[RANGERAIRBORNE]

This is not surprising if you have read Anthony Dalrymple's extremely depressing book, "LIFE AT THE BOTTOM".It is directed at the breakdown of civilization in the UK due to the welfare state, but has a chapter on crime in New Zealand that is a real eye-opener.

I heartily recommend reading this book before you set up a trip to the UK or New Zealand.

[proxy_user]

I have read this book. However, I still cannot believe there is five times more crime in England than in Russia. These official statistics must be BS.

[SamAdams76]

Pick up practically any Charles Dickens novel (i.e. Oliver Twist) and you will see that grinding poverty and high crime rates are nothing new to England. I think that the lack of guns definitely emboldens criminals wherever stringent gun control laws are in place, but much of urban England has been a cesspool for centuries.

[beaversmom]

I don't know much about New Zealand, but I'm surprised that they have so much crime. I pictured it as just a really green country with lots of sheep--shows what I know.