By Tom Geoghegan BBC News Magazine Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says she would not feel secure on the streets of London late at night. So where is it safe to walk?
By Tom Geoghegan BBC News Magazine Home Secretary Jacqui Smith says she would not feel secure on the streets of London late at night. So where is it safe to walk?
The pavement may be a public highway but when dusk falls and the glow of street lamps intensifies many have to think twice before straying beyond their front door. Crime, or more significantly the fear of crime, is a deterrent for many, including, it seems, the home secretary.
The pavement may be a public highway but when dusk falls and the glow of street lamps intensifies many have to think twice before straying beyond their front door. Crime, or more significantly the fear of crime, is a deterrent for many, including, it seems, the home secretary.
Jacqui Smith says she would not feel comfortable after dark in Hackney, east London, or even more affluent districts like Kensington.
Jacqui Smith says she would not feel comfortable after dark in Hackney, east London, or even more affluent districts like Kensington.
Was London in 1870 any safer?Her remarks were seized on by her Conservative counterpart David Davis, who said it was "shameful you can walk the streets of New York, Tokyo, Paris and Berlin safely at night, but not the streets of London".
Was London in 1870 any safer?Her remarks were seized on by her Conservative counterpart David Davis, who said it was "shameful you can walk the streets of New York, Tokyo, Paris and Berlin safely at night, but not the streets of London".
Some, such as shift workers, have no choice. But for most the decision of whether they feel safe outside after dark has more to do with personal experience than a cold look at the statistics, which suggest reported street crime is falling.
Some, such as shift workers, have no choice. But for most the decision of whether they feel safe outside after dark has more to do with personal experience than a cold look at the statistics, which suggest reported street crime is falling.
In October, the Home Office said robbery in England and Wales was down 9% on the previous year. In London robberies fell 15% in 2007.
In October, the Home Office said robbery in England and Wales was down 9% on the previous year. In London robberies fell 15% in 2007.
But figures do little to dispel fear and they offer no comfort when intimidation roams your neighbourhood. The murder of Garry Newlove in Warrington compounded the feeling that in some areas, usually cities, the streets are not safe.
But figures do little to dispel fear and they offer no comfort when intimidation roams your neighbourhood. The murder of Garry Newlove in Warrington compounded the feeling that in some areas, usually cities, the streets are not safe.
Were they ever? While some hold the 1950s and 60s up as a golden era when community values held sway, going back another 100 years reveals a different picture altogether.
Were they ever? While some hold the 1950s and 60s up as a golden era when community values held sway, going back another 100 years reveals a different picture altogether.
Crime is developing itself into a mania... London has ceased to be a city which one can traverse at night with mind at rest and the hands in the pockets French visitor, 1866Victorian London by Lisa Picard "London was riddled with crime and walking in many parts of the city was so dangerous that even police would not venture into them," says George Landow, founder of The Victorian Web.
Crime is developing itself into a mania... London has ceased to be a city which one can traverse at night with mind at rest and the hands in the pockets French visitor, 1866Victorian London by Lisa Picard "London was riddled with crime and walking in many parts of the city was so dangerous that even police would not venture into them," says George Landow, founder of The Victorian Web.
"Thieves with all sorts of specialities existed and some routinely killed people for handkerchiefs."
"Thieves with all sorts of specialities existed and some routinely killed people for handkerchiefs."
Nowadays, the fear of street crime and sexual assault is more keenly felt by women. And the home secretary, says Finn Mackay of the London Feminist Network (LFN), is only saying what all women feel.
Nowadays, the fear of street crime and sexual assault is more keenly felt by women. And the home secretary, says Finn Mackay of the London Feminist Network (LFN), is only saying what all women feel.
"Some of them restrict their movement, depending on how nervous they are. Some don't go out in the evening if it means getting the last bus or they'll spend money on taxis or not go out at all. They make changes to their lives all the time."
"Some of them restrict their movement, depending on how nervous they are. Some don't go out in the evening if it means getting the last bus or they'll spend money on taxis or not go out at all. They make changes to their lives all the time."
Mental scars
Mental scars
Reclaim the Night is an annual march staged by the LFN when hundreds of women take to the streets of the capital to protest against male violence. Yet Ms Mackay points out that women are much more likely to be assaulted in their homes than on the street, where men are usually victims.
Reclaim the Night is an annual march staged by the LFN when hundreds of women take to the streets of the capital to protest against male violence. Yet Ms Mackay points out that women are much more likely to be assaulted in their homes than on the street, where men are usually victims.
In 2006-7, more than three times as many men were victims of random attacks in England and Wales as women, according to police recorded crime.
In 2006-7, more than three times as many men were victims of random attacks in England and Wales as women, according to police recorded crime.
Steve, 34, was attacked in 2004 as he walked to the video shop round the corner of his home in south-east London. It was 8pm in winter.
Steve, 34, was attacked in 2004 as he walked to the video shop round the corner of his home in south-east London. It was 8pm in winter.
Quiet areas are more threateningAs he walked past two young men, one of them punched him and he banged his head on the pavement, knocking him unconscious. He suffered concussion and went to hospital but while the confusion and dizziness passed within hours, the mental impact lasted much longer.
Quiet areas are more threateningAs he walked past two young men, one of them punched him and he banged his head on the pavement, knocking him unconscious. He suffered concussion and went to hospital but while the confusion and dizziness passed within hours, the mental impact lasted much longer.
"It affected me quite dramatically for probably two or three years," he says. "It happened on the road I walk from the station to my flat, so any time I was out in town, it was something in the back of my mind throughout the evening.
"It affected me quite dramatically for probably two or three years," he says. "It happened on the road I walk from the station to my flat, so any time I was out in town, it was something in the back of my mind throughout the evening.
"That stuck around for years. When I was making plans with people I would be thinking: 'That seems like something I want to do but it will mean coming home in the dark. Will I get a cab? Will I walk it?
"That stuck around for years. When I was making plans with people I would be thinking: 'That seems like something I want to do but it will mean coming home in the dark. Will I get a cab? Will I walk it?
"If someone spontaneously phoned me up and asked if I wanted to do something that evening, I would struggle. It was only a £4 cab from the station but when I did that I felt a bit pathetic, like it was an admission of weakness."
"If someone spontaneously phoned me up and asked if I wanted to do something that evening, I would struggle. It was only a £4 cab from the station but when I did that I felt a bit pathetic, like it was an admission of weakness."
It is experiences like this, multiplied by their telling to friends and media coverage, and magnified by our fascination with the sinister, which shape fears and behaviour.
It is experiences like this, multiplied by their telling to friends and media coverage, and magnified by our fascination with the sinister, which shape fears and behaviour.
But is it really so different abroad? A straw poll of people living in diverse inner-city areas in some of the other cities mentioned by Mr Davis suggests not.
But is it really so different abroad? A straw poll of people living in diverse inner-city areas in some of the other cities mentioned by Mr Davis suggests not.
NEUKOELLN, BERLIN
NEUKOELLN, BERLIN
Elisabeth Weber, 27, is an assistant at the university and has lived in the west Berlin district of Neukoelln for five years.
Elisabeth Weber, 27, is an assistant at the university and has lived in the west Berlin district of Neukoelln for five years.
"The perception is that it is a problem area because there are a lot of immigrants and a lot of people without jobs and the crime rate is high there.
"The perception is that it is a problem area because there are a lot of immigrants and a lot of people without jobs and the crime rate is high there.
Away from the tourists, Berlin has deprived areas "It's very cheap. When I moved there I had been looking for apartments in old Berlin.
Away from the tourists, Berlin has deprived areas "It's very cheap. When I moved there I had been looking for apartments in old Berlin.
"I felt a bit threatened because I didn't know the environment. But after a while and after nothing had happened, I felt very safe."
"I felt a bit threatened because I didn't know the environment. But after a while and after nothing had happened, I felt very safe."
Friends who live elsewhere in the city have no problem walking the streets of Neukoelln, she says, but others who don't know the area may feel threatened. People are afraid of being mugged.
Friends who live elsewhere in the city have no problem walking the streets of Neukoelln, she says, but others who don't know the area may feel threatened. People are afraid of being mugged.
"But I was born and raised in Romania," she says. "There it was more dangerous than here."
"But I was born and raised in Romania," she says. "There it was more dangerous than here."
Laura Flierl, a 23-year-old student, says she reads in the papers about gang violence and stabbings in the area but still walks home at 3am on her own and has never had any problems.
Laura Flierl, a 23-year-old student, says she reads in the papers about gang violence and stabbings in the area but still walks home at 3am on her own and has never had any problems.
"I feel a little bit scared sometimes but not as scared as I would in Hackney. I had friends there when I lived in London. I would still live there but I wouldn't go home on my own.
"I feel a little bit scared sometimes but not as scared as I would in Hackney. I had friends there when I lived in London. I would still live there but I wouldn't go home on my own.
"As long as you're not involved in these kind of gangs or in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
"As long as you're not involved in these kind of gangs or in the wrong spot at the wrong time.
"It's not the safest place in Berlin and it has a reputation but it doesn't live up to it."
"It's not the safest place in Berlin and it has a reputation but it doesn't live up to it."
HELL'S KITCHEN, NEW YORK
HELL'S KITCHEN, NEW YORK
Vivek Batra, 40, who works in fashion, says: "Fifteen years ago, you would not have gone out at night in Hell's Kitchen or Chelsea. It used to be so run down but it's become more and more gentrified in recent years and the real estate has gone through the roof.
Vivek Batra, 40, who works in fashion, says: "Fifteen years ago, you would not have gone out at night in Hell's Kitchen or Chelsea. It used to be so run down but it's become more and more gentrified in recent years and the real estate has gone through the roof.
"I walk round there late at night. I think you have to be careful in any major city at night but on 8th, 9th and 10th it's fairly safe but the further west you go it gets more industrial, more warehouses so you have to be a little bit more careful.
Many New Yorkers feel safer now"I walk round there late at night. I think you have to be careful in any major city at night but on 8th, 9th and 10th it's fairly safe but the further west you go it gets more industrial, more warehouses so you have to be a little bit more careful.
Former mayor Rudy Giuliani's crackdown killed off the nightlife in the city, he says, but did lead to a fall in crime that has probably made New Yorkers feel safer as a result.
Former mayor Rudy Giuliani's crackdown killed off the nightlife in the city, he says, but did lead to a fall in crime that has probably made New Yorkers feel safer as a result.
"But there are places I would think twice about walking at night, like East Harlem, and you should be careful in the East Village."
"But there are places I would think twice about walking at night, like East Harlem, and you should be careful in the East Village."
A regular visitor to London, he says he feels safer in the UK capital than in New York.
A regular visitor to London, he says he feels safer in the UK capital than in New York.
18TH ARRONDISEMENT, PARIS
18TH ARRONDISEMENT, PARIS
Catherine Ankova, a 36-year-old journalist in Paris, 36, has lived in 18th arrondisement since 2001. It is a racially mixed part of the city where property prices have rocketed due to an influx of predominantly white professionals in recent years.
Catherine Ankova, a 36-year-old journalist in Paris, 36, has lived in 18th arrondisement since 2001. It is a racially mixed part of the city where property prices have rocketed due to an influx of predominantly white professionals in recent years.
Night falls on Paris"Between 2am and 5am I will always get a taxi for security reasons. Between 11pm and 2am if I have to come back from work on my own I would walk but be very aware of who is in the street.
Night falls on Paris"Between 2am and 5am I will always get a taxi for security reasons. Between 11pm and 2am if I have to come back from work on my own I would walk but be very aware of who is in the street.
"Before 10pm it's fine, there are so many people in the street. After 11pm I would be very cautious, meaning if I hear someone shouting or someone drunk, it never happened to me, but I feel I would be happy to walk backward and take the Tube or find another way home.
"Before 10pm it's fine, there are so many people in the street. After 11pm I would be very cautious, meaning if I hear someone shouting or someone drunk, it never happened to me, but I feel I would be happy to walk backward and take the Tube or find another way home.
"But it never happened to me, this is based on an impression. And it's not just because of reputation. When I arrived, friends said to me I was very silly, it's very scary, it's dangerous, you have drugs, you have prostitution."
"But it never happened to me, this is based on an impression. And it's not just because of reputation. When I arrived, friends said to me I was very silly, it's very scary, it's dangerous, you have drugs, you have prostitution."
That was evident, she says, but once a police station was put in the heart of the district, the area cleaned up and the drugs dealer and prostitutes were out of sight.
That was evident, she says, but once a police station was put in the heart of the district, the area cleaned up and the drugs dealer and prostitutes were out of sight.
She feels more threatened in more affluent areas, like 16th arrondisement, she says, because there are no shops and pubs so no-one would be around to help if she was assaulted.
She feels more threatened in more affluent areas, like 16th arrondisement, she says, because there are no shops and pubs so no-one would be around to help if she was assaulted.
Ms Ankova lived in London for 18 months and had a friend living in Hackney. "She told me the street next to her was Murder Mile but I didn't feel threatened, maybe because I wasn't in Paris or because I never saw anyone drunk or people arguing."
Ms Ankova lived in London for 18 months and had a friend living in Hackney. "She told me the street next to her was Murder Mile but I didn't feel threatened, maybe because I wasn't in Paris or because I never saw anyone drunk or people arguing."
HACKNEY, LONDON
HACKNEY, LONDON
Chitra Banerjee, 68, has lived in the borough of Hackney for 22 years. Her very active retirement - dancer, actress, volunteering for Age Concern and London 2012 - means she regularly walks home on her own after dark.
Chitra Banerjee, 68, has lived in the borough of Hackney for 22 years. Her very active retirement - dancer, actress, volunteering for Age Concern and London 2012 - means she regularly walks home on her own after dark.
She says she is comfortable doing that and recalls one incident in that time.
She says she is comfortable doing that and recalls one incident in that time.
"A long time ago, I was threatened with an imitation gun. He pointed it at me and pushed me against the wall. He pushed it against my forehead but I pushed him away. I'm a brave girl and I was away again.
"A long time ago, I was threatened with an imitation gun. He pointed it at me and pushed me against the wall. He pushed it against my forehead but I pushed him away. I'm a brave girl and I was away again.
"I don't know what he was looking for, I didn't care. It didn't affect me. These things can happen to anyone anywhere. In my opinion Hackney is alright and my friends who live here are alright. It's good to live here and I think it's safe."
"I don't know what he was looking for, I didn't care. It didn't affect me. These things can happen to anyone anywhere. In my opinion Hackney is alright and my friends who live here are alright. It's good to live here and I think it's safe."
Diane Abbott, the 54-year-old Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, invited the home secretary to join her for a night-time stroll around the borough's streets.
Diane Abbott, the 54-year-old Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, invited the home secretary to join her for a night-time stroll around the borough's streets.
"Jacqui is quite wrong to suggest that Hackney is a no-go area for women after dark. She is feeding a culture of fear which is bad for our many bars, restaurants, art galleries and other entertainment venues.
"Jacqui is quite wrong to suggest that Hackney is a no-go area for women after dark. She is feeding a culture of fear which is bad for our many bars, restaurants, art galleries and other entertainment venues.
"Comments like hers make women unnecessarily fearful. Jackie needs to get to know inner-city London. She will find it is not the nightmarish scene from a Hogarth engraving that she seems to imagine."
"Comments like hers make women unnecessarily fearful. Jackie needs to get to know inner-city London. She will find it is not the nightmarish scene from a Hogarth engraving that she seems to imagine."
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
Add your comments on this story, using the form below.
