London

hapy
By hapy

I am going to London, alone, next month. Is it as safe as it used to be few years ago?
Heard a lot about gangs in London.
Which areas are safe.
Is it okay to go out at night?

By AWKHAN• 5 Jan 2009 16:46
AWKHAN

jauntie dear when we will talk about gujarat, we will sure remeber your comment with thanks- by the way nice information somthing I may not get by other mean, thank you again.

awkhan

By mjamille28• 5 Jan 2009 15:12
Rating: 2/5
mjamille28

well said SN,... truly, "nowhere anywhere is safe"... if something is bound to happen, it'll happen, it doesn't matter where or when...

By anonymous• 5 Jan 2009 15:10
anonymous

Nowhere in London is 'safe', nowhere anywhere is 'safe'......just be vigilent and watch your back and bag for that matter........

By souls33k3r• 5 Jan 2009 11:03
Rating: 2/5
souls33k3r

Right i'm in London so i guess i can give you a bit better insight ... London is safe as long as you keep your head down :-P honestly can't get any simpler than that ... i've been living in London for the past 5 years, so i know what i'm talking about ... i used to live in stratford which was supposed to be one of the corrupt towns and avoided going out late nights but still never used to get any trouble by the gangs ... Central london on the other hand is safe, you tend to have police all over the place which gives you a bit of a breather. Visitors should only be aware of the scams, if they say it's cheap or free then it's most likely a scam and you're being ripped off well ... the only places in london which i would suggest you to avoid (unless you're with someone) is North or South london ... besides that, everything is just fine ... hope this helps

By tallg• 5 Jan 2009 08:00
Rating: 5/5
tallg

Good list SANic.

UKEng - I don't think I'd call London one of the safest cities in the World. Far from it in fact. Though I expect statistics can be used to show it's the safest and also the least safest!

But either way there's definitely no reason for people to be afraid of visiting it.

By SANic• 4 Jan 2009 23:11
Rating: 5/5
SANic

I was just in London for New Years and didn't bump into any gangs or anything...man I must've been going to the wrong places!!!

EVERY big city has high crime rates - and if you choose to live in fear and miss out on life then how sad is that!

So hapy - since no-one so far has given you place names here goes - Covent Garden, Piccadily, Regent St, Oxford St, Holland Park, Notting Hill, Kensington, Chelsea, Putney, Embankment, South Bank, Greenwich - all good, lots to do - great nightlife, easy public transport and good fun!

By GodFather.• 4 Jan 2009 22:38
GodFather.

Yep Red Ken any day over that husky Johnson

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HE WHO DARES WINS

By britexpat• 4 Jan 2009 22:34
britexpat

So you're one of Ken's boys who took the taxpayer for a ride (pardon the pun)and made a packet...

By GodFather.• 4 Jan 2009 22:31
GodFather.

Thanks Jauntie.. for the information. That will keep him quite for a while. He has been posting shit all day like that crowd in the market thread.

My last job was working for TfL (Transport for London) and I was part of the visit london program to do with the transport for the visitors.

Definately London is one of the safest cities in the world.

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HE WHO DARES WINS

By jauntie• 4 Jan 2009 22:26
jauntie

standards.

Friday, Oct 12, 2007

“Gujarat now stands fifth in the country in high crime rates”

AHMEDABAD: In an open challenge to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, his predecessor and senior BJP leader Suresh Mehta asked him to “keep his promise” and immediately quit public life in view of the fast deteriorating law and order situation in the State....

... Mr. Mehta said the police and the senior officials in the government took “inspiration” from above” and were encouraged to indulge in unlawful activities.

In one year alone, 375 police personnel from the ranks of Additional Director General to constable were behind bars in the State. The detection of crime rate was as low as 18 to 30 per cent in different categories....

http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/12/stories/2007101250800300.htm

By GodFather.• 4 Jan 2009 21:49
Rating: 5/5
GodFather.

Thankyou onefatamerican for the statistics.. Just for you information Metropiltan police cover 34 boroughs and 10, million londoners, so the statistics are not bad.

Yep there are areas that are no goes. But certainly not where the a normal tourist will be wondering. Stick to Central London and you will be OK

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HE WHO DARES WINS

By britexpat• 4 Jan 2009 21:48
britexpat

That photo is an old one.. I'm riding a Harley now, but it keeps breaking down..

By tallg• 4 Jan 2009 21:41
Rating: 4/5
tallg

As you may have gathered hapy, awkhan has obviously had a bad experience and feels the need to scare everyone else off because of this. While I sympathise with what happened to him, and realise that sometimes these things occur for no apparent reason, I will 99% guarantee that the same thing wont happen to you (unless you go round giving them a reason to!).

As I said, stick to the usual tourist places and you'll be fine, as long as you keep your wits about you as you would anywhere in the world. London is an awesome city. You'll love it.

By onefatamerican• 4 Jan 2009 21:06
onefatamerican

These are the 'official'crime figures for London for the financial year 2007 - 2008:

http://www.met.police.uk/crimestatistics/2008/2008_yend.xls

You wouldn't be far off if you multiply the figures by 5-10 times across certain crimes because most people don't report the crime.

Yes, London may have a 'good\ nightlife or some nice attractions but lets not neglect the facts that crime is high..I think 1 murder is too much but hey maybe 156 murders in London last year is ok for some or 2000 reported rapes is something people can live with etc but for me this truly defines that London and like most of the western world, it is on the decline.

And you may not be affected by crime whilst visiting but it is increasingly likely that you will.. Therefore be extra cautious whilst in London or any other western city.

Then again, it so safe that they really don't need all the thousands of CCTV which captures you about 300 times a day.

By qatari-princess• 4 Jan 2009 20:57
qatari-princess

HHHHHH...Okey UkEngQatar!!

By Platao36• 4 Jan 2009 20:56
Platao36

hmm, lets be positive ;)

Only God Can Judge Me

الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي

I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer

أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ

By GodFather.• 4 Jan 2009 20:54
GodFather.

QP..By the time he decides I will gone and back again..lol

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HE WHO DARES WINS

By Platao36• 4 Jan 2009 20:52
Platao36

QP: Rofl

Only God Can Judge Me

الله فقط يمكنه محاكمتي

I am you and you are me, if you love i love, if you suffer i suffer

أنا أنت, و أنت أنا, إذا أحببت نفسك أحببت نفسي, إذا عانيتَ عانيتُ

By qatari-princess• 4 Jan 2009 20:50
qatari-princess

HAAAA... hapy,,

After all this fuss....

all the wonderful suggestions from our beloved QLers,...

I am asking u...

to answer me..

truly..

honestly..

ARE U STILL GOING TO LoNdOn?!!!

^_^

The curiosity is KILLEN Me!!!!

???

By GodFather.• 4 Jan 2009 20:48
GodFather.

Pope is that me and Brit you got there?...lol

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HE WHO DARES WINS

By anonymous• 4 Jan 2009 20:42
anonymous

You could always hire the local security. Just tell them that you work and live in Qatar.

By GodFather.• 4 Jan 2009 20:42
GodFather.

Supernurse is that why you left? I love it All because I am Londoner...

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HE WHO DARES WINS

By anonymous• 4 Jan 2009 20:36
anonymous

well as a southerner I should be pro our capital city really......

By britexpat• 4 Jan 2009 20:33
Rating: 4/5
britexpat

I take exception to that.. Hrrrmph ... Hrrmmph... The night life is indeed great and central london is a real hive of activity..

By anonymous• 4 Jan 2009 20:29
anonymous

Its the worst place on Earth!! Dirty, crappy weather, miserable people.....nightlife is fab tho.....wear a knife/bullet proof vest and don't expect anyone to talk to you! Have fun!

By qatari-princess• 4 Jan 2009 20:13
qatari-princess

Mmmm, Awkhan...what specifically is ^your duty???^

...

and hapy, London is a great city, lovely, amazing and pretty much organized. NOT safe though, do becareful!!!

By AWKHAN• 4 Jan 2009 19:47
AWKHAN

I realy like note of friend Matty.What he said yes I admit it is right and I think, I successfully hit my aim.

Thank you Matty I know what you mean.

awkhan

By anonymous• 4 Jan 2009 19:43
anonymous

Gawd....don't go out alone the place is the pits! Eeek!

By MattyHardingLower• 4 Jan 2009 19:39
Rating: 4/5
MattyHardingLower

Please shut up. I am from London. Your comments are ridiculous and ill advised. London is probably the most multi-cultural city in Europe.

Hapy, dont do anything in London you wouldnt do anywhere else in the world. Take all the usual precautions. It's a great city. Dont let people like AWKHAN, force you too hide away in your Hotel during your visit. Of course you have to be careful, but its no worse than anywhere else. You wouldnt walk down a dark side street on your own late at night in Doha, so dont do it in London.

Just be sensible.

. [URL=http://www.avatarist.com]Avatars[/URL]

By AWKHAN• 4 Jan 2009 19:39
Rating: 5/5
AWKHAN

very nice you went in 2003,but you know after lot of water gone from thames.Checking id is not matter but stoping you on road by 20 officers,one checking body,one is veryfy your documents one asking questian,your car is being check by dog squad during this time your hands are up like thives or criminal and I amazed when I saw catagories of people.....like african,asian,carabian,middle eastern,far eastern,black.

NO WHITES.

LONDON IS GOOD AND ORGANIZE, I AGREE,CRIMES ARE EVERY WHERE IN WORLD, I AGREE.BUT WHY EACH SINGLE SQ.FOOT LAND IS COVERED BY CCTV IN LONDON? FOR WHAT?MY RAMUKAKA SLEEPS OUT SIDE OF HIS HUT IN INDIA.

awkhan

By irf77• 4 Jan 2009 18:56
Rating: 5/5
irf77

Hi bad start of week with crashed hard disk weird thing is I moved harddisk to external case connected it to different computer for data recovery but as soon as it detect external usb it crashes the other computer as well

Now going to hand over to professional data recovery ppl and need u r advise what would u recommend iin terms of cost service level etc if u have experienced any data recovery

Thanks in advance

By GodFather.• 4 Jan 2009 18:55
GodFather.

Yep we have very good public transport and taxi when you need them to get you from anywhere to anwhere. Like you said you have been there so no problem. You can go out and enjoy yourself and return safely.

You asked about the gangs. You are not a memeber of a gang so what you worried about, normally they are fighting each other, hardly seen picking on others.

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HE WHO DARES WINS

By wol1• 4 Jan 2009 18:34
wol1

Much safer.

You don't have to dodge Landcruisers...

By GodFather.• 4 Jan 2009 18:32
Rating: 4/5
GodFather.

OK hapy me old mucker..

London is one of the safest places in Europe if you just be a little aware of the do and don'ts. You mentioned that you went in 2003 and found the police very helpful.

I lived all my life there. Crime is everywhere. You can get robbed here in Qatar as you can anywhere in the world. No problem you can go out at night and return back any time of the night.

As it is my home I would say you will have no problem just follow the advice from tallg and Brit above.

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HE WHO DARES WINS

By hapy• 4 Jan 2009 18:24
hapy

Awkhan, i went to London in 2003 and actually found the police quite helpful. If they are going to check ID or stuff i don't have problem with that, i will be worried if they just lock up people without any reason.

By hapy• 4 Jan 2009 18:20
hapy

Thanx tallg, are there any specific areas that i should avoid?

By AWKHAN• 4 Jan 2009 18:15
Rating: 3/5
AWKHAN

since 92 I am regularly going to uk in line of my duty,yearly 2 months I stay there and what I wrote with personal exprience.do you want proof with documents?I have it.Why that poor brazilian was shot dead in underground? just for his middle eastern look? this is not me all news papers of uk said.why second Blair was charged for racisum(well charges were setteled out side,under table)Mr.Tallg I spoke with proof only.

awkhan

By tallg• 4 Jan 2009 18:04
tallg

Ignore the scare-mongers - there's no "anty terror squad" hassling tourists.

By DaRuDe• 4 Jan 2009 16:42
Rating: 5/5
DaRuDe

then dont go no one is forcing you to go.

By Alex J• 4 Jan 2009 16:40
Alex J

But if you find the thought of going frightening...Id be happy to relieve you of your ticket :)

By Alex J• 4 Jan 2009 16:39
Alex J

Londons great. Just need to be street wise like in any other country

By britexpat• 4 Jan 2009 16:37
Rating: 3/5
britexpat

Central London is a mixture of all nationalities and ethnicities. I have never seen the "Anti terror squad" hasseling tourists.

By AWKHAN• 4 Jan 2009 16:34
Rating: 5/5
AWKHAN

London have two kind of problems.If you are in Hackny or Elephent & castle, protect your mobile phone from gang and if you are in centeral London, you can not keep away your self from terror of anty terror squad.They target only asian and Arab looking tourist

good luck

awkhan

By tallg• 4 Jan 2009 16:00
Rating: 4/5
tallg

You'll be fine if you stick to the tourist areas and take the usual precautions you would in any city.

By umm-salayum• 4 Jan 2009 15:57
umm-salayum

so I read on the BBC news a while back..... so not a nice place to go to

By tubelight• 4 Jan 2009 15:45
tubelight

your question has brought a smile to my face. its fine in London.. just be a little careful at night (after 11) like you would be in any big city.

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