I'm an American who has been living in Britain for the last few years (work...blah...coming home in a few days!), but I totally disagree with that. I've never been afraid here, and I don't know anyone who is either, and I live in a rough neighborhood (New Cross). I worry more when I'm back home in Chicago than I do here, and I always have.
You're comparing Britain with one of America's murder capitols. The Brits are comparing present day Britain with what it used to be like twenty or thirty years ago.
I doubt even in Chicago, the police would arrest an old lady for poking a young man in the chest since during the altercation she suffers a broken arm.
Troll alert. anthropos a member since August 18, 2006! I'd be worried too if I was in Chicago, since Emperor Daley believes his subjects should all be disarmed (except for the police, criminals and aldermen, who are probably criminals anyway). I've heard way too many stories about crime in England, cooked statistics, their leniency towards criminals and their harshness for anyone who dares to defend themselves. I feel much safer in Alaska, where I can legally carry a concealed weapon and defend my loved ones and myself.