Some positive news about Britain
Mar 14th 2009, 9:59 pm
#136
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Location: Manchester, England
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Re: Some positive news about Britain
But you are a police officer with a grievance about the UK and you're planning to leave aren't you? So you do have a bias.
Like Oldbag, I've only ever lived in villages, market towns and semi rural areas in the UK and that's what I intend going back to. I've never been directly affected by crime but my neighbours have, I always kept a huge dog. He was the best burglar alarm.
I've seen more crime living in a 'nice' suburb on the gold coast, serious crimes like shootings, in the 5 years I've been here than in 45 years of living in the UK.
Like Oldbag, I've only ever lived in villages, market towns and semi rural areas in the UK and that's what I intend going back to. I've never been directly affected by crime but my neighbours have, I always kept a huge dog. He was the best burglar alarm.
I've seen more crime living in a 'nice' suburb on the gold coast, serious crimes like shootings, in the 5 years I've been here than in 45 years of living in the UK.
Yes, i admit, its not bad everywhere. As i have said before - if i could afford to live and work in a nice rural setting where my daughter could grow up safe and sensible - i would. Sadly, im not that wealthy or lucky.
Mar 14th 2009, 10:14 pm
#137
itchy feet again!
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Ex-Canada: now rural West Sussex.
Posts: 1,013
Re: Some positive news about Britain
But you are a police officer with a grievance about the UK and you're planning to leave aren't you? So you do have a bias.
Like Oldbag, I've only ever lived in villages, market towns and semi rural areas in the UK and that's what I intend going back to. I've never been directly affected by crime but my neighbours have, I always kept a huge dog. He was the best burglar alarm.
I've seen more crime living in a 'nice' suburb on the gold coast, serious crimes like shootings, in the 5 years I've been here than in 45 years of living in the UK.
Like Oldbag, I've only ever lived in villages, market towns and semi rural areas in the UK and that's what I intend going back to. I've never been directly affected by crime but my neighbours have, I always kept a huge dog. He was the best burglar alarm.
I've seen more crime living in a 'nice' suburb on the gold coast, serious crimes like shootings, in the 5 years I've been here than in 45 years of living in the UK.
I need to correct you on this, cricket....I grew up in the middle of nowhere, so was used to a very quite and peaceful life, however in recent years I lived on the outskirts of Manchester, which was in sharp contrast to my blissfully peaceful childhood. We experienced 18 years of increasing crime and violence literally on our doorstep. There were far too many instances to bore you with; many were reported to the police, who were SO slow in responding that eventually, like many of our neighbours, we just gave up calling them.....and this is the continuing trend, especially in densely populated areas. The police became a joke; two of them actually admitted to me and Mr Oldbag that they were afraid to attend call outs in the area because of the gangs of violent yobs! This is the reason I could not persuade Mr O to go back to that area, and so we now live in rural West Sussex where, as I said, we're enjoying a quiet and peaceful life once again.
BTW we lived in a very small town in Ontario which, we were led to believe, was virtually crime-free. It was only after moving in we discovered it was a drug-dealing centre and had a huge problem with drink-driving teens. The only "major" crime was an attempted robbery of the ATM on the main street, but when the town has a population of only 2000, this is classed as a "crime wave"......so it's all relative.
Mar 14th 2009, 11:19 pm
#138
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,769
Re: Some positive news about Britain
I need to correct you on this, cricket....I grew up in the middle of nowhere, so was used to a very quite and peaceful life, however in recent years I lived on the outskirts of Manchester, which was in sharp contrast to my blissfully peaceful childhood. We experienced 18 years of increasing crime and violence literally on our doorstep. There were far too many instances to bore you with; many were reported to the police, who were SO slow in responding that eventually, like many of our neighbours, we just gave up calling them.....and this is the continuing trend, especially in densely populated areas. The police became a joke; two of them actually admitted to me and Mr Oldbag that they were afraid to attend call outs in the area because of the gangs of violent yobs! This is the reason I could not persuade Mr O to go back to that area, and so we now live in rural West Sussex where, as I said, we're enjoying a quiet and peaceful life once again.
BTW we lived in a very small town in Ontario which, we were led to believe, was virtually crime-free. It was only after moving in we discovered it was a drug-dealing centre and had a huge problem with drink-driving teens. The only "major" crime was an attempted robbery of the ATM on the main street, but when the town has a population of only 2000, this is classed as a "crime wave"......so it's all relative.
BTW we lived in a very small town in Ontario which, we were led to believe, was virtually crime-free. It was only after moving in we discovered it was a drug-dealing centre and had a huge problem with drink-driving teens. The only "major" crime was an attempted robbery of the ATM on the main street, but when the town has a population of only 2000, this is classed as a "crime wave"......so it's all relative.
I think UK insurance companies now give a discount if you keep a dog. I wouldn't live out in the sticks again, I'd prefer the safety in numbers logic, the big dog and everything locked and out of sight.
Mar 14th 2009, 11:19 pm
#139
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Re: Some positive news about Britain
But im talking about crime in general. And i dont have a bias, but ten years ago, there wasnt as much violent crime as today (in Manchester anyway). Petty shit crime may be down, but in general its worse now than when i joined up.
Yes, i admit, its not bad everywhere. As i have said before - if i could afford to live and work in a nice rural setting where my daughter could grow up safe and sensible - i would. Sadly, im not that wealthy or lucky.
Yes, i admit, its not bad everywhere. As i have said before - if i could afford to live and work in a nice rural setting where my daughter could grow up safe and sensible - i would. Sadly, im not that wealthy or lucky.
Mar 15th 2009, 8:09 am
#140
itchy feet again!
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Ex-Canada: now rural West Sussex.
Posts: 1,013
Re: Some positive news about Britain
I do remember the farmer Tony Martin case, think that was his name, and the big debate about rural crime being a problem so yes Oldbag, you're probably right in this respect. Before I left the UK, I lived in a village on the outskirts of Northampton and while my neighbours experienced being robbed, we never did. Occasionally, there would be a spree on all the villages, like a drive through robbery. Three of us never got broken into and we all believe it was because we kept large dogs.
I think UK insurance companies now give a discount if you keep a dog. I wouldn't live out in the sticks again, I'd prefer the safety in numbers logic, the big dog and everything locked and out of sight.
I think UK insurance companies now give a discount if you keep a dog. I wouldn't live out in the sticks again, I'd prefer the safety in numbers logic, the big dog and everything locked and out of sight.
Mar 15th 2009, 8:50 am
#141
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Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,010
Re: Some positive news about Britain
Don't make me 
They're "tackling" obesity as well....
As I said earlier, I'm really happy to be back home, and am lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the country where crime doesn't affect us, but all this debating about whether crime is worse Here than There is ridiculous. Crime happens everywhere, in every country to a greater or lesser degree, it even varies from one town to the next.....but hey, you're not stupid.....I don't need to tell you that. I just wish these endless debates about Where is The Better Place to Live would stop.....it doesn't make a scrap of difference. Perhaps if all those who grumble about how bad their area is did something constructive, things might change. Talking won't do it.
They're "tackling" obesity as well....
As I said earlier, I'm really happy to be back home, and am lucky enough to live in a beautiful part of the country where crime doesn't affect us, but all this debating about whether crime is worse Here than There is ridiculous. Crime happens everywhere, in every country to a greater or lesser degree, it even varies from one town to the next.....but hey, you're not stupid.....I don't need to tell you that. I just wish these endless debates about Where is The Better Place to Live would stop.....it doesn't make a scrap of difference. Perhaps if all those who grumble about how bad their area is did something constructive, things might change. Talking won't do it.
Blinkin nanny state.
Mar 15th 2009, 11:06 am
#142
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Mar 15th 2009, 10:12 pm
#143
Sloopy Frickenbutt
Joined: May 2006
Location: Its good ere Honest........
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I'm an idiot, so go with plan B 
Mar 16th 2009, 9:11 am
#144
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Location: Putney, London
Posts: 129
Re: Some positive news about Britain
The UK is no different from any other country in the world. Shit happens. However for the most part good stuff happens. That's why the shit makes the headlines - it sells papers. Most people's lives for the majority of the time is good wherever they are so the bad stuff stands out. Someone has a signature on here about 'think negatively and negative stuff will happen, think positively and your life will be happier' or words to that effect.
Mar 16th 2009, 10:23 am
#145
Weirdo Latin Dude
Joined: Aug 2008
Location: Hotter than hell
Posts: 2,545
Mar 16th 2009, 6:47 pm
#147
Weirdo Latin Dude
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Are you as tough and uncompromising D.I Regan?
Mar 16th 2009, 7:43 pm
#149
Weirdo Latin Dude
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Posts: 2,545
Re: Some positive news about Britain
I don`t know it but "Life on Mars" means David Bowie to me and have just looked it up and it sounds very interesting and the sort of thing I`d enjoy watching (and coincidently its named after the Bowie song) Will certainly make a point of trying to watch it.
Apparently there is an American version with Harvey Keitel.
Apparently there is an American version with Harvey Keitel.
Mar 16th 2009, 8:24 pm
#150
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Re: Some positive news about Britain
I don`t know it but "Life on Mars" means David Bowie to me and have just looked it up and it sounds very interesting and the sort of thing I`d enjoy watching (and coincidently its named after the Bowie song) Will certainly make a point of trying to watch it.
Apparently there is an American version with Harvey Keitel.
Apparently there is an American version with Harvey Keitel.
