Are you street-smart in London ?

Just been reading some posts about violence in London...It sucks that you cant carry mace or stun guns in this country..i was just wondering how many of you that live in  london safe gaurd yourselves . I sometimes think that i  need to " carry " something with me as the violence in my neighbourhood seems to be increasing by the day. I am not a violent person but i wonder if any of you guys take any steps to protect yourselves.


Zu.

 

What kind of safeguard are you thinking of? I did a self defence some years ago which made me feel a lot more confident about my personal safety.

Many of my friends carry a whistle or a loud alarm.  But that's it.  I don't carry either - I just tend to stick to well lit routes, stick with other people and don't take chances.  I never sit on the top of the bus after a certain hour.  It's a matter of noticing your surroundings.  And yes, I've taken a few self-defense courses...most of which tell you about trusting your instincts.  Last night when I felt unsafe while walking by myself on a deserted road on the way to my apartment in the dark, I got on the phone to my bf...and I looked around to see who was nearby...Awareness is key.

I don't live in London but I frequent the city a few times a year. Since I'm from Chicago I consider myself to have lots of street smarts. Here's what I do when I visit London.
I never make eye contact with anyone.
I walk with confidence and as if I know exactly where I'm going even though I usually have no clue
I never carry a handbag
I try not to speak to anyone unless necessary.
Finally...blend, blend, blend in. I usually dress down a bit if I'm taking public transportation
Ive never carried mace in my life nor have taken a self defense course. Be aware, be vigilant, be safe.

I walk quickly and carry a whistle.  I have my keys in my hand and I DO make eye contact with people.  After what I witnessed last week, I want to make sure I can see faces.

I had mace in the US but never had to use it. 

To be honest, i doubt anyone would respond to a " whistle blow " . Lets face it , a lot people here wont bother to get involved in someone else's misfortune... for those of you who have lived here long enough will notice this .

Kristi, Hats off for getting involved , but i honestly dont think blowing a whistle will result in people rushing to your aide god forbid that anyoe of us would be in such a prediciment.

I would have prefferd carrying mace or a stun gun.

Like the rubbish strewn about everywhere, very few folks do drop rubbish in the bins, but a lot of people dont give a damn....they figure they pay the dreaded council tax and have the right to run amuck and those that dont pay council tax dont give a damn either way since they wont be held accountable.

The self defense thing is not for me...i would just much prefer being armed in a small way...mace would have been my choice of protection.

cheers

i'd much rather take self defense....considering a lot of times mace can be turned on yourself (if attacked from behind).  Knowing how to get their arm off of you, THEN hit em with mace is helpful.

my dad used to make me carry one of those personal alarms.

i do what a lot of others do.  Am very aware of all surroundings.  Sometimes if i'm walking from baker st. tube late at night i'll 'buddy' with a person in front of me.  walk really close to them, so if anything happened to me...hopefully they'd see or hear it and maybe try to help.

i get on the phone sometimes, but always have it unlocked and ready to go.....in case.

I wouldn't expect anyone to necessarily respond to my whistle.  Anything to draw attention to the situation or to scare someone away would help. 

The advice used to be to shout "fire" not "rape" if you want to get people's attention.  I'm with Aimiloo on the self defence. Carrying mace or whatever is all very well but if they take you from behind and have you in an arm lock you it's not going to be much help to you. Much better to know how to get yourself free. Also it is more likely to put them off coming after you if they know you can defend yourself properly.

In some ways I feel more safe that you can't carry mace or a stun gun.... Not only "good" people can buy stuff like that, and there's just too much room for error or misuse.... But that's just me. When I'm in London ('bout once a week) AND when I'm at home (the 'burbs aren't always that safe at night either...) I just use basic self-defence stuff I've learned in classes in the past - carry my keys in my fist with keys sticking through the fingers, being super alert, never talking on the phone, handbag not dangling, knowing where I'm going and looking like it, etc., etc. I came of age in San Francisco where the neighbourhood can turn on you over the course of a single block, so I think I carry myself pretty well. But I also never take for granted that I'll be OK....

I would not carry mace because it can always back fire on you (aka wind is blowing the wrong way).  I always, always, make eye contact.  You look vulnerable if you are looking away or looking down.  Second, I always hold my key a certain way in between my fingers so that I can easily poke someone in the eye if needed. 

Well after what happened today in London it just shows we are all subject to violence no matter how well we think we are prepared. Makes you just wanna stay inside with the doors locked!  :\\\'(

I tend not to carry anything and use common sense. I also keep alert when out at night. I used to work nights at the hospital so walking home late at night I'm used to. I find the streets here less dangerous than in the US.
I remember starring down at a gun because my dad did not let some idiot pass when they wanted to ....and that was on a school run in the morning. After that I've not been scared of crime for some reason. One trick I learned if I am walking home is to have the "I'm really not in the mood for any sh*t" face on....just look extremely pissed off trundling home.

One trick I learned if I am walking home is to have the "I'm really not in the mood for any sh*t" face on....just look extremely pissed off trundling home.

LOL Alicia...I ALWAYS have that look on my face!! 

One trick I learned if I am walking home is to have the "I'm really not in the mood for any sh*t" face on....just look extremely pissed off trundling home.

When i lived in London, I did the same!
I also tried to walk with a very confident sort of swagger... sometimes i was frightened, but the trick was to look like you're not scared at all.

I dont like the idea of mace... after all, if you can use it on them, then they can use it on you as well.
There are enough weapons out there already...