3 ms·

Do you base this based on numbers or gut feeling? I've always felt unnaturally safe in London despite it being a massive sprawl of people-filled chaos.

asdff 6y ago
Apparently by the numbers, London is less safe than most American cities: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_London
- waihtis 6y ago
  This always requires the question: less safe for who? Per that article, in 2010 the vast majority of violent crime offenders were black - and I wouldn't be surprised if the victim profile would look similar. Pure anecdata, but this was 90% of the news I saw. Gang stabbing in park. Gang stabbing at party. Gang shooting at club.
- bb123 6y ago
  That page contains no comparison with any American cities? Do you have an actual source for your claim?
- TLightful 6y ago
  "Apparently"
biscotti 6y ago
Only 7% of crimes are solved by our police [1]. London is the knife crime capital of the world. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53443246 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53443246
- MaxBarraclough 6y ago
  > Only 7% of crimes are solved by our police Meaningless without comparison to other countries. > London is the knife crime capital of the world. Doubt it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate
  - tfigment 6y ago
    While you may be right, knife crime is not murder. Knife attacks are less deadly than firearms and we dont see breakdown there.
  - biscotti 6y ago
    Whyever would we compare it to other countries? We compare it to the past. The statistics were compiled from 2015 and in just the few years since then solved crimes have halved: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49029545 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49029545. If you and I were to travel back in time to the high trust society before mass surveilance & enquired our police wouldn't deny they held the the monopoly on violence. My friends in the forces of today tell me they feel under siege most days. Apologies, "London is the knife crime capital of the world." is part of the venacular here akin to "The man who broke the Bank of England".
    - MaxBarraclough 6y ago
      Good points.
raxxorrax 6y ago
You should certainly feel safe in London, but you can also feel safe in Paris, Berlin or Amsterdam. That was the argument, your re-framing quite deceptive. Numbers are difficult to compare since data collection mechanisms are subject to change, but here you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_London The need for CCTV is marketing and gut feeling from my perspective because the numbers say it didn't do much.
- waihtis 6y ago
  Thanks - didn't mean to push an agenda for CCTV, just to be clear.
- tim333 6y ago
  London used to be safer 30 years ago before all the CCTV. There are many factors involved.
- dx034 6y ago
  A few years back I read a statistic in the economist that said CCTV coverage in areas reduces crimes at night to the same degree as better lighting. Sure, there is an effect but it can easily be achieved with other methods as well.

asdff 6y ago

Apparently by the numbers, London is less safe than most American cities: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_London

waihtis 6y ago
This always requires the question: less safe for who? Per that article, in 2010 the vast majority of violent crime offenders were black - and I wouldn't be surprised if the victim profile would look similar. Pure anecdata, but this was 90% of the news I saw. Gang stabbing in park. Gang stabbing at party. Gang shooting at club.
bb123 6y ago
That page contains no comparison with any American cities? Do you have an actual source for your claim?
TLightful 6y ago
"Apparently"

biscotti 6y ago

Only 7% of crimes are solved by our police [1]. London is the knife crime capital of the world. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53443246 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53443246

MaxBarraclough 6y ago
> Only 7% of crimes are solved by our police Meaningless without comparison to other countries. > London is the knife crime capital of the world. Doubt it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_by_murder_rate
- tfigment 6y ago
  While you may be right, knife crime is not murder. Knife attacks are less deadly than firearms and we dont see breakdown there.
- biscotti 6y ago
  Whyever would we compare it to other countries? We compare it to the past. The statistics were compiled from 2015 and in just the few years since then solved crimes have halved: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49029545 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-49029545. If you and I were to travel back in time to the high trust society before mass surveilance & enquired our police wouldn't deny they held the the monopoly on violence. My friends in the forces of today tell me they feel under siege most days. Apologies, "London is the knife crime capital of the world." is part of the venacular here akin to "The man who broke the Bank of England".
  - MaxBarraclough 6y ago
    Good points.

raxxorrax 6y ago

You should certainly feel safe in London, but you can also feel safe in Paris, Berlin or Amsterdam. That was the argument, your re-framing quite deceptive. Numbers are difficult to compare since data collection mechanisms are subject to change, but here you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_London https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crime_in_London The need for CCTV is marketing and gut feeling from my perspective because the numbers say it didn't do much.

waihtis 6y ago
Thanks - didn't mean to push an agenda for CCTV, just to be clear.
tim333 6y ago
London used to be safer 30 years ago before all the CCTV. There are many factors involved.
dx034 6y ago
A few years back I read a statistic in the economist that said CCTV coverage in areas reduces crimes at night to the same degree as better lighting. Sure, there is an effect but it can easily be achieved with other methods as well.