what do you by that ?

I think he means you are being naive

If your main reason for moving to Spain is for safety I'd say dont do it

Both the UK and Spain are relatively safe countries, I'd say there is more paranoir in the UK because of all the fuss whipped up by the press, but by and large both countries are safe.

If your area has a high crime rate then you'll probably find a much safer area just a few miles away. That's true whether you are in the UK or Spain.

Liverpool Gun Crime. Hartfordshire Black on Black Gang Wars. Asturias Northern Spain basque separatists. all have bad reputations. not for me give me the sun and friendly locals anytime. Don't believe everything you read even on here, if you do, stay in the uk, but be warned it's Sinking Fast!!!!!!

I can tell you there arent many Basque seperatists in Asturias

But I get the point..

I agree don't come to Spain to feel safer.

Come for what most expats come to Spain for - the sun and the weather!

Everything else doesn't really matter....

PJJ, I'm wondering, with a new baby due in March, it might be worth waiting to see how you feel then, and continue to research in the meantime. Many new mums really feel the need of family support when they have a baby, and she may suddenly need to feel familiar friends and family to support her. Assuming of course she gets on with her family!

How are you going to support your new family financially? Will you be able to get work in Spain?

Have you checked out your local council's website to get the crime statistics? When I looked up mine recently I was astonished to find how low the crime rate was and it had been falling for years! You might find you are safer than you realise. There are some nice places in Hertfordshire. If you don't live in one of them, consider moving. Spain sounds nice too though. Tough decision.

No idea just how bad the crime scene is, and doubt if many do, as most of it goes unseen,undetected and often as a result of corruption is viewed only with a blind eye.
It is often said that the Costa del Sol was entirely built on the proceeds of crime, and I dont refer to the UK bank robbers/gangsters who are comparitive small fry.
I suppose the main thing for people moving there, is safety and security on the streets, and in this regard it doesn't seem much worse than any other highly populated areas.

If you have dealings on the dodgey side of things you're going to be more in contact with this kind of thing no matter where you live. It's no different to most countries on the planet. I get to hear about plenty of things going on on a daily basis in Madrid that'd have you packing your bags and running but it depends on the area you live in and the people you mix with.
Just out of curiosity why are you looking at this area?

Crime = money, money = leisure time, those with enough money will buy property abroad, or take long vacations (sometime enforced because they're wanted in their own country)
If you fancy somewhere, why wouldn't a criminal?
How many times have you seen crimewatch, where the criminal is abroad?
The sad fact is crime is everywhere! Because where there is crime there is money, the old adage 'don't do the crime, if you cannot do the time', is long since gone.
How many bars are opened, don't appear to make a profit and change hands, could this be money laundering? Possibley.
If you live honestly, and respectabley why would you encounter crime, otherthan the possible misfortune of burglary or robbery. The chances of merely being assaulted for nothing are very remote.
Have you been the victim of crime in the UK, the chances are you haven't.

There are bigger problems to worry about, such as empoyment, income and language barriers, and in your case child welfare in a foreign land.
I wish you and family good fortune wherever you decide to start you new life.

I must say it’s nice to come across someone else living in and around the Torrevieja area who doesn’t run it down, usually someone who lives in the UK and has only read about it. I’ve been here ten years too and feel quite safe, although I don’t hang around Bar Street at two in the morning.

About not seeing any punches being thrown, though. If you’d been around my house at Easter time 2003, you’d have seen me chasing three burglars down the street, but my punches unfortunately kept missing. The Guardia, some hours later, didn’t bother with punches, they shot one of them dead, after he attacked them.

It wasn’t the only time we’d been troubled by burglars and we did think about leaving, but then bought a Doberman and have had no trouble since.

(I daren’t say any more, my wife works as an interpreter and spends quite a bit of time translating at the Guardia Civil).

I don´t need to google anything, I live here in the midst of the all the bodies laying about, but of course you will know all about it living in the UK.
Everything that sells books or papers is well over the top, as you know normal stuff would never sell.
As I said before, most of the stories are like a kids game "Chinese Whispers" that book tells of drive by shootings etc everyday

Spot on. If he believes books like that then he will believe anything.

Unless one of your CDS axemen buglars get you.

Like the only thing that's happened in Benalmádena is someone throwing an ashtray! The book maybe exagerated but it's nearer the truth than your fairy stories.
http://www.malagahoy.es/article/prov...ena/calle.html
http://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/mala...os/294389.html

First link (a year old) was an Irish drug dealer shot after being chased from your country after doing a dodgy deal, can´t be arsed to read the second.