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Is London safe?
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Busaholic
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I hesitate to join in here, because my experiences and that of my late wife were back in the 1980s, but I was mugged twice, and her once, in the London Borough of Lewisham, which Deptford is in. One of the occasions was when I was walking from New Cross Station down towards Deptford Broadway, and the other two were near railway stations too i.e. Hither Green and Blackheath, all were in the evening, well before midnight. The third one, involving my wife, led directly to our decision to leave the capital for good, a big one to make for a S.E. Londoner like myself. In general, I would suggest that some of the National Rail stations in the area, unless their surroundings have changed greatly, are probably best avoided in the evening e.g. Deptford, St Johns, New Cross(?) and, a little bit away from where you're going but one that I've encountered more recently, Brixton on Railton Road where I felt too intimidated to go up the stairs to access the platforms at 7 p.m. by the group of young men loitering there.
Having said all that, I'm sure you won't have any problems, especially if you use Deptford Bridge DLR as others have suggested.
Having said all that, I'm sure you won't have any problems, especially if you use Deptford Bridge DLR as others have suggested.
Muggings nationwide are down by something stupid like 90% since the late 80s, and much of London has been transformed beyond recognition. This is about as valid as complaining that you have to go through Checkpoint Charlie to get round central Berlin.
DelayRepay
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I lived in South East London for about five years. Never had any bother and never felt particularly unsafe. Just be aware of your surroundings and if you're on your own at night try to keep to main roads where there's traffic. There's always traffic in London!
Actually, there was one night when I was on my way home and I felt really uneasy. But that was a night in August 2011 when rioting broke out across the capital, so I think my unease was justified!
Actually, there was one night when I was on my way home and I felt really uneasy. But that was a night in August 2011 when rioting broke out across the capital, so I think my unease was justified!
Class800
Established Member
Yes I've lived in London most of my life and it's generally safe - it's very rare to get into trouble unless you seek it or behave stupidly. Deptford and Greenwich is not the poshest area but it's not that rough at all. I'd say you can do anything within reason you'd like
Busaholic
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I wasn't 'complaining' about anything, just relating my personal experience. London has certainly not been transformed beyond recognition with its crime figures relating to knife crime, which while down a little because of covid restrictions in the last couple of years are way up on 2010, which in turn were well up from the 1980s. The homicide rate has also increased quite a bit since then too. I can't find 'mugging' figures easily, but if you can provide the evidence (I note your vague 'nationwide', though) please do so, and I'll forward them to Mayor Khan so that he needn't bang on unnecessarily about the unacceptable levels of violence in the capital. In the latest available figures, the South/SouthEast Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark had the highest increases, rather than the usual North and East London suspects.
DelayRepay
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I think knife attacks on strangers are incredibly rare. There is a problem with knife crime in London but it's between gangs, not attacks on random members of the public.
I live in Southwark, residents are aware of the rising trend, figures for incidents per capita quoted by official bodies are not really a fair and valid indicator of the control of the situation, the incidents figures reduce , not because the situation is under control by Policing measures, although those measures are applauded, but residents compensate for the risk by a change their habits, stay indoors more of the time or do not go out at night, avoid visiting public amenities such as Parks, basically the public constrain their activities due to fear or perception of being a crime victim
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It is a serious post, a TV documentary on pickpocketing described the technique as a form of hypnotic induction upon the victim, where the victim reduces self-assertion and becomes controllable and open to suggestion.
But of course you are welcome to your personal opinions.
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DarloRich
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I am entitled to my opinion and that opinion is that this is bunkum! it is a fairly standard street robbery distraction approach. Nothing fancy.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Exactly this. It's certainly happening, and some of it is downright tragic (e.g. teenagers getting in with the wrong crowd), but if you go to London you are very, very unlikely to get involved in it. Which is quite different from some other similar world cities where it's more about muggings etc where you might be at considerable risk.
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Agreed. Was said programme sensationalist tripe on ITV perhaps? I find I never watch that channel these days.
DustyBin
Established Member
I also agree; the prolific gang violence in London distorts the picture somewhat.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Who is suggesting that?
DarloRich
Veteran Member
Daily Mail and other right wing on line commentators.
( the same kind of people who make videos on you tube saying there are no go areas in London)
Bletchleyite
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Daily Mail and other right wing on line commentators.
Best ignored, then.
One thing about London is that it's an incredibly expensive place to live. Thus, anyone who doesn't like living there is strongly motivated to move somewhere else. Because so much is saved on housing costs by moving out of London, the same job can often still be done but as a commute and still be quids in.
There may be people who don't go out much *in the evening* because they don't feel safe walking alone in the dark (in particular older women, e.g. my Mum doesn't like going out alone at night despite living in an incredibly posh area with near enough zero crime "against the person"), but that isn't purely a London thing and is often just perception and not reality.
I guess there's always more of a perceived threat or risk with somewhere you are unfamiliar with.
For example I first visited downtown San Francisco (alone, on a trip to attend a conference a bit further down the coast) in December 1996 when, as you can imagine, it got dark very early, albeit not quite as bad as here in December (probably about the same as Southern England right now, i.e. around 4.45pm).
In my head big American cities had a "reputation" so I remember being very wary after dark, and didn't really explore much in the evening hours, even though I knew where the unsafe areas were and thus knew where to avoid. I remember feeling safe until about 6.30pm or so, while it was still rush hour, but very wary after that - perhaps unduly so.
For example I first visited downtown San Francisco (alone, on a trip to attend a conference a bit further down the coast) in December 1996 when, as you can imagine, it got dark very early, albeit not quite as bad as here in December (probably about the same as Southern England right now, i.e. around 4.45pm).
In my head big American cities had a "reputation" so I remember being very wary after dark, and didn't really explore much in the evening hours, even though I knew where the unsafe areas were and thus knew where to avoid. I remember feeling safe until about 6.30pm or so, while it was still rush hour, but very wary after that - perhaps unduly so.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Milton Keynes' subways are one of the biggest ones. The stats show that almost no crime takes place in them, but people fear them nonetheless.
The knife crime stats in London are worrying, but I’d say that the general visitor is very unlikely to be caught up in a knife crime, especially if they follow the advice many have said here.
I know people who haven’t been to London for years because they are scared of being attacked, and have an impression of it being ‘out of control’ and a ‘no go zone’ thanks to the sensationalist media. I think these people are really missing out, and just as likely to be affected by knife crime in the provincial town. Knife crime has become an issue in my large town outside London. Although, I say ‘become’ but I also think it’s become much easier to be aware of all the crime stories.
I know people who haven’t been to London for years because they are scared of being attacked, and have an impression of it being ‘out of control’ and a ‘no go zone’ thanks to the sensationalist media. I think these people are really missing out, and just as likely to be affected by knife crime in the provincial town. Knife crime has become an issue in my large town outside London. Although, I say ‘become’ but I also think it’s become much easier to be aware of all the crime stories.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
Those same people also thought they would absolutely certainly get blown up if they went on the Tube, without paying attention to the fact that even if there was a "7/7" style attack taking place every single day (rather than once ever) you'd still have a tiny chance of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Some people are, sadly, just scared of their own shadow and live in permanent fear.
This would appear to be one of the down sides to the Internet and particularly social media. It seems to amplify news,which is usually bad or negative and attenuates the good stuff. We have visited most of the major cities in Britain and a fair few in Europe over the years and had very few negative encounters. My wife happily visits London on her own at night for evening classes and merely plans appropriately. She knows where she is going, wears her Dr Martins and keeps her handbag small and under her coat. Never had a problem. Having said that she has seen some interesting sights . At four foot eleven she is not the most imposing of people but refuses to live in fear of what might never happen. We need to keep lifes risks in proportion and accept that bad things can happen but not let it influence what we do, merely how we do it.
I found it incredible to recently speak to an American colleague who lived in Florida. I asked about him visiting Europe but he was terrified of terrorist attack. On a similar note though a friend used to date a mexican girl and was a bit worried about visiting due to the crime situation there. Their family thought it was hilarious that someone would be afraid of that
Thanks for the advice all, certainly helped put me at ease, whilst I intend on having a few I certainly won't be raging drunk and won't go around looking for trouble or flashing expensive gadgets about, I'll be getting the tube and then DLR back to Deptford Bridge and I'm sure there will be quite a few people around even late at night.
This is exactly the right attitude to take.
Despite the statistics, many people in London go out for the evening and don't end up being victims of crime.
Have a good time.
Bletchleyite
Veteran Member
ChrisC
Established Member
I live in a village where once it gets dark, apart from the occasional person going in and out of the village pub, you see no one. Once it gets dark the village is deserted and there are only a few street lights. Therefore most parts of London at night are a complete contrast to what I’m used to. It always amazes me how busy London is during the night and how much traffic is on the roads.
However, despite this contrast I have rarely felt unsafe in London even if out during the night. On my occasional visits I sometimes meet up with friends and once we get talking I’ve sometimes missed the last tube and had to get the night bus. I always try to choose a hotel in a reasonably busy location or in a quiet safe area which is close to the tube or night buses. I think you just need to be sensible and not to change buses in a rough area on an unknown housing estate where gangs might operate. I walk purposely to and from tube stations and bus stops to my hotel and don’t walk aimlessly in unfamiliar areas. I would never walk around displaying my phone and I don’t carry any valuables, very little money and just my Oyster card. I actually usually feel much safer out at night in most parts of London than I do in many provincial towns.
The only time I’ve ever felt unsafe and frightened in London was in daylight on a Sunday afternoon. I had been doing a long enjoyable walk up the Lea Valley and cut through some streets to get the tube back to my hotel from Severn Sisters Station. I didn’t like the atmosphere in some of those streets of South Tottenham and although I wasn’t attacked I was very glad to get to the tube.
Humour: there's a man in London who is mugged every 7 minutes, he's getting pretty sick of it now.
DustyBin
Established Member
Earlier in the year my wife and I enjoyed a lovely week in Albania. Most people we talk to about it are amazed we survived to tell the tale!
Next the media will be talking about doing Cake.
Last time I was in Miami, I met a woman who asked if: a) Birmingham was a "no go" area; and b) Jewish people were fleeing Europe for Israel for their own safety. She had the wit to check when she met someone randomly (in a church) but other will have just swallowed the lies.
OP - I live in London and the risks here are low (and not much different to most urban parts of the UK). Just be aware of your surroundings, as you should anywhere. Deptford used to be a bit rough but I went there not long ago and it's been gentrified!
Tetchytyke
Veteran Member
As others have said, the crime in London is largely driven by gangs stabbing and shooting other gangs.
The biggest risk in London is mobile phone theft, I've known a few get caught by people riding past on bikes, and they're savvy but just got distracted for a minute. But- unpleasant as it is- a ride-by mugging doesn't tend to be violent.
The biggest risk in London is mobile phone theft, I've known a few get caught by people riding past on bikes, and they're savvy but just got distracted for a minute. But- unpleasant as it is- a ride-by mugging doesn't tend to be violent.
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