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 have to say - I did feel quite safe until a woman was gang raped a few weeks ago in my town in the UK.

But its like anywhere. You just have to try to keep yourself safe. I don't go out at dark by myself.

I also don't run anywhere in the countryside alone during the daytime by myself.

I remember the woman that was murdered in broad daylight when she ran beside a canal in Ireland.

Its mens fault that these things happen, but I have to be realistic and try to keep myself safe

We live in a large West Midlands city and have seen a major deterioration in public behaviour, services and safety in the last 10 years.

Immigration is a major issue with schools inundated with children who cannot speak English this is combined with little sign of integration between different immigrant communities.

Drug use is prolific, you now see “zombie” users at junctions of roads begging for money.

Knives are commonly found in schools.

Behaviour in schools is incredibly poor. Each lesson disrupted for at least 20 minutes, teachers treated with racist, sexist taunts. Kids just sent into isolation day after day. Meanwhile the curriculum focuses on ridiculously complex grammar theories.

Areas of the city are not considered safe after dark - parks are unlit and have groups of lone men hanging about. Police resources are scarce.

A&E waits are above 6 hours. Ambulance waits are catastrophic and often have serious wait times to unload. No NHS dentists.

Driving standards have seriously reduced, causing friction, accidents and we see a lot more untaxed / MOT’d cars.

Those living in rural areas or posher parts of cities will not recognise what I’ve written - they’ll write me off as a far right bigot. But I’ll be honest, I’d do anything to move to a nicer area / Europe.

Feel as safe as houses where I live, haven’t seen an increase in crime here

You're right, I was being a little facetious. I realise it's from the news but I also know the news is going nuts at the moment and that in reality the UK (or at least where I am, as that is all I can talk about) is no more dangerous that it was years ago, and certainly no more dangerous than equivalent cities in our European neighbours

Murder rates here
https://www.businessinsider.com/oecd-homicide-rates-chart-2015-6

I think the chart is clearer if you look at it in the link

I live in a v deprived area out in the sticks, so this might not be representative.

Its definitely not dangerous or anything close to dangerous.

The problems I see are…

groups of feral-ish, unparented teens roaming about being antisocial.

the smell of weed everywhere.

‘low-level’ petty (but not if it happens to you) crime not being followed up. I’m thinking shoplifting (which is rife), phone snatching, bike theft, even burglary.

Much the bigger problem is the cost of living, and it’s huge across every conceivable front: transport (petrol & public transport fares), rent / mortgage payments, energy and utility bills, council tax, food… and a threatened income tax hike in the autumn budget.

Sadly, I already know of this starting to happen.

I feel very safe where I live. I feel safe to have my children here. My eldest lives in a city and feels safe there too.Yes some bad things happen but it's not the norm by any stretch of the imagination.

No more so than anywhere else

It's fine here, no more dangerous than anywhere else but the media make it sound as though it is. Most people go through life without seeing any crime other than driving without insurance.

Where I live is a low crime area but if I took noice of my local rag, I'd be scared to go out. Two things have happened in the last couple of years.

There has always been violent crime, when I was young we had the Richardsons on our doorstep.

I wouldn't live anywhere else.

Lots of places here aren’t particularly dangerous. Like anywhere you have to keep your wits about you but generally I don’t feel unsafe in broad daylight in the uk.

It is very expensive though, the cost of living is no joke. Depending on your finances where you are it might be wiser to stay put 🤷🏻‍♀️

Depends on your ethnicity. Racism has become acceptable again and that will only get worse if Reform wins the next election, so if your DD is not white then your husband is right that it might not be great for her. In terms of violent crime then yes Britain is a very safe country, apart from sexual and domestic violence which like many countries we have a continuing epidemic of.

Yes a lot of these 🙄

There is a lot of hype on social media. In real life, it is normal, fairly moderate, Britain. Fair to middling, as my dear dad used to say.

The weather is a bit warmer than the past but still often rainy. Occasionally there are twats on mopeds and e bikes, or painting flags on stuff.

There's always plenty to moan about, because the British do love a good moan.

I live in a city and walk home at night ...alone! 😱

Worst I saw was someone not picking up their dog's shit. Tut.

It’s not far right to say any of these things are happening, they are, it’s just many all of them are down to rising income and wealth inequality and the government financial blackhole caused by various major shocks including Brexit. This is causing massive breakdown in social fabric and civic engagement.

One issue is that the police are neither feared by those that should fear them or respected by the rest of us. They present as Starmer's SS but they look like third rate parking attendants. They are crippled by red tape and undermined by hiring initiatives that mean you end up with people who aren't fit to do the job

I live in a mid sized town which is lovely. Today, I've taken a walk to the local shops and three complete strangers smiled and nodded to me along the way. I have never felt unsafe.

Depends where you live, The mood though is awful.

I've lived in London nearly 40 years. I've lived in a famously 'rough' bit of zone 2 south London for 18 years. I am bringing up two children (now teenagers) here. It's brilliant. I seriously don't recognise the image some sections of social media are portraying.

I haven’t got much hope for the uk in future years. For now it’s okay.

I live in Greater London area..lovely area, very little crime overall. The media hype everything up.

Strangers normally smile around here. Difference is they are normally high on drugs, but still friendly crack heads.

We live here in Somerset: Absolutely love it. Always something lovely to do/see and the people are lovely and very accepting of all nationalities and ways of life. Lots of really good public transport and facilities. I have lived in other areas and here is the best place ever.

I really started to think about this before posting. I do honestly feel safe even though it's in an area that's a bit rough around the edges.

That being said, and it could just be my imagination, but I do feel the slight under current of tension in the air. Like people are taking it for now but are starting to get annoyed that things just aren't working any more. Everything costs more, life is a struggle, there seems less point in trying or working hard.

I live in a great area with wonderful neighbours which really does help.

Coat of living is a nightmare, housing and groceries are ridiculously expensive while wages stagnate.

But no, it's not unsafe. Depends where you live of course but fundamentally, violent crime is down, not up. This is the danger of algorithms on social media giving you more of what you engage in. You see a story about a violent crime or attack and engage with it and it'll give you more of the same.