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(I posted this on another UK thread earlier today)

We just got back from a 2 week UK vacation. What a sorry situation.

Our first day in London, while eating dinner, we caught an 'immigrant' with his hand in my wife's purse. I threatened to cut him, if he didn't depart hastily and he was dumbfounded. I gathered they are not used to victims fighting back. This was in South Kensington, a supposed 'good' area, near a tube stop. We did look for a cop on the street after dinner and never spotted one in the neighborhood the entire 5 days we stayed there. (I took my Benchmade Griptillian folder with me and carried it the entire time in my back pocket. I did not show it to the lowlife with his hand in my wife's purse, but was prepared to..)

Everywhere in London there are posters warning the 'sheep' to watch their bags and belongings, but none warning the miscreants of the consequences of their actions.

There are posters everywhere warning the population against verbally or physically assaulting minorities, immigrants, women, gays and other protected groups. This is now considered a serious crime.

BTW, by recent decree of Parliament, homosexuals are now known officially as 'those attracted to those of the same sex'.

Things were better outside of London, but the thought-crime posters are everywhere. Overall we had a good time, but I doubt we would ever go back.

Oddly enough, we found the people in Paris more open and friendly when we visited there, 5 years ago.

I may decide to post a new thread about all of my observations while there.

"I may decide to post a new thread about all of my observations while there."

That would be very interesting. Please ping me if you do.

There are posters everywhere warning the population against verbally or physically assaulting minorities, immigrants, women, gays and other protected groups. This is now considered a serious crime.

Yep. It's now reached the point that if you do have to defend yourself, you might as well kill your attacker and leave the scene, hopefully leaving noone to identify you. What are they going to do, call you a criminal?

-archy-/-

I just got back from england, lived in Reading, Berkshire for 3 months and I do have to tell you, statistics say that in Reading there is less crime, and it has fallen by 2%. Now, I'm not sure who is telling what, and whomever wants to bullshit then I guess we don't have much choice in the matter. The only way to know anything is to go and do our own research. Now as for some crimes, which are everywhere and anywhere, no matter who you are, we can't just assume that just because something happend to us over seas that this is something to be expected. I lived in Reading for 3 months and felt safer than anywhere that i have ever lived, even compared to my own country; i felt safe leaving my home and going about town on my own (of course, when it's late you want to make sure you are with someone, it's common sense for anyone don't you think?)
and even safer in my home in Reading. I had a great experience, and would I go back? Yes! I would even consider living in Reading, but of course, that wouldn't be a simple solution where immigration is concerned, etc.
It doesn't matter where we live, crime is there and it will always be there. I just found it to be a much better place in Reading and I have enjoyed it so much and have never had a problem there, or in London (I advise everyone to get familiar with the London boroughs and know where the safer areas are, for instance, I would stay away from Hackney and Southwark. I guess we all have the unfortunate situation where we will be in contact with some kind of crime, sometime in our lives. My own mother, who has lived in the same house for over 20 years, in the same neighborhood for over 30 years, has been mugged, a thug went up to her and grabbed her purse, and ran back into the car and drove away. We also have been robbed a few years ago, while we were all at work and came home to find our home all messed up and they stole the television, vcr, jewelery, etc....just the thought of having someone go through our personal items and in our house was distrubing enough...and this was done in the middle of the day, SO MUCH FOR KNOWING YOUR NEIGHBORS THESE DAYS!!!!!!!!
Just last year, I had someone come to my door, early in the morning asking me if we have an apartment for rent, the funny thing is we didn't and this man just came and knocked on the door, 8:00a.m. in the morning. It is obvious that this was some kind of joke and this man was trying to rob us, and who knows what else. Another day, just a week or so later, we had some other man come to the door and ask me if I knew anything about the disease of the black man, meaning hypertension..and i said I wasn't interested. He took his time leaving the building and when he reached out side he knew I was going to look at him to see his face, but he looked elsewhere, and walked away. From the description the police had he had a newspaper wrapped around his hand, meaning he had a gun, or a knife under there. Well, my neighbors are as blind as a new born baby, they couldn't care less about anything, and then they wonder why there is so much crime in their area? We are so blind to everything, and I have been one to stress the importance of locking your doors, even in the daytime as you go out to the garden, etc...you never know! It doesn't hurt to look out your window to see if you notice anything strange, you should make a habit of recognizing your neighbors, etc. I prefer England because I just felt safer there and I knew that I wanted to live there as well. I thought the people were amazingly friendly, kind, and very polite. I guess to each is own.

I am planning a trip to the U.K. this fall. As soon as I land in London I plan to head North as quickly as possible to escape what you have described. I've always believed that the real England is in the villages and smaller towns. Hope the rot of group think has not reached Norfolk but I fear I may return with the same impression. I lived there from 92-95 and have only been back once about seven years ago. I'm hoping that at least my old pub has not changed and the beer is still good.

ping me also...thanks