me and a friend are visiting our mutual friend in London tomorrow, she’s lived there for maybe a year.

Shes just text us to give us safety tips. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve been to London, I even work from the London office occasionally.

I know she means well but aibu to find it a bit patronising?

There are tips about phone safety but I'm a bit scared to give them now in case I'm being patronising. Disclaimer it is my job to give people London safety tips. Which yes apply anywhere but you probably don't have to worry about it as much elsewhere.

Obviously don't look at it as walking along but if you need to look at maps to find something, face inwards towards a building to do so. That way a scooter person is less likely to ride past and grab it out of your hand.

You can also get cross body phone case carriers but don't put them round your neck in case the thief drags you along with it.

This is because specifically in London people on scooters are taking phones out of people's hands and it's quite a recent technique but I'm not trying to be panicky or patronising just saying there are things you can do to mitigate the risk of it happening to you.

Edited for typos.

You are not wrong. And most of the other half thinks anyone outside the M25 is running around in woad.

I'm currently visiting London and haven't felt the need for any safety tips.

What a muppet your friend is.

Not read the whole thread. We live in SELondon and literally the local Facebook has been alerting everyone on safety tips for over a week when it comes to phone snatching and teens on bikes. So whilst I wouldn't be so patronizing as to give safety tips to others. I definitely feel like around where we live, people do need to be careful and this is a very naice area according to MN.

I'm always surprised to see smartphones in the back pocket of many people, crying out to be nicked.

SE London here and lots of yobs on bikes nicking kids phones so I'd like to know that kind of thing.

@Ojjjjnv snap!!

I grew up in London. Safety tips have always been necessary...more seem necessary every decade! My cousin visited the central more touristy areas with me a few weeks back. She's been before but it's been awhile. So I gently reminded her to dress understated, no gold jewellery, no phones out anymore than necessary, use a crossbody bag with your hand over it due to pick pockets etc. I doubt she was offended. It's what we do for people we care about surely?

are you for real?

Since when do we need to "dress understated" in London? 😂
Anything goes, that's literally the beauty of that town.

Yes, there are pickpockets like everywhere else, but chill out.

Well you know her better than we do. Is she usually patronising? If so, it's probably time to ease back on the friendship if it annoys you. If not, she is genuinely trying to be considerate and you ought to give her the benefit of the doubt imo. I expect she knows it better than you do since she lives there and might have noticed some new, evolving scams aimed at visitors, or big increases in certain crimes such as phone theft from electric bikes.

I lived in dodgy areas to find the locals friendly and welcoming. Your friend is an idiot. The touristy areas are where you go to get ripped off and murdered

Sit your friend down and explain that you are more than capable of looking after yourself and you think that she's the one who's nervous. Tell her you can advise her if she wants

When she gets her hackles up, tell her that's how you feel, now, will she kindly put a bleeding sock in it.

Be glad you have a friend that cares about you, plenty on here don't...........

Laughing at somebody else is uncool no matter where one lives.
Stop trying to justify it.

So I gently reminded her to dress understated, no gold jewellery, no phones out anymore than necessary, use a crossbody bag with your hand over it due to pick pockets etc

you what what? Dress understated? Unless she’s usually wearing diamond encrusted gold clothes I’m sure she’s fine in whatever she wants to wear. I’ve never owned a cross body bag. I use my phone all the time. I’ve lived in London all my life. Including living it up in some pretty rough areas at all hours of the night. I have never experienced an on street crime.

😅😅 are you for real

I mean, depends on the 'tips'...

Oh dear...
Maybe she was not offended but thought you were totally bonkers.

don't try to reverse it. Throw patronising comments at someone, they are entitled to laugh!

Those reminders do not sound gentle - you sound a bit OTT. Dress understated? I doubt she was offended - but I think she might consider you to be a bit bonkers.

Street crime has gotten worse. There are new types of crime & criminals and tell my friends, even those in London what I see happening now, that wasn’t happening 1-2 yrs ago. Just spreading the word.
you are being overly sensitive

Street crime hasn’t gotten worse - it’s gotten better. Unless you have a source for that?

You are entirely mad (sorry for being a bit rude).
Are you confusing London for the favelas?
We can all go about our every day lives in the capital without such mad measures. The only thing I do on this list is keep my phone in my pocket but very many don't... keep it in my pocket because wandering around glued to your phone ANYWHERE is bloody dangerous.

lol at “wear a money belt” and “don’t wear anything too flashy” 😆😆 you know millions of us just live here normally, right?

I have a friend who used to live in the suburbs - I always lived in city centres. Then circumstances changed and she moved into the centre of a big city, and I relocated to a country town. She now talks to me like I am the country mouse - it is hilarious. Especially since I was born and brought up in London. I have no idea why she feels the need to do it, but it has been relentless.

stand on the right

Sorry to derail but no one else seems to have picked up on this comment that I find crass and deeply offensive.