Have uk cities really became this unsafe?

[Electricblankettime]

I live in a small town and love the countryside life. Recentlhly had to go to a big city. Groups of men hanging around staring like thry had never seen a woman before were intimidating so overly persistent men approaching and following felt terrifying. Men pestering when minding my own business and scaring me.

I thought it was a one of freak thing but when discussing with other women they have said thars just what its like now. I feel very naive as where I live I can go anywhere at any hour and feel safe. When did the world change? Ive travelled worldwide and aa a solo female plenty and never had problems like this. Not been into a city for years and it feels so different.

Do other women feel safety in cities has changed o was I just unlucky?

What difference would the city make? Im feeling a bit of hostility here for raising an issue that was very upsetting.

Yup. See here :

"The latest figures from the Home Office have revealed that Middlesbrough now has the highest crime rate in the country, excluding central London."

That is a quote from this article in Sept this year.

Most dangerous town in England and Wales with the highest crime rate in the country - The Mirror

And that is a small town. It has been in the news recently too. As you say, even in your small town you still need to take care. So I am not seeing what could have changed in a way, because unfortunately everywhere is dangerous for women.

In your OP you said " Ive travelled worldwide and aa a solo female plenty and never had problems like this."

But even in the small Scottish town I was brought up in during the 80s, there were areas best avoided. The "Glue sniffer" areas, then it was the "Buckie Corner". I remember the Police being on the telly when serial killers were active, giving advice. So I am not really fully getting this small town v city thing.

If you won’t name the city, it’s difficult to take this at face value. The fact you’re now asking what difference it makes only makes it sound more dubious.

Why wouldn't you name the city?

You’ve started a thread claiming that uk cities (plural) are unsafe. The uk is a densely populated country with lots of cities. I live in one of them and visit many others frequently. I haven’t seen anything that is familiar with your experience so would be interested to know the specific area you’re talking about.

This is an anonymous forum so it’s hard to fathom what’s stopping you naming it.

So you live in a small town and visited the city that you’re not prepared to name.

When I lived in the countryside I found my tolerance for city life went down and I found them huge, dirty, loud, dangerous.

But now I’m living in a city again and they’re back to a bit grubby, lots of parks, normal volume, not particularly dangerous, busy and exciting.

I think your tolerance might have just gone down somewhat?

Time after time studies show that there was plenty of crime in the past, it just wasn’t known about because we didn’t have the internet etc.

TLDR: Russia is more dangerous than the UK.

Domestic violence was decriminalised in Russia.

I suppose we did have kids sniffing glue in the park and drinking MD20/20 and Buckie behind the community centre before the under 18s disco but I was never scared of that. Its the unsolicited men approaching thing. I suppose with the small town thing you know who to warch for and I've just never been stared at or approached and harassed by men here or if they did bother u telling them to go away worked fine.

Is not naming the city the new ‘not naming my husband's hobby because it’s outing’?

It’s cycling. It’s always cycling.

A Scottish city? Just name it.

There are parts of every city in every country that feel less safe than other parts.

Im a city girl at heart and I dont agree UK cities feel unsafe. in fact some have become far better than they were a few decades ago. I find walking round Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam feel a but more on edge.

I honestly feel safer in central London versus travelling by train/tube out to zones 2/3.

What I dont like is groups of men or youths together loitering, but where I am this is as rare as hens teeth.

I think we worry more now because we are told by the press that everyone on a boat is a criminal/terrorists/paedo/rapist so it's causing many Brits to feel anxious.

I also think the press highlights innocents getting caught up in fights and getting injured or killed by knife, machete and gun welding gangs...!

my advuse is keep your eyes peeled and ears open. walk like you belong there, confident (no swagger) and walk proficiently. when you look the part people bother you less.

And we’re still waiting for the name of “the city”

Oh she/he couldn’t possibly tell you that. It’s ‘outing’. And irrelevant to the story about Bad People.

Is there maybe a perception thing going on here ?

And please don't take this the wrong way. This is about exploring why you felt in danger in a city v a small town. Because statistically, yes cities have more crime, but even small towns are in no way crime free.

For example. I think if someone was to only read GB news and the Mail, it might alter one's perception. In the same way I suppose, that if one was to binge watch " Midsomer Murders", one would not want to set foot in any small UK town.

This Russian obsession is weird but if its true that DV has been decriminalised there that's awful. Maybe worthy of it's own thread rather than derailing mine. Women everywhere should be free of DV .

I saw a man get run over by a lawnmower in Midsomer once. Very violent area.

🤣🤣

Put your own thread back on its rails by naming the city in question. You're being very odd it must be said.

Name the city.

Oh yes the BAD PEOPLE

Yes and everyone just looks at the floor when walking past them. It's like a humiliation ritual we are forced to participate in.