Please someone be honest, is it really that bad?

[Coffeetimeagain]

In the uk now?

I’m British but live in another European country, I want to move back but Dh is adamant it’s too dangerous and wouldn’t be the best for Dd
All I keep seeing on my Ig is all these attacks and frightening things, is this realistic where you are??
I am seeing all of Europe is becoming more dangerous, including where we are and it makes me worried

For some reason I’m developing a bit of anxiety about this, so want honest answers if possible 🙏

I live in London. It’s great - I am walkable to the tube/train, nice parks nearby, good schools. My neighbours are friendly. My DD took the tube to sixth form every day. Some areas are more dangerous than others but I love living here.

I'm happy enough in the UK. I have a great job, family, friends, which I wouldn't want to leave.

But the racism and daily micro-aggressions are getting worse, so if you're non-white, I would bear that in consideration.

I live in the south west midlands and it's fine and dandy here in all respects.
We've much to be thankful for in the UK but too much of the media is controlled by those with a strong vested interest in telling you otherwise.

The latest crime around me....a gnome being stolen!
I think it really depends on which area your looking at OP it's way too variable.

Nope. Perfectly happy, and don't recognise half of what gets talked about online.

I think having social media and the news available and blaring at us all day makes us completely TOO aware of the small bad things because who’s gonna be writing about a new board games community evening (my towns recent addition) or a recycling old kettles and microwave scheme (more community green initiatives)?! The U.K. is fantastic and we need to celebrate the small significant wonderful things that make us a community and try to emphasise less the dangers (which are much higher in some other countries…). I feel safe and I am safe here.

Oh and I’m from the scary scary midlands (hint it’s not scary up here!)

I'm in a safe, dull part of the West Country. My neighbourhood in particular is very safe - serious violent crime is unheard of and I ask couriers to leave parcels in my unlocked porch.

Other parts of my town are more prone to anti-social behaviour and petty theft and I wouldn't want to walk along some of the secluded footpaths or underpasses after dark, but I'd take the same precautions anywhere in the world.

I live in the northwest 20min drive from a town, the town has unfortunately had a huge influx of immigrants and it is like a foreign land, there's been a stabbing a broad daylight, sexual assaults and rapes are now common (I am just stating facts here). It's awful. I won't go into town with my family anymore, it used to be a bustling northern town with a real community feel, it's really sad what has happened. Where we live is further out in a more expensive area so it isn't as bad as the town centre and immediate surrounding area, but then other crimes such as burglary and car theft are rife, far far worse than it has ever been before.

If you are moving back to an expensive/rural area I'm sure you would be fine and see very little change, however if you have to live or work in a poorer area you will potentially feel unsafe.

There are many reasons why living in the EU is better than the U.K. but safety isn’t one of them.

Its fine, although media propaganda has gone in to overdrive which is really depressing. I guess the worse case scenario would be that Reform gets in at the next election because of all the immigration scare mongering and then things WILL actually go to shit, some people have not learnt a thing since the Brexit disaster and the reason most of the issues we have exist. That would make me think twice about moving to the UK.

I’ve lived in the same UK town all my life but have been lucky enough to travel extensively and still the only place I would ever call “ home “ is the UK …..yes we hope to spend the winters abroad when we’re older and it’s definitely more expensive than say 5 years ago but I still feel safe and happy here…that said I would love to live near my late mothers family in the west of Ireland but the bloody rain would drive me nuts, however beautiful it is….

Dh is adamant it’s too dangerous

Really? Does he really believe that? Or does he just not want to move back. It’s as dangerous as every other European country. A lot of media hysteria.

Violent crime has reduced in the uk. Horrible things do sometimes happen as they always have. I feel very safe where I live and work. Please try to be aware of where your information is coming from and what their agenda is.

Exactly this.
I live reasonably rurally but travel into London quite often to meet friends, go to exhibitions, etc
I have never felt unsafe. As pps say, there is the odd problem from time to time but there is a hell of a lot of ridiculous scaremongering going in, mostly as an attempt to push a racist agenda.

Ffs it’s perfectly safe.

Is this on X you’re seeing this? Elon Musk is obsessed with us. Where are you at the moment? It might be worth looking at the crime rates where you currently live versus those in the town you would live in in the UK.

Would this surprise you, for example? www.london.gov.uk/london-records-fewest-homicides-year-monthly-records-began

I feel much safer here tbh - I trust there are safety nets and we have a lovely fulfilling life. Your dh needs to get off social media I think!

Why is your algorithm on social media showing you the bad news stuff?

if you click on one story about say, crime, it will show you other stories about crime and before you know it, you've fallen down a doom-filled rabbit hole full of murderers and rapists.

Whereas, the worst crime to happen to me in the UK is that years ago, when I was living in a less prestigious area in a different town, someone stole my wheely bin.

I dont think it's unsafe or that violent. I live in London. However, I do think life in the UK is crap in comparison to large parts of Europe. Services are bad, general atmosphere is not great. It does feel like the place is going down hill. The living standards and levels of everyday stress especially with kids are very high. So no I wouldnt move back but not because of feeling unsafe.

Ooh how strange the op and her dog whistle haven't been back

I remember when 7/7 happened and my Grandma (who has always been severely anxious and paranoid) was begging my dad to come home and stop living in London. He quite rightly pointed out that it was an unprecedented attack, unlikely to be repeated and that the chances of you being involved in something like that are next to none. Also, attacks can happen in any country- nowhere is completely safe.

My Grandma also hates me using public transport and has given me a rape alarm incase someone tries to fondle me on a train. This has never happened.

Pretty safe where I am. Cost of living and inflation a bigger concern for me

I was just thinking the same

I live abroad now but all my family still live in (apparently) lawless London and to be honest I can’t tell that there has been a huge difference. I was there a couple of weeks ago and wandering around I didn’t feel any more unsafe than when I lived there almost 10 years ago.

Let's put it this way, I can't see anywhere else that's safer.
I would have no hesitation whatsoever in coming back here from overseas.
You DH needs to stop believing everything he reads or sees in the media.