It would be interesting to see the nature of these crimes, and how serious they are and where they are taking place geographically, for instance the crime rate will seem high to someone who lives in rural suffolk. However in the big cities, urban areas stabbings, murders are every day occurences within the UK. I think there might be a few people who look at stats to literally, what about all the crimes that are not reported, granted the same applies in OZ but at the moment I see it all around me, people are terrified of the hooded little shitbags that crawl the streets.

I think a few people are commenting on crime in the UK from their safe havens! I am off to Rocky and I know it will be better there. I feel the UK citizens would rather look the other way, hoping that nothing happens to them than stand up to the scroats.

The way this country is going played a large part inour decision to move to OZ.

Cheers
Gary

i think a lot of people suffer through paying too much attention to the media.

there is crime in england and in australia - probably on a similar level.

but when we have a media that is obsessed with creating fear, to sell news papers / get viewers / page impressions (!) your decision has to be to what degree do you let it effect you.

there has always been crime and statistics are always massagable for there purpose (perhaps they were released by the Perth police departments accountant ), but it's the media who are creating crimes' worst effect of giving people fear.

Hi jopaulss – aka - Joanne


If you are worried you should read this, so should your kids ! ! !


I saw this post re: crime and thought my God, were moving to Australia’s answer to Iraq!

Anyhow being the sad person I am I thought I’d do a bit of digging, (not to Australia, were flying ).



For what they are worth here’s the figures I found:

There were 165,496 incidents of crime recorded in the area covered by Northumbria Police (2002/03). Biggest city, Newcastle, population 1.4 million.

In Perth there were 170,747 incidents of recorded crime, (2002/03). Population over 1.3 million, as of 1996.


To put this into perspective there were over 110,000 crimes reported on Britains railways last year ! ! !

Tell your kids to sleep tight.

Stevan





Got our visa’s
House for Sale
Perth……… ……Tomorrow if we could

# We gonna get out of this place; if it’s the last thing we ever do……
(know the song?)

Crime is no worse in Brisbane than it was in the UK when I left 10 years ago, my car hasn't been broken into, my house hasn't been broken into, I haven't been mugged, need I go on. And I'm living in a pretty average suburb.

You know the saying their are Lies, dam lies and statistics

There are lots of people living in the UK who can say the same as you. I know people here and the UK who have suffered from some of your list and also people in both countries who have suffered from none of them. The crime levels per head in OZ and UK are a lot more similar than people think and to leave the UK to escape crime or trouble is a bad reason for coming to Oz.

I will add though, that it is good to move if you need to get away from some particular hassle.

I had actually heard that gang related crime was a problem in Perth. But I thought Adelaide was the "break- in" capital.

My personal theory is that it's caused by the extreme isloation of Perth. If you're anywhere else and feel like committing a crime you'll head for Melbourne or Sydney where the pickings are richer and the drugs are more abundant but nobody wants to drive across the Nullabor !

Biggest users of drugs in Australia are WA kids upto 40% admited use and Cash Convertors are on every corner.

Further to your excellent post putting the criminal record straight:

There were over 8 million recorded crimes in the USA last year and only 14 in my area here in Australia. So you see that Oz is even more safe than you thought.

Thank god there are some intelligent people on the site. Shame you are not one of them.

Seems hard to believe that Perth is the crime capital of the western world, you'd think it would be somewhere like L.A

Not a crime catpital just a on learning curve , got home break ins down to a fine art the heavy stuff is yet to come.

What’s the point in posting a message like that?

If you want to sensibly discuss topics backed by reasoned argument or even personal experience then fine; but why bother insulting people. Is it to purposefully annoy other users of the site or is it just the highlight of your day?

I think it’s quite sad and I pity you. You need to get out more and take an interest in life, It’s quite short, try and enjoy it.

As for my intelligence, we could compare our records of academic achievement but I have a life and I enjoy it.

Stevan

I probably have kids older than you and so your thoughts on how short life is are lost on me. I have a much keener sense of the brevity of it all than you do yet, I am sure.

Your life is good? So why give it up and go to Oz of all places? Try somewhere more interesting and fulfilling than this empty place. Why not stay in the UK and make the most of life there? You could move to another part of the UK? If you think "for the change", "for the adventure" then you find an English speaking country with a pom type culture an adventure? You will find it all too ordinary after a couple of years.

You cannot afford to take much offence at my sort of rubbish. Get used to worse or you will be ripped to pieces at work here and will look back on my "terrible" insults as a type of affectionate remark. Do not forget, you and yours will be pommie immigrants here and you will not be allowed to forget it. Why do you think PB has chosen his name?

I thank you for your concern for my well being at work in Australia and for your words of experience.

I worked in Oz a few years ago for a year. I worked on few building sites and a farm. Hardly places known for their kind words and easygoing temperaments of co-workers towards “pomms�. You just have to “take it on the chin�. After all, that’s what I am. I’m sure grief from colleagues is universal. If it weren’t for being a pomme it would be for something else.

As for emigrating, probably the same reason as most other people. A better quality of life. We also have family and friends in Perth. None of them regret moving. Indeed one friend said “Best thing I ever done, wild horses couldn’t drag me back to England�

Can I put it this way:

I know a chippie who works in Perth. If he lived in the UK he would be “lucky“ if he had a two bedroom house and an eight year old van. In Perth he has a 4x2 house, pool, new van, car, wife doesn’t have to work, and a couple of jet-ski’s. I know which sounds better to me.

I am not that naïve to think it works out for everyone and I would like to think we’re going with our eyes open. I know there is crime, it may take us months to find work, and the streets aren’t paved with gold, (except in peppermint grove). But if all goes wrong and we decide to sell up and move back to the UK, so what?
We will have lost nothing and we would return home wiser people.

But somehow, I think we will be OK.


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Getting back to the topic of this thread; I’m sure there is good and bad people and places in every city. I suppose the trick is to use a certain amount of caution and common sense where ever you live. Bad things happen in the UK just as much as in Perth. If it happens, it happens. It could happen in the UK, it could happen in Perth, I’d still rather live in Perth.

If you sell up and move back to the Uk, during your time in Oz you will have lost a lot of money, a lot of UK work experience, a lot of time with true friends and family, and a lot of life - that is "so what". Your experience backpacking round Oz is hardly relevant. This was your gap year from university or school? You have a lot to learn and you will find it a painful lesson.

Somehow, I think you will not be OK.