Is the USA safer than the UK? // UK vs USA Safety (HONEST Experience)

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

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[@666drups]

Try growing up black or brown here in the London and you will see a completely different story. It was even worse back in the 60's and 70's. Outside of London is much worse.

[@correctpolitically4784]

@@666drups I'm actually interested in that .

[@rjflores438]

Gun violence and gun crime were worse in the 1990s than it is today. I remember places like Moss Side, Cheetham Hill and Longsight in Manchester where I grew up, that had regular shootings between rival gangs, probably 1 or 2 shootings every couple of weeks. This has calmed down massively now though.

[@martinconnelly1473]

I saw someone say in the USA the police enforce the law, in the UK the police keep the peace. Says it all really.

[@1chish]

Its part of a UK Officers Oath to 'Keep the Queen's Peace'.

[@NPC-st7zv]

Yeah, they're not like that at all.

[@cageygutman7027]

Superman protects the innocent. Batman punishes the guilty.

[@1chish]

@@andyyoung5972 I think you misunderstand how the UK Police differ from US Police in one fundamental way. While what you say is a result of who they are it is not defined as such. UK Police Officers are sworn in as 'Constable' in which they stand in a unique legal position in their own right. They swear an oath of allegiance to the monarch. This is to ensure the separation of power and political independence of the Office of Constable. The powers of arrest etc are not delegated powers simply because they have been employed as an officer because officers are not employees, they are not agents of the police force, police authority or government. Those who hold the Office of Constable are servants of the Crown. Hence my comment. Their oath is very different from that in the USA: "“I do solemnly and sincerely declare and affirm that I will well and truly serve the Queen in the office of constable, with fairness, integrity, diligence and impartiality, upholding fundamental human rights and according equal respect to all people; and that I will, to the best of my power, CAUSE THE PEACE TO BE KEPT [my caps] and preserved and prevent all offences against people and property; and that while I continue to hold the said office I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law.”

[@musicandbooklover-p2o]

Same in Ireland and New Zealand, the police keep the peace. Have never lived in a country where the police are armed (except for the arm response units obviously) and I consider myself very lucky.

[@brianfreeman8290]

I'm former British military. I love guns, but allowing Joe Public to own and carry a weapon is insane.

[@mikeh497]

If only people looked at the FBI STATISTIC'S.Most gun crime is from illegal procession.

[@ralphclark]

@@mikeh497 the only way to solve that is to reduce the availability of guns and create a firearm collection program with an amnesty for illegal possession given to anyone willing to surrender their firearms. It's been done successfully in other countries.

[@mikeh497]

@@ralphclark Good luck with that.

[@ralphclark]

@@mikeh497 no problem. Just shoot anybody who resists. I mean what could be fairer?

[@rach8241]

Agreed

[@zarasamuels9377]

I shocked by the US not having any kind of MOT and such a poor driving test. Seems insane

[@tommyfred6180]

why? the country is not very advanced when it comes to h&s.

[@Dog.soldier1950]

Depriving someone of their license is a big deal here in the USA.. DUI, illegal, 90+? No problem! I give the Washington drive exam. It’s way too easy and brief but any attempt to make it harder runs into the “fairness” issue. Even if you lose your license amazing numbers drive without one.

[@valerieclymer9828]

We do have vehicle inspections annually in most states in the U.S. Also, the driving test we take here in Pennsylvania is on road and very thorough. I wish this girl knew more about her native country....she’s seems generally uninformed.

[@jennyh4025]

@@valerieclymer9828 she stated a few times, that she pretty much only knows her native Florida. I‘ve only visited Chicago (including some rather expensive suburbs), the way to Virginia Beach and Virginia Beach, but I didn’t really feel safe, when I looked at the other cars. At least two friends had a driving test in the USA (two different states, but I forgot which ones) in the 1990‘s and they both described them pretty much the same „drive a straight line, know how to use the indicator and how to park“, 20 minutes and you’re done. In Germany, I had to go through quite a few theoretical lessons, at least 20 hours on the road with an instructor, and what felt like an hour of driving test on the road (only after passing a theoretical test).

[@valerieclymer9828]

Jenny H yes, but the whole point of her post is to compare AMERICA to the England. It is impossible to do so as the US has many laws by state. Apples and oranges.

[@mrb.5610]

Funny that - when I see an armed police officer, I feel *less* safe ... I'd prefer to live in a society where they weren't needed.

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

I've heard that a lot from native Brits and it makes total sense. Interesting how our cultural upbringing and what we're used to shapes how we see things!

[@mrb.5610]

@@GirlGoneLondonofficial An example ... in the late 70s, I remember walking through Downing Street and down the steps at the far end into Horseguards on more than one occasion ... and now you can't as there's barriers and armed police. I somehow don't see this as a step forward !

[@sirderam1]

Of course it makes perfect sense that you feel less safe if you see an armed police officer in the UK. Someone has obviously decided that an armed police officer is necessary at that place, so it must be deemed a potentially dangerous place.

[@TheMightyHams]

@@GirlGoneLondonofficial The first time I ever saw a gun in person was a police officer on holiday in Europe at the age of about 12 or 13. Honestly the memory has stuck with me for a while because it made me so nervous just to be about 10m away from a holstered pistol.

[@arwelp]

@@TheMightyHams The first guns I saw in person (other than my dad’s old shotgun on our farm) was on Luzern/Lucerne railway station in Switzerland in the mid 80s - there were a bunch of Swiss Army reservists on the concourse, and they’d stacked their weapons in a pile in the corner (including a full machine gun!) while most of them went looking for something to eat!

[@nyxnecrodragon4256]

When my soon to be husband (an american) came over to London for the first time we were walking along the Embankment and he wanted to know what building was on the other side of the Thames. I didn't know so I walked over to some police who were standing outside of New Scotland Yard and asked them. He was genuinely shocked when they were polite told us what it was and it actually inspired him to want to join the force. When I asked him if he thought he could see himself living in London. He said he'd never felt so safe and relaxed.

[@palemale2501]

Take him out for a walk and a drink in Tower Hamlets or Brixton late at night lol.

[@richardraymond878]

@@palemale2501 Exactly what I thought. I've got a feeling she's missed a lot of 'Hot spots'

[@richardraymond878]

@@palemale2501 Although it's good for the tourist industry

[@harrybarrow6222]

I am sure our police appreciate a little friendly human interaction. They are not aliens, they are Brits who want to make our country a better, safer place.

[@penname5766]

Pale Male 😂 Yeah but even those places are probably nothing compared to, say, the Bronx.

[@williamwatson3810]

My friends wife who is American was driving in the UK for the first time and was terrified when she was pulled over by a police man, he told her the whole cluster light wasn't working. he opened up the boot tightened up the connections replaced two bulbs and wished her good evening and sent her on her way. She was astonished that she didn't get a ticket or even a caution. Now she always feels safe driving on the UK roads.

[@twt3716]

Must of been one of those police impersonators. Seriously though, bless her heart. You're both very welcome here.

[@welshpete12]

Things like that, make me proud to be British !

[@jazzx251]

About 12 years ago - I was speeding - doing 40 in a 30 limit at 2AM in Cambridge The blue lights started flashing behind me - I knew I was busted! A lone young police officer approached me and invited me to step out of the vehicle. He had a big grin on his face: COP: "HAHAHA! What speed were you doing?"! :) ME (trying to lesson my sentence): ... .. "35, I think" COP: "No - it was closer to 40, actually. I know there's nobody around at this time of night - but if a surprise happened and you knocked somebody over, you would get 6 months in jail for 'Dangerous Driving'" He did the usual vehicle checks - to see whether it was stolen, insured, taxed and MOT'd, then he asked me where I live (less than a mile away) ... I said "nearly home now" (I was very tired) COP: "So you are - have a good night's sleep ..." [he sent me on my way!] I've never forgotten that cop - he is the ultimate example of what a cop should be, I don't even know his name. But THAT is what a REAL police officer looks like! And he was completely unarmed - no pepper spray, no taser, obviously no gun (regular police officers in the UK never carry a firearm) - all on his own, late at night.

[@SvenTviking]

And no drawn guns involved. You can reach into the glove box without getting shot.

[@shaunkelly9860]

British police are far more qualified and have to undergo far more training than their US equivalents. Most US police would never even qualify to be taken into training in the UK.

[@stevemarks9360]

Of course uk is safer, the roads are safer, the murder rate is much lower and the life expectancy is longer. Its not a debate!

[@sidevon6819]

@Beta Squad Clips not sure where you are getting your statistics but Police-recorded 275 murders involving a knife or sharp instrument in the 12 months Between April 2019 to March 2020. That’s for the whole of the UK not just London.

[@lilpain8883]

@Beta Squad Clips 6 people got shot? That's it? Chicago had 50 people shot in a WEEKEND. You can't compare the United States to the United Kingdom.

[@lilpain8883]

@Beta Squad Clips That just proved to me you don’t know anything about America 😭 According to CBS, Chicago is only 31st in violence in 2019 😭 The 50th most violent city in America which was Rochester had 748 violent crimes per 100,000 people. London only had according to Statista; 101.48 violent crimes per 100,000 people in 2019. So you realize how many more cities are far more dangerous than London?

[@simonevs020]

@Beta Squad Clips I live in South West London. Where are you getting your stats? Stop making stuff up!

[@gingernightmare9152]

@@simonevs020 I live in SE London, he's lying.

[@farnsfield]

Any gun crime in the UK is national headline news for at least a week. That’s is how unusual gun crime is in the UK. No one feels deprived of their rights because the lack of fear of guns sets you free.

[@ashleyoconnor6580]

No it's not a lot of gun crime is not even mentioned on the news

[@rufdymond]

@@ashleyoconnor6580 - That’s true but our gun crime is insignificant compared to the US - as someone who has spent quite a bit of time in America (admittedly almost exclusively in California) gun crime over there is endemic. If you take the U.K. population as a whole, gun crime is just not something that is an issue.

[@ashleyoconnor6580]

@@rufdymond yeah I was talking about the gun crime not on the news. I live in East London it happens I seen it. But got family in US so I understand what you saying spent a lot of time there. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇸

[@davetdowell]

It's not the guns, it's a cultural thing. I'm old enough to remember a UK where people could own guns, we weren't fearful of gun crime then, anymore than we are now. Albeit the number of Guns in the US is a factor. American society has a fear problem, Americans are often frightened of their fellow Americans. And not because of experience, but because of possibility. The gun violence problem they have doesn't help that, but it's not the cause of it, if anything it's a consequence of the fear. They feel frightened and thus feel they need to arm themselves for defensive purposes, and of course that inevitably causes one of them vicious circle things. Last time I was in the States, out side of a nightclub/bar (I was having a smoke) the American I ended up stood with first question was "what kind of gun do you have". When I say I don't have a gun, he looks at me in shock, I say I've never needed a gun, again a shocked look. His entire outlook on life was one of "but what happens if...". After thinking about it a bit I came to the conclusion that the very geography of the US doesn't help. In large parts of America, you are far from anyone who could help, so you are automatically looking (in life) for the option that allows you to cope with 'whatever'. That leads to needing guns (and a passion for your 'right' to have a gun), and from there you only need one bad actor with a gun to start an entire cascade reaction, where the only answer to 'what if' is 'be armed'.

[@brucebartup6161]

Illegal posssession is a gun crime. Having a shotgun loaded and or not ""broken"* in the presebce ocdf a person who ha not expreseded consrent to same is an offence, transporting a weapon is an offence. numbrer of shootiings is tiny however * broken : english shotguns are pretty much double barreled brse\ak toi breech reload two casrtridges at a time - gentlemens shotguns - for Pheasant shooting what what don''t ye know?)

[@dawoodwaris]

As an Indian student in UK the craziest funniest thing happened to me was while we were having a house party. Friends brought their friends that no one knows each other and a stranger passing the street join us, got drunk, slept on the sofa and left the next day morning after thanking everyone. We never realised he was a stranger until he left.

[@KenFullman]

During the 80s I was out on a Friday night when I met up with a bunch of guys in a pub. At the end of the evening I realised I'd missed my last train home. No worries, one of these guys is on his way to a party and I can tag along if I like. So I did. He nicely let me stay the night on the sofa. Next morning, nobody in the house knew who I was and it turns out, nobody knew that guy either. I simply appologised and left.

[@frankmitchell3594]

It's seems a bit worrying that you can have a car going round with faults on the brakes or tyres or steering being driven by a person whose driving experience is 20 minutes in a car park.

[@tall1sobay]

There are some states that require yearly inspections. But most don't In California there are no safety inspections. the biggest worry are brakes and tires. With tires being the worst. Bald tires and blowouts causing accidents.

[@danielwhyatt3278]

@@tall1sobay That is absolutely appalling. I could never live in a place like that. And I thought things were bad to begin with.

[@RushfanUK]

@@danielwhyatt3278 2019 stats, USA road deaths 36,096, UK road deaths 1752, irrespective of miles driven or any other comparison you would think that someone would be asking questions about why so many people are dying on American roads. I also find it quite astonishing that in a country with such a car culture there isn't more vested interest in car safety.

[@TheMightyHams]

@@RushfanUK Why would they when the insurance companies can just charge more every time someone crashes?

[@jakejordan434]

At 17

[@LemonChick]

In the UK we are policed by consent which means we can go about our business without interference unless the police have a very good reason to stop us. They cannot even ask for ID without a good reason, backed by law. And that is why, in the main, we have a good relationship.

[@lizbignell7813]

As a friend who is a retired police officer said, “In this country we have a police service where as in the USA they have a police force”.

[@hannahcallow6374]

It is fair to comment that the relationship with the police various by socioeconomic status and location. London police are far more strict then Avon & Somerset or Wiltshire.

[@ivandavies1388]

Yet, if you tell a police officer you don't want to give your details they start claiming you are acting auspicious.

[@jonathanfinan722]

@@ivandavies1388 "auspicious"?

[@dallassukerkin6878]

@@serenityinside1 :chuckles:

[@npdarcy123]

Interesting, your reaction to seeing armed police officers in the UK, making you feel safer. My reaction when seeing armed police officers in the UK is that they have been called out to handle a possible incident so I feel less safe. Where there are guns there is a potential for less safety.

[@garethjones6082]

when the armed officers aren't required somewhere they go on patrol (they do in manchester i spoke to them outside the pub) but they are still armed in case they have to go

[@HANDSWORTHMAGIC]

Im glad u lot feel safe when u see feds. Wish we could all say the same 😂

[@wessexdruid7598]

@@garethjones6082 But normally their firearms are locked in a box in the back of their vehicle, NOT carried or worn in public.

[@OEV999]

@@wessexdruid7598That is not entirely true. All armed officers who have access and the training to carry at least a handgun will have it on them at all times unless they are inside custody unless they are not allowed to enter. Or this would be the case before or after a shift. Carbines would be stored in the on board armoury of an ARV and when needed would be slung around the chest for easy access and more support if it is needed. This is the same for their less than lethal baton gun launchers - essentially grenade launchers but the UK Armed Police Divisions have adopted them with a sense of less lethal capabilities, firing plastic/rubber projectiles to incapacitate a suspect.

[@wessexdruid7598]

@@OEV999 When I worked with armed police units, they held their weapons in locked boxes in their vehicles. They weren't removed unless needed.

[@andywright8803]

Brit here, I have lived in London, and visited many places in the US. It's MUCH safer in the UK. For example, I had a gun pulled on me in a US shop simply because the owner didn't seem to understand that a British citizen does not have US ID

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Oh gosh, that sounds crazy! Sorry you had that experience!

[@youneverseeanoldmaneatinga7416]

WTF 🤤

[@MeanLaQueefa]

I’m calling BS, that’s a Felony

[@apb3440]

I was refused a beer at Fenway Park as I had no US ID. I had my passport with me but they wouldn’t accept it as proof of age as it has to be ‘American’. I explained I wasn’t American but a Brit visiting. I was told if I couldn’t prove my age I couldn’t buy beer. I was 54.

[@ladyg3nius]

😂😂😂really?

[@Kwippy]

A friend of mine while doing an internship at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, had to be escorted every day to and from the car park by armed security. We have worked in hospitals up and down the UK including London where security's main job was to restrain the occasional drunks. Guess where we feel safer.

[@jahwah8275]

I live around John Hopkins it's not that bad but it's still kinda bad and funny thing is MD has some of the strictest gun laws in the country

[@JC-fd8ho]

why did have security ?

[@philipmccarthy6175]

​@jahwah8275 That's the problem , what 's considered strict gun laws in the US , is probably deemed lacks in the UK.

[@miket2728]

Texan 5 years removed, living in the calm farmlands of Lincolnshire . Over the last 10 years gun culture has dramatically changed to unrecognizable levels. Americans have become way more aggressive in their home towns and are way more likely to use a gun in avoidable circumstances.I too am from the suburbs (Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston) and the amount of road rage deaths, drunk driving, road rage shootings, deaths by accidental discharge (Houston in 2016 had 4 children die in a month from accidental discharge) clearly makes the US less safe. Inspections in Texas are not very stringent and are usually a shake down for wiper blades. Policing here in the UK is sensible, professional and clearly to serve the public where as Texas is policing by force as well. I have young two sons born in the US, and if life in the US was anything near as to how it was when I was growing up (certainly not perfect, and still less safe than the UK) we wouldn’t be here in Lincolnshire.

[@brianfreeman8290]

Yes, but the locals can be deadly accurate with a well aimed turnip.

[@anncolwell9446]

😂 or tate

[@goldinho]

For me the tipping point was Sandy Hook, if you don’t want to talk about the issue of gun control after that you never will, your president was crying!

[@BlueGangsta1958]

Unfortunately, many of the gun control suggestions are just plain stupid. For example - ban the AK47 because it's involved in many shootings (it's involved in many shootings because it's popular. If it disappeared, the next most popular rifle would take its place, and that might be a more high-powered one) - ban "assault weapons" (that's not a gun term and therefore not enforceable) - ban guns with big magazines (changing magazines takes a second or two, this would change nothing) It's not the guns in and of themselves, it's the culture surrounding them that causes the issue. If someone wants to go on a murder spree, it's not because a gun whispered in their head but because they've been taught that violence is an acceptable solution. The gun crazy people are particularly to blame for that. They threaten violence for anything and take photos for social media holding their gun like it makes them tough or something. Another reason is the shockingly low availability of mental health professionals. People who commit mass shootings tend to behave like serial killers - they study others, they have an inciting incident, they have a history of violence, etc. If we want the actual issue fixed, this is what needs to change. But because that's hard, that's not gonna happen. There are sensible laws like - lock your sodding gun away so your kid can't just go to daddy's gun cabinet if they feel like shooting up their school ffs - don't give guns to anyone under 21 (if your kid ain't mature enough for a beer, they shouldn't handle guns) - close the loophole that allows people whose domestic abuse charge gets knocked back to simple battery to keep their gun (we'd get rid of many shitty police officers in the process, so that'd be a plus) and they are either not proposed or don't get through because the republicans are so horny for sabotaging the other team they'll fight against anything they do on sheer principle.

[@pdjhh]

@@BlueGangsta1958if I gave you a camera would be more or less likely to take a picture than before you had it?

[@basilkearsley2657]

One thing you did not mention is the number of different police forces there are in the US. Walk down the road in Time Square in NY and you’ll pass at least three different branches of uniformed police. That not to mention, the FBI, Secret Service, DEA, NSA etc. as. A Brit the USA feels like a police state not a democracy. I’ve been to China a number of times and the USA feels very much like China

[@billiamtaylor3509]

The us is not a democracy

[@Tang0Fox1]

@@billiamtaylor3509 it isn't? Fine you may not like guns etc but they do vote and are not a communist dictatorship under a sheen of money making capitalism like China is. I'm not from the USA but I'd rather the USA, even with all its issues than China.

[@billiamtaylor3509]

what the hell are you prattling on about?

[@basilkearsley2657]

@@billiamtaylor3509 Do you not understand English, do I need to translate it into another language? The USA is painted by Americans and the land of the free, but has more police than China

[@billiamtaylor3509]

the irony of you offering to translate is astounding

[@MimiLingo]

I flew to New York from London for the first time in 2003 (I think). I was 18 years old and had never seen a gun before. Imagine my shock when I stepped through immigration and stopped to wait for my friend only to be yelled at by an armed police office to move it along. I’d never been shouted at by a police officer in the uk. Never mind threatened with a gun just to make me move quicker. It was so excessive.

[@littleblackpistol]

I was in NYC in 2003, my first time in the US and found the cops seriously unpleasant too. Just rude and confrontational. I don't know if the trauma of 9/11 was playing into it back then or they've always been like that.

[@arianbyw3819]

The customs staff in us is also very rude. They aren't even police and they are obnoxious and shouty!

[@JohnLee-zn7zb]

Happened to me in JFK Airport, there was something going on and a huge fat cop sauntered over, unhooked his gun and asked me if I was causing trouble...hmm scary.

[@dennismills6887]

Mich you lie

[@lissylissylissy]

Not exactly the same but i was living in New York in 2017, it was my first time in the US and I was only 20. I had lived in London before so was used to seeing armed police in train stations or outside embassys etc, BUT seeing armed police just directing traffic was one of the biggest culture shocks. I vividly remember sitting in a starbucks using their wifi to Skype my mum back home, and telling her that an police officer w a handgun on her belt had just walked in. My poor mum was terrified, whispering down the phone that I should get out of there immediately and asking if there were toilets or a back exit I could escape through. I quickly realised that the officer was just on break picking up a coffee. This would NEVER happen in the UK.

[@sandraroyce5820]

I'm trying to get my head around going shopping or going to a cinema and worrying about getting shot. It wouldn't even cross my mind.

[@norwegianblue2017]

It doesn't cross my mind here in the States either.

[@julianshepherd2038]

@@norwegianblue2017 so why do people need to carry guns and teach kids how to survive a shooting

[@norwegianblue2017]

@@julianshepherd2038 A very small number of American carry guns. I don't know anyone who carries a gun. Schools teach kids how to survive a tornado as well. Doesn't mean they expect to encounter one. The media makes it sound like high schools are like shooting galleries. In 2015 there were THREE deaths in K-12 school shootings! Three out of 56.4 millions K-12 students!

[@1chish]

@@norwegianblue2017 I think you are not being totally honest and rather selective in your data. In December 2019 alone (just ONE month) there were 36 occasions where 5 or more people were killed. In 3 of them over 20 people were killed and injured. Over 15,000 people were shot and killed in the USA in 2019.

[@norwegianblue2017]

@@1chish Sounds like you've done a bit of cherry-picking yourself. 15,000 is still not a big number for a country of 331,000,000 people. More than twice that number were killed in car accidents in 2019. I still drive. I don't quiver in fear behind the wheel. LOL Plus, the vast majority of those homicides are gang-related or the victim knows the killer. Silly to hear the original poster's fear of going to the movies in the US. Your odds of getting mowed down in a movie theater are next to zero. I can only think of one movie theater mass shooting that ever happened. One out of the millions upon millions of movie showings.

[@FireStormintheTARDIS]

As a Brit who has lived in the US for ten years, I can totally relate to this. I miss going out and feeling safe as I walk down the street. There are many more homeless people in my city since the pandemic and so many of them have mental health issues that it's very hard to find a place to walk and feel comfortable. I also miss having my paid annual holiday. I now struggle to work so many hours to earn my paid time off and if I get sick there is not protection either. Every over here has a price and one does anything for anyone 'just because it's the kind thing to do'. I also miss my NHS. The cost of healthcare over here, even with coverage is an abomination and it is also tied to your employer. This means; you lose your job you lose your healthcare. For an alleged first one (greatest-country-in -the-world - no it's not) country, this is absolutely appalling. I got pulled over once and I said to my missus "oh god, what do I do?" she said 'keep your hands on the wheel where they can see them and don't make any sudden movements''. I miss my British Bobby, too.

[@harveycotton5185]

Yes i lived in U.S. also and have an American wife, the healthcare is literally nothing more than a criminal racket, and the guns are also a problem, my wife had a next door neighbour shot dead in Missouri, things were a lot better in Boston though i love all of New England. We are back in the U.K .atm and it's a fucking dream things are so good here.

[@tenniskinsella7768]

Why dont y come home

[@ScottJB]

And yet you're still here. Curious. Go home if you hate your host country so much.

[@williambailey344]

I remember as a kid that the US was a place to be but thank god that was only a dream. I have been to the US twice on holiday but the UK is always safe and home to ne😊

[@llamagirl2679]

I also live in the US for 10 yrs 5 yrs as a teenager in the late 70's -80's then 5 yrs as an adult from 2007-2012 and I feel exactly the way you do. In fact I moved back to the UK in 2012 because of the cost of Health Care and not feeling safe due to the gun culture. My anxiety was through the roof. I since found out that the food in the US contains over 1000 chemicals that are banned here in the UK and most other countries due to cancer risks. It's so sad, I can live in the US but sadly I will never move back and I am fearful of even visiting now. I just wanted to add I was married to a UK Police Officer and he didn't even carry a taser. I never worried he was going to get killed going to work.

[@jasonw2356]

I got a flat tyre and had to pull up in not the best place to change it. Police car pulled in behind me with lights going to alert other motorists, checked I was OK then gave me a hand to change the wheel before bidding me a safe onward journey. Their aim was simply to make the road as safe as possible as quickly as possible to keep traffic moving.

[@maxineallen5673]

My husband is originally from the US . When his friends from NYC visit they're freaked out at the idea that I would walk home at night alone. That our 20 something daughter would cut through the back streets on her own. We live in York! The idea that I would ever be confronted is alien to me. The worst that might happen is a drunk guy on a stag night may shout something rude. I believe in the States people are told there is risk and danger everywhere, hence them feeling safer with guns on show. If I'm at the airport and see armed police it makes me feel unsafe. Why would they need the guns? I think a lot is cultural/how the news portrays incidents too.

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Really interesting, thank you for sharing! That cultural difference and how we see danger is a great point, you're totally right. Hope all is well in York!

[@jonathanwetherell3609]

Me too. When I see an armed Police Officer my feeling is "Why?" Is there a real threat here or is this just the politicians wanting to make a political statement.

[@sorscha1308]

I also lived in York as a teenager and into my 20s. I think i may have taken a taxi home (2 miles from 'town') twice - max. I regularly walked home from a night out, with friends and alone. Never worried about anything, plenty of houses around, if i screamed someone would hear and someone would help. Walking through town at midnight as a stone cold sober pedestrian i always worried way more about the falling down drunk idiots on the Micklegate Run, either getting themselves run over or falling into the river.

[@maxineallen5673]

@@sorscha1308 well of course, there is a problem of drunks falling into the river and drowning! Our policeman friend says that when bodies are found down river, the men's flies are always open!, they go to the river for a pee and fall in!

[@maxineallen5673]

@@jonathanwetherell3609 there were armed police around the minster last year and people just freaked out. It was apparently an exercise and supposed to reassure the public that they were ready to deal with a terror attack. Had completely the wrong and opposite effect . We also had concrete bollards put in for the Christmas markets and residents agreed that they would rather be run over by a HGV than live in fear.

[@alanwatson7560]

Annual traffic related deaths from WHO statistics are: Per 100,000 inhabitants UK 2.9 US 12.4 Per 100,00 cars UK 5.7 US 14.2 Per billion vehicle kms UK 3.4 US 7.3 Total fatalities UK 2,026 US 39,888 Denmark, Norway and Sweden have the best figures in the developed world.

[@sirierieott5882]

Remember... there are more people living in London on it's own than in any of those entire countries...

[@alanwatson7560]

@@sirierieott5882 The WHO statistics are per capita and billion vehicle miles, so relative population size is irrelevant when making comparisons. The best measure is the fatalities per billion vehicle kms which compensates for the fact that there are 50% more cars per person in the US than in the UK. Using this method it appears that US roads are at least as twice as dangerous as UK roads.

[@highpath4776]

@@alanwatson7560 The roads in the US appear to have more lanes.

[@highpath4776]

I suspect take out the non-uk drivers, the drivers high on drugs or booze, the kids, and the old, that should account for most fatalities.

[@gorrthebutcher4696]

@@alanwatson7560 doesnt negate the fact uks roads are much more densely populated especially london

[@nathjefferies5712]

What you said about UK driver training versus the USA's driver training.... that holds true about the UK police training as well.

[@2000globetrotter]

I once spent a week in New York and in that short time I had some really scary experiences. I have travelled to some of the most unpleasant and hostile places in the world but NY is the only city in which I have ever felt vulnerable. I hated it.

[@JC-fd8ho]

what is the reason for that?

[@YounginBallin]

Lol scared

[@gingernutpreacher]

@@JC-fd8ho Ive not been but a friend has and there a lot of people on drugs they will start fight's with you know most people will not have a gun to defend them selfs

[@neutrino78x]

"I have travelled to some of the most unpleasant and hostile places in the world but NY is the only city in which I have ever felt vulnerable." You are easily made to feel vulnerable. I'm surprised you have the fortitude for world travel if NYC makes you feel that way.

[@capitalb5889]

I've never felt uncomfortable in New York. I've been three times and it was fine.

[@blotski]

Can I add a few things for any Americans: the MOT tests only start when the car is three years old. There are two parts of the driving test one theory and then the practical, which is tough - and you can only start to learn to drive when you're 17. The police training is rigorous in the UK. From 2020 it's a three year apprenticeship before you're fully qualified and can go on the beat without an experienced partner and you have to study for a degree level qualification in policing/law etc. If you've already got a degree you can do a quicker two year course. Only once you're fully qualified can you apply to do a training course to qualify to carry firearms and be part of an armed unit. It's also a tough course which lasts 2 or 3 months, is hard to pass and involves a lot of work on de-escalation.

[@palemale2501]

And fire your weapon just once in action and you are off the fire-arm squad for ever

[@abritishguy7295]

@@palemale2501 only if you use it and your life or another is not in immediate danger

[@wessexdruid5290]

@@palemale2501 Only if you do your job badly.

[@palemale2501]

@@wessexdruid5290 Am told differently by an actual policeman in a local firearms unit - no matter how well you did your job.

[@wessexdruid5290]

@@palemale2501 It is clearly not true for the Met's CO19/SO19, who have many members who have fired their weapons on duty.

[@jamesmorrall2744]

I've been to the U.S a few times and it is the only place I feel unsafe. Just knowing that the person next to me or the guy approaching me could be carrying a gun freaks me out

[@cykablyat9333]

Bruh the UK is also a shithole. The amount of stabbings and robberies is bad.

[@annalieff-saxby568]

I felt unsafe in France, once. Only once, mind. In the USA I feel unsafe at all times.

[@elenacioffi1508]

I believe they're called the Armed Response Unit.

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Thank you!

[@ianprince1698]

British police try and calm situations, avoiding saying anything that will inflame the situation

[@scootbenet]

It basically comes down to two groups I think. The Armed response unit is a bit like a SWAT team and the ones you mentioned guarding obvious possible targets from terror.

[@danielwhyatt3278]

@@ianprince1698 For starters, ‘never’ keeping their hands constantly on their gun in their holster. Those American police are clear to comfortable about the idea af if it were their true first instinct, even though it should never be.😥

[@Tarantio1983]

With policing, I recently did a PGCE with 2 cops on the course (1 was a specialist in "Crisis Intervention", aka hostage negotiation and talking potential suicide-ers down. The other was an ex Firearms Command Officer, who know trains cops). They said that if a gun is involved in a situation then the Armer Response Unit will deploy an Armed Response Team (think SWAT). The SOP in any situation where a gun is involved is that the first officer on scene is responsible for delaying until the specialists arrive, these specialists will be a Crisis Intervention Officer and the ART. The CIO takes charge of the scene and makes all decisions until the CIO feels that negotiations have hit a dead end and then passes it to FCO (Firearms Command Officer) who now commands the ART... and the only job regular police officers play is to create a cordon to keep civs out of the area!

[@joanmackie1735]

Strange thing about guns - it’s not so much whether they’re legal, more about the collective attitude towards them. In Switzerland (where I felt perfectle safe the whole 35 years I lived there), there are many guns privately held, because they are part of the military equipment of almost all adult males (up to a cut-off point which I can’t remember). Gun violence, however, is rare, and mass attacks even more so. Any gun violence is regarded with horror, not accepted as part of the fabric of society.

[@brianfreeman8290]

An interesting point. Thank you.

[@CaptainQuo]

I think much of it is the general attitude to crime. In the states they think it's the old west, everyone who commits a crime is evil and did it because evil, y'know? No socio-economic factors are considered. They have a high crime rate because the justice system is about punishment rather than prevention or rehabilitation. Then the extreme capitalism means social mobility is really low, so they are stuck in a cycle of inter-generational poverty. If you are convicted of a crime you are fucked. If you are poor? Fucked. Disabled or of poor health? Fucked, and it's all seen as your own fault. Individualism, capitalism and selfish greed as a virtue make the US a fucking dangerous place.

[@joanmackie1735]

@@CaptainQuo that sounds pretty accurate to me. The little I know about justice in the US suggests that what would be considered minor crimes in other countries can incur heavy penalties and/or impossible bail conditions, but there are ways for the privileged to dodge the « all equal under the law » principle.

[@peterdubois65]

Because you look after your people way better than the US

[@sroberts605]

I think in Switzerland, the guns are heavily monitored - storage and safe handling are tested yearly aren't they?

[@jeremypearson6852]

I concur with everything you say. I did the reverse, I moved to Florida from London 37 years ago. I know the UK has changed in that time, but it’s likely still safer. There is a lot of gun crime now in the US, some even a result of road rage. I’ve never witnessed someone being shot and I don’t own a weapon. I hope you continue to have a positive experience there.

[@johnchristmas7522]

Jeremy, I have heard that Florida is the worst state for old people. I don't know how old you are now, but I'd check it out if I was you.

[@ajclarke978]

Concerning the police in the UK, I swore at a police officer once when I was a stupid drunk teenager. There were no repercussions and they helped me call a taxi and go home. In the US I don’t want to know what would have happened...

[@agnostic47]

Swearing at a policeman isn't an offence. According to the law a policeman is not a member of the public and cannot be offended.

[@ajclarke978]

@@agnostic47 ok but I just don’t think it would go down very well in America. You can literally get arrested over there for just being too drunk in public

[@MeanLaQueefa]

Absolutely nothing, I’ve done it. Young and Dumb. It falls under your 1st Amendment right.

[@heathwagaman5566]

Many years ago when I was young , angry and immature I was walking past a speed trap and asked one of the cops , " don't you clowns have anything better to do ". He just chuckled and said " not really ". Cops here can be jerks but this idea that you'll be arrested or beaten for looking at a cop the wrong way is a total myth.

[@andrewblythe3896]

@@MeanLaQueefa but in all fairness US police seem to ignore peoples rights far too often

[@johnnybeer3770]

Wouldn't have a gun in the house , hate them . Here in South Devon gun crime is virtually unknown , wonderful . 🇬🇧

[@andrewprytherch]

What do you mean? Everyone and their mums are packing around here!

[@geoffpriestley7001]

@@andrewprytherch must be in sandford

[@andrewprytherch]

@@geoffpriestley7001 well, it IS the best village.

[@TheMarrification]

I'm in Plymouth and I've only ever seen two guns. One was a friend's boyfriend who was hired by a farmer to help protect livestock I think. He was showing me it, I wasn't keen on it, but I humoured him. The other time was at the entrance of Drake Circus shopping mall once, an armed policeman was there when terror threat levels in the country were high.

[@jahwah8275]

I could never comprehend that but I don't blame you we come from different upbringings and cultures

[@paulgillingwater8609]

I was in New Orleans and queued at a restaurant for a table, the guy on the door who showed us into the place had a gun, being from the UK we did think this was strange!

[@j46s96]

Well yeah New Orleans is one of the most dangerous cities in the world 😂

[@skyebates246]

I have been all over the world and I have to say the British police officer is one of the finest things make me proud. Their polite courteous and will treat you like you treat them.

[@gordonsmith8899]

It's an old adage, but so very true: "If you want to know the time, ask a policeman."

[@G6JPG]

Though the politeness can be used ironically, or at the very least _seem_ to be: "Is this _your_ vehicle, sir?"

[@theinsideouter6371]

My brother lives in NZ he came to visit and asked me to buy a shot gun, he could not he did not live in the UK neither my wife or I would have a firearm in our house, he was upset but , I love my wife more than I love my brother, sorry pal

[@elistickband]

My dad was a copper back in the sixties when he was shot in the head while trying to arrest a burglar. Even he never wanted British police to be armed.

[@philt4346]

That is deeply unfortunate, I heard there were a lot of Service revolvers circulating back then from the demob, still recent history.

[@patricialockhart2135]

@@philt4346 my dad had a service revolver in the house during the 1960s. I think it might have been around 1970 there was a campaign to get people with service guns to hand then in to the police, no questions asked. My dad handed the gun In. So yes, there were a lot if ex military Pistols around.

[@fainitesbarley2245]

@@philt4346 Yes there were loads and it was a real public concern in the fifties and sixties. My father had one. The police held several ‘amnesties’ where you could go and dump them anonymously in bins at the police station. They got thousands and thousands.

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

The uk term is “Policing by Consent”.

[@tommyfred6180]

mate a british copper can search you without your consent but before you are arrested base on "suspicion". they can also enter your home without your consent just on "suspicion". we do NOT have policing by concent. if we did both the above would be unlawful. when we did have policing by concent a copper could be dismissed for both. any case against you involving either of the above would be dismissed in court.

[@keithrose6931]

@@tommyfred6180 how are you supposed to stop crime before it happens is you cant be held on suspicion ?

[@ajs41]

Although the reputation of the police with most people in the UK has gone down massively over the last 20 years or so because of their decision to get involved in political subjects.

[@JohnSmith-bx8zb]

@@ajs41 more like that they have been used as a political police force by the governments. I still have in my mind the picture that was published during the ‘Poll Tax Demo’ of a policeman’s Batton striking a uniformed nurse.

[@georgebarnes8163]

GB not UK, policing in Northern Ireland is not by consent.

[@theinsideouter6371]

Sorry me again, when I took my children now my grandchildren if we met Police Officers on their beat I would engage them in conversation which the officers were happy to respond to, these are our friends you run to not away from

[@julianshepherd2038]

Police don't walk the beat. They used to be considered to be doing well ic they prevented crime but it change and they are judged on how many they catch. Different culture.

[@keithrose6931]

@@julianshepherd2038 police do but not enough of them.

[@desmondkamil9088]

hey

[@chrisinnes2128]

As I child I was always told that if I was lost to look for a policeman or policewoman

[@MsPinkwolf]

@@julianshepherd2038 they do where i live(in wales)

[@divusaugstus]

Same in Australia - we’ve inherited the same attitudes to guns from the Poms but after the Port Arthur massacre we brought very similar gun rules as the UK. I found the visibility of guns in the US quite confronting. I love visiting both countries but I too feel safer in the uk.

[@neutrino78x]

"I found the visibility of guns in the US quite confronting." What part of the USA? It sounds like you went to a red state. In California the only people who openly carry firearms are law enforcement and criminals. The criminals only do it in areas were there very few police, as it is illegal to carry a firearm openly.

[@Krzyszczynski]

But Australian police still routinely carry guns.

[@if6was985]

Imagine living in a country where going to school can be a death sentence....

[@josephawilkinson]

like Dunblane?

[@Riku-Leela]

@@josephawilkinson ah yes that one incident almost 20 years ago in a country that hasn't had a gun massacre since, that's totally the one they're on about... Bruh

[@chriswalford9228]

@@Riku-Leela sadly one is one to many

[@wscottwatson]

As a Brit who was weapon trained whilst in uniform, I am as anti gun as anyone else but my reasons may be different. I saw people turned from being civilians holding a rifle to soldiers. I would be very worried if I thought that any untrained civilian could have a gun. They just don't have the right reflexes or default behaviour. Yes, I should have those trained behaviours but as it keeps weapons out of the hands of the untrained I am fine with it!

[@JohnSmith-tp2mg]

This is the realest thing I've read... the reason there's such distrust between the general public and police is because they all have guns, and many of them were not properly trained to responsibly carry one. I've seen/heard of so many petty things like traffic stops escalating into shootouts because the people fear the police and the police see the people as potential threats. I just got to the UK and omg it's the best thing ever: The police I see as just another normal person who just happens to be enforcing the law. In the US, you're right, they're "soldiers". Even when they're off duty, I watch what I say/do because I know how quick things can escalate.

[@Martinbeef]

As far as guns are concerned, the US is living in the 17th/18th century. There must be such an environment of fear in the US, even though people do live their lives. I remember being completely shocked when I saw a Safeway security guard carrying a gun. I haven’t visited there for some time , and would never go to any place where anyone can carry a gun on their belt (just like in the Wild West! ). I suppose if I knew that anyone who wanted to carry a gun went through a long process of psychological testing before being given a license, then maybe I would feel differently. I think it’s a great shame that major killings involving firearms make little difference to policy, probably because the gun lobby is extremely influential, which is not good. I’m surprised she didn’t mention the Constitution of the US, which people always seem to refer to when it comes to free speech and right to bear arms. It was written in another time and doesn’t seem to have much relevance now. Maybe it’s because Americans still feel they are immigrants from different parts of the world, and haven’t settled yet, in some ways. It’s a pity that there isn’t a big move to have the Constitution updated. I suppose the US is still a very young country and is still finding its feet in the world, even though it’s thought of as a superpower. I did have the chance of living in the US on a permanent basis once, but turned it down because the place is so foreign to the British in so many ways. We have much more in common with other Europeans than Americans. Great video, by the way. It’s very balanced and you make a good point of not generalising or being biased against one country or another (except for the obvious policies of guns and the NHS).

[@johnchristmas7522]

Its driven by the Media, telling Americans they are living through the highest crime rate every, actually its at its lowest for years. Plus you have an unelected policy maker called the NRA-so powerful, even governments cannot control it. Its base is, sell more, make more money, don't worry about the stupid buyers, who cares, we are making $millions!!!!!

[@welshdragon99]

I always feel nervous when I see armed police because it means that they feel that the risk level is high in that particular area

[@joho5955]

Don't understand all this fear about seeing police with guns. US has extreme obsession with wanting/loving guns, UK has extreme obsession with fearing/hating guns. Every year in UK, around November 5th, thousands of people buy explosives legally over the counter and detonate them... you know ... fireworks, Guy Fawkes, Gunpowder Plot. This is ingrained into our history... a bit like US Second Amendment is across the pond. Please note in the UK if you have FAC (Fire Arms Certificate) you can own semi automatic rifles & semi automatic long barrelled pistols in 22 calibre, in larger calibres 223/308/45 etc you can own bolt/lever action rifles & long barrelled revolvers. We love to say there is no 'gun culture' in the UK, but actually there is, it just isn't as big and vociferous as in the US, besides historically we had a very big gun culture called the BRITISH EMPIRE and millions of people worldwide got to peer down the barrel our guns in those days. Of course British citizens didn't have to because unlike the natives we were policed by consent... what's that saying... oh yeah... NOT IN MY BACK YARD.

[@GinoMEGuain]

@@joho5955 You seem to have missed the point of the comment. If you are used to have policemen/women unarmed and, on a certain street, you meet policemen/women with guns, you KNOW that that place might be considered justifying the gun-bearing by the officers, hence you are "scared" 'cause you know that that's not a safe place...allegedly at least. The take on gun culture is wrong. I live in Italy, the laws on firearms are more or less the same as in England; so I can tell you that WE DON'T HAVE A GUN CULTURE! We don't talk about it, care about it, feel avout it. If the police calls you to bring your gun back with a good reason, you won't be feeling trumped by the government. You abide. Even more, if you have a gun at home, you won't tell anybody about that and keep it a secret 99.9% of cases. Your kids won't know, your spouse probably will but just cause it's mandatory to let him/her know about it. That's how little we culture firearms in Europe. Fireworks? That's another thing; in Italy if we don't have at least a couple of deaths and 1k fingers blown out by fireworks, hey, it's been a shitty New Year's Eve!

[@georgebarnes8163]

@@GinoMEGuain I am very used to seeing police officers with guns, seeing one without a gun seems a bit weird to me, thankfully there has been very little trouble in the last few years to warrant the police using their guns here in NI.

[@GinoMEGuain]

@@georgebarnes8163 oh, but same for me, man, same for me.

[@billybgamer5205]

I saw armed police in our local chip shop - does that mean there is a higher risk from the sausages? 😄

[@Atttleborough97]

Watch videos about the London Bridge attacks from 2019 and you'll see how fast the rapid reaction armed police respond, they're lightning fast.

[@timash4101]

They're lightning fast in London, but less so in, say, the remoter parts of Scotland.

[@weeweebaws]

when seconds count the police are only minutes away 8 deaths could've been saved if there was an armed citizen.

[@cazyaz523]

@@weeweebaws but 1000 of other deaths from armed citizens. It’s just not a valid comparison.

[@weeweebaws]

@@cazyaz523 those armed citizens are criminals no one in the NRA has killed an unarmed citizen only armed criminals in self defence.

[@terencehill1971]

Actor Peter Sellers recounted a story on some TV chat show may be thirty years ago (Parkinson?). He had just hooked up with an actress in New York and decided to drive her home in a 1960s Chevy the size of an aircraft carrier. He went through a changing traffic light at about 25 MPH and within seconds had black and white units behind him and in front of him with sirens blazing. He stopped and was surrounded by at least six cops with guns drawn demanding to know "where's the fire?". He was released and a few days later was back in the UK (with the same girl) and checked out his only available car--a 12 year old Morris Minor (for Americans, a sort of British Beetle) belonging to his Mother. He thought it prudent to have it checked out as it hadn't run for over a year. On the way to the garage the exhaust fell off, looking around to see where the noise came from, Sellers ran in to a bus shelter--oil streamed into the road and steam into the air. An English Bobby (on foot) strolled across the road and said "We're not being very clever today, are we, Sir?"

[@B-A-L]

250 knife related murders on average a year in Britain out of a population of 60 million compared to nearly 15,000 gun related homicides in USA out of a population of 300 million. Doesn't take much maths to work that one out! The thing that shocked me about America more than all the mass shootings is an incident where an 8 year old girl was allowed to try an UZI sub machine gun at a gun club, lost control and accidentally killed the instructor! Who the hell takes an 8 year old kid to a gun club let alone let them fire a gun?

[@CMOT101]

Per Capita, the US has far more knife crime too.

[@sooshibonbon]

Fun fact! Most police officers in the UK don’t even have a taser! Policing by consent is just so fantastic 🇬🇧

[@bornfree9547]

Wrong 60% of police officers carry tasers and in the next couple of years they will be carrying guns.

[@sooshibonbon]

@@bornfree9547 huh? Dunno where your stats are from but about a third of officers in England carry tasers and the number is only slightly different in Scotland and Wales. I don’t see guns becoming common as well, no matter what the tories try to do 😂

[@bornfree9547]

@@sooshibonbon you believe the stats instead of your own eyes.🤨

[@sooshibonbon]

@@bornfree9547 😂 not everything is a conspiracy But I also used to liaise with the met police and I never met an officer even taser trained.

[@bornfree9547]

@@sooshibonbon clearly you have been brainwashed have a nice subservient life. 😏😂

[@atheistsfightclub6684]

Armed police get called in usually only if weapons are in play that endanger bystanders, but those officers still follow all the same training in de-escalting the situation that the average bobby on the street does, the gun is one option, the last one if all else fails, not a default response, if they have to use it they will have to justify it. I almost had my head blown off when someone using a shotgun for a robbery was being chased by police, he tried to throw it over a wall so it wouldn't be in his possession if he was caught, it bounced off the wall and landed at my feet where it discharged into the air. The police giving chase were not armed so i had no worries about being accidentally shot by them, which i would not be able to say if it had happened in New York instead of London. It takes a lot of balls for an unarmed bobby to chase a lunatic with a shotgun into an alleyway that could almost be called ambush passage, but they do it and if they give a thought to the danger then it's a damn small one. There is a reason why British police get the respect US police think is due to them just by being police, because they earn it every day.

[@shumilondon28]

I have been living UK 15 yrs. I never felt safety problem. Also, I went 6 times to pass my driving in 2009.

[@harrybarrow6222]

I hope you passed eventually. It took me three tries. 😄

[@tonywilkinson6895]

I’ve never been to the us but have traveled widely in Europe and most of Western Europe feels safe. Love from London.👍🏻

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Definitely agree that most of Europe feels safe! Thanks for watching Tony!

[@tonywilkinson6895]

@@GirlGoneLondonofficial You know it ,anywhere that guns are freely available ,can’t be safe ,realli

[@djlads]

I've never felt unsafe in Europe and in US this includes very early hours getting back home or back to the hotel. Or most of UK, but Croydon London - hmmm the only place just sat or walking some guys have randomly become aggressive.

[@589steven]

@@djlads I know parts of Croydon can be dodgy, the only two bad experiences I've have was when I got attacked in Hove park and threatened with a broken bottle and at a bus stop in Horsham. No serous damage but shaken up.

[@djlads]

@@589steven Yeah, but that shouldn't happen, I live in a "rough" area that has been known for guns and gangs, yet not once have I ever felt unsafe regardless of time or where I've been. Yet Croydon just had a vibe that put me on edge, even during the day.

[@davidholgate123]

London is like a totally different country in its self, within the UK so I certainly wouldn't use it solely as a representative of the UK to compare to the US.

[@darrentodd3591]

Totally different from Scotland

[@michaeledmondson5100]

I'm an English refugee living in Scotland. Nowadays England feels like a police state. For six months in the late '60s I lived in London and never felt safe. Once I escaped I promised myself I would never go back for any reason. I have kept that promise.

[@wilenglish2991]

I love my uk police officers, iv had to call them a few times and not only have they kept myself and my siblings safe but they’ve also been caring and considerate towards us. My ex brother in law is an officer with a licence to hold guns however he only does it on certain jobs most of the time he has a taser and a telescopic truncheon which are rarely used.

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Thanks very much for your insights into this! Grateful for the UK police officers as well! Have only encountered very helpful ones!

[@rnp497]

The gun thing is a huge difference and speaks to a general outlook - whenever we have had mass shootings there have been laws brought in to reduce the access and reasons to own a firearm.

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Ah yes, a hugely different outlook and culture related to firearms!

[@kenhunt9434]

Our first visit to the US was 1975. When I tried to use my credit card I was asked for my driver's licence. At that time we simply had a large paper document which I produced explaining that was what we had. I was asked "If you're stopped by the cops, how do they know that it's for you? My answer was that I would tell them. I don't think she believed me.

[@stevegrundy2717]

When our son lived in Kentucky, he was asked for ID in Walmart. He produced his UK driving licence. The employee said she never realised that the University of Kentucky issued driving licences

[@francogalati4139]

​@@stevegrundy2717😂😂😂😂troppo forte!!

[@andyonions7864]

Why on earth should we fear our own police force?

[@ivandavies1388]

Because they frequently abuse there powers and lie. They are also poorly trained with a weak knowledge of the law.

[@alexarcano]

Never had a fear of our boys and girls in black in the UK. Respect, yes, fear no. I've came into contact/worked with the police many, many times, including armed officers, mainly due to my former employment. They are usually a great bunch of guys and gals, doing an incredible job. They are, like us, citizens with surprisingly little extra legal powers, meaning the laws that bind us also bind them. But, they are human, and humans have bad days and we are fallible. Is any position of power open to abuse? Yes, of course it is, so there's always going to be someone taking advantage of it. Do they make mistakes? Yes, of course they do, but they have to err on the side of caution, for all concerned. If that means arresting someone and then de-arresting (meaning they are either admitting a mistake or showing leniency so no record of arrest on your record) them later that's better than an 'innocent' being involved in an incident that could have been prevented. They are (mostly) not soldiers, with physical means of enforcing laws being a last resort, not a go-to option, unlike other police forces. Admittedly as to knowledge of the law that's down to basic knowledge, an outline with highlights that are pertinent to their role such as vehicle/traffic laws, public order, licensing laws etc, and then it's generally boiling down to 'if it looks illegal it probably is'. After that it's down to the lawyers that can afford to take 6 months to work out the details. Remember police are here for us, the citizens, they maintain public order, enforce laws, and possibly most importantly, promote crime prevention. Unfortunately it seems that the politicians in charge can't see prevented crimes as a statistic, so police are given 'targets' they are supposed to achieve, and can be disciplined if they are not reached, adding a level of stress to the aforementioned human factor. You can see where this goes. Nobody really joins the force thinking that they will be a bad police officer, but sometimes, just sometimes the work that they are forced into and the asshats they have to deal with do make them so jaded that they make mistakes and become bad at their job. It's down to you and me to make their job better. Be respectful to them, be honest, and as near as you can, stay legal and stay safe.

[@jonathanfinan722]

@@ivandavies1388 "there"? This is the second time and now I'm going to ask you whether you went to primary school.

[@andyonions7864]

@@alexarcano yeah. Stay legal, support coppers, don't take the mick, be civil, be fair and expect the same in return.

[@AlexanderDiviFilius]

They actively act against the best interests of the general public. They are given far too much authority, and they abuse it religiously.

[@tall1sobay]

As a recent Ex-Pat, I definitely feel safer in London. I lived in San Francisco for 20 years prior to moving to London last year. And there were area's in San Francisco where I'd not feel comfortable in the middle of the day. In my years visiting London I have walked late at night rather "tipsy" back to my hotel alone and never felt unsafe. I certainly don't fear violence here. There is crime, I did see a girl have her phone stolen in broad daylight in Shoreditch. You've just got to be a bit street smart. And as opposed to Paris and Prague where I was always on the lookout for pickpockets, I don't feel that in London. I should also mention I'm 6'4 so people don't usually bother me too much anyway

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Thanks for your insights David! Completely agree - definitely the phone theft and moped crime in London was pretty bad for a while there, but I have never feared physical violence here. Though I do sometimes long to experience more of the US and San Francisco is on my list, so interesting to hear your experience!

[@stevebarlow3154]

There is pickpocketing in London but it is mainly directed against tourists. Oxford Street, the two tube stations on Queensway in Bayswater and similar places are hotspots. Curiously the pickpockets are mostly not locals, but gangs of organised criminals from places like South America and Albania.

[@stevebarlow3154]

@@serenityinside1 Yes, them too.

[@joho5955]

@@stevebarlow3154 Liberal immigration makes Britain safe?

[@stevebarlow3154]

@@joho5955 The professional pickpockets come here on tourist visas, for a nice holiday stealing from other tourists.

[@leooisin6198]

In the UK our police set up follow the principles of policing by consent this means it is a civilian service versus the almost military complex that American cops hold as if you arm them to do a job that's the tool their gonna use not mention the fact u train officers to carry guns in as little as 10 weeks, that's crazy and why I'd never go live in the us 😳

[@Sarah-nd2gy]

8 minutes - that is how long Armed Response took to respond and defuse the situation during the London Bridge attack

[@grahambroadway7394]

and it was only the terrorists that were shot,not any innocent bystanders.

[@sammygirl5835]

I have traveled - as a lone female - to a few US cities, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, DC, Baltimore; in all but Boston, I went off the beaten tourist trail, in all cases I was fine but did feel less safe than I have ever felt in similar areas of London. I think this is cultural, in your own culture you are better able to subliminally read the situation around you, to read the body language and understand conversations even when you can’t really understand/hear them, you can ‘read’ the tone and flow. In a different culture it’s more difficult to do this so, that makes you feel less relaxed and more on edge, making you feel less safe.

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Thanks very much for your insight into this!

[@highpath4776]

I think with London its density and cultural diversity means that no-one is out of place in a particular area and so generally you can pass around freeley.

[@crowhillian58]

That's a great point regarding reading a situation around you.

[@lesleyhawes6895]

However, London's diversity can blur the lines when it comes to reading a situation. Two years back I walked half the length of Oxford St. without hearing a single conversation that I could understand! I don't go to London any more.

[@dinas2369]

@@lesleyhawes6895 there is a lot of tourists on Oxford Street at any given time.

[@terrymummery6377]

I was interested in your views about guns and the police, my feelings, having been brought up in the U.K. is that I feel more unsafe if I see an armed policeman, I am used the the sight of them being unarmed, which is the default in the U.K.. Large cities where there is a terrorist threat do have armed police close to potential trouble spots as terrorists can use knives or home made weapons, soon those circumstances an armed policeman gets equated to a danger situation. As you note attitudes differ in different countries, I am glad that for your situation you find the U.K. less stressful regarding safety.

[@davidwallin7518]

Our armed police are very, very highly trained.

[@davedavids57]

Not really, they put that out to the media. The basic firearms course is 18 weeks. Which sounds a lot but most of it is decision making and stuff the average US gun owner would know. Compared to the average swat team in a US City the UK police aren't that great. But they experience a lot lot less action so they are simply less sharp. Also they really really lack ongoing training. They can't also live with the guns, privately train etc etc. When they actually go into action their performances haven't been that great tbh. Look at Borough market 2017 they killed three terrorists who were just armed with knives. Firing 50 shots, and accidentally shooting an innocent bystander in the head.

[@julianbritishgastandoh5681]

@@davedavids57 no Ino

[@julianbritishgastandoh5681]

English police are ten times better trained in firearms than in the USA.

[@davedavids57]

@@julianbritishgastandoh5681 How are they better trained? Look at their past performances. The shooting of mark Duggen for instance they again managed a blue on blue (shooting a fellow officer). If you go through all the law enforcement shootings in Britain you will see mistake after mistake.

[@markperry4474]

I would be inclined to agree that US SWAT teams are more highly trained than British police armed response units. However, the regular cops in the US are not highly trained in the use of firearms, and these are the cops you will meet everyday. Yes armed police in the UK do make mistakes, but the numbers of people killed by the police in the UK is minimal, and when it does happen it is not accepted as just a part of policing.

[@Chris_GY1]

CCTV is needed to prevent crime. British police have ARVs (Armed Response Vehicles).

[@kw8757]

It is not a legal requirement to have your car serviced though, just common sense. The MOT is a legal requirement for most cars, although ironically for cars over a certain age the MOT isn't required by law.

[@davidjones332]

@@kw8757 The MoT exemption only comes in when a vehicle is forty years old. By that stage, it will be a cherished historic vehicle which will be lovingly maintained by an enthusiastic owner, and will likely do very few miles, and then mostly on summer days when it will be driven carefully. The insurance companies know that the risks involved are minute.

[@kw8757]

@@davidjones332 I know all of that, just couldn’t be bothered typing it all out.

[@zigzaglychee7324]

CCTV is also good for providing evidence which can secure prosecutions, something really important since victims so often don't get justice

[@patricialockhart2135]

@@davidjones332 40 years old. It could be an old British Leyland marina. They weren't even safe when new lol. But I get what your saying, if you have a vintage car you'll be looking after it lovingly.

[@A190xx]

UK police are taught their primary weapons is their brain. They are trained when to be assertive and when to de-escalate situations using their voice and body language. For example, if someone is in distress and threatening others, pointing a gun at them is likely to end up with someone dead, but speaking calmly, sitting down and listening is more effective. It's same with international diplomacy - guns should be the last resort.

[@derby1263]

The US is further to the right than all main stream politics in the UK. Which makes the UK a very liberal, tolerate country. Naturally not perfect but certainly the safer

[@norwegianblue2017]

So tolerant they put comedians on trial who have their pets make a Hitler salute as a joke. Freedom of speech in Europe and Canada is dead.

[@lisachrister9990]

@@norwegianblue2017 Does have you there. The Hitler salute cat where that went legally was disgraceful....more and more free speech is dying in Europe and UK in general.

[@magno2632]

I disagree. Race relations in America is much better but at the same time when its bad its terrible. In the UK everyone is pretty much the same. In Lousina you will see a old white man chilling with a old black man. In the UK that doesnt really exist; probably only in London. Cornwall is very racist.

[@markhorton8578]

During the Vietnam war some men sent their families to the UK “for safety”. I played with some of the kids, from about 7 to 9 years old, same age as me. When they arrived their mothers felt uncomfortable with not having guns(when they first arrived), and would not let their children play outside, even right outside their own homes with me when it got dark. They got really freaky when I would leave in their house in the dark to go and find other kids to play with in the woods, parks or by the river. I tried to make them understand that everything was just the same at night as in the day, but with less light. They would have no none of it. I could easily see, even at that age, that the Adults were imprisoned by their own fear. They were full of it and they were passing it on to their kids.

[@grahvis]

The impression I get of the US is it not being so much the land of the free but the land of the scared. A young woman working as a server at a place where you ordered your food then park in a numbered space and wait for it to be brought to you. As she walked up to the car carrying the food, one of the two men in the car seeing her walking towards them, grabbed a taser.

[@maxmoore3472]

How can they live with a fear like that .

[@mimikurtz4061]

@@maxmoore3472 American life is based on fear; fear of gun crime, fear of communism, fear of terrorism, fear of immigrants, fear of other races, fear of police, .......................

[@maxmoore3472]

@@mimikurtz4061 my god what away to live your life .thank god I was born in Britain.

[@eddiegaltek]

Dunblane was the second mass shooting incident; Hungerford (Michael Ryan) occurred 9 years earlier. It was the combination of the two, within 10 years of each other, that coursed massive the anti-gun reaction.

[@florrie2303]

Agreed. The main difference between the British way of thinking and the US way of thinking on mass shootings is this. Mass shooting: UK public = we need LESS guns, because if no one has guns then there can’t be gun violence. US public = we need MORE guns, because if everyone was armed there wouldn’t be gun violence. The UK hasn’t had a mass shooting since Dunblane, whereas the USA has had multiple mass shootings. I wonder which mind set leads to less gun violence? Answers on a postcard to...sanity city.

[@darransmith32]

@@florrie2303 Imagine if they applied the same thinking to drugs....... UK: Lets all stop taking drugs so there are less drug overdoses and addiction. US: Lets give everyone drugs so there will be less drug overdoses and addiction. And judging by the insane amount of drugs and medicines that are advertised on US tv it's no wonder they pop pills more than any other country.

[@alistairthow1384]

@@florrie2303 unfortunately there was the lake district mass shooting by taxi driver Derrek Bird that resulted in 12 deaths approx 10 hrs ago.

[@davedavids57]

Gun control in the UK is basically a giant smoke screen. If you talk about what guns you own, you lose your licence. For instance the Smith & Wesson M19 in .357 Magnum used in the Dunblane killings is still totally legally to own in the mainland uk. You just need it to have a long barrel. Just google UK long barrelled pistol. The gun has exactly the same effect (well the bullets will go faster with a longer barrel) but the government got to say we banned handguns!!! It's stupid. Plus semi auto AR-15s in .22lr are legal in the mainland UK. But not single action 22lr handguns. You can also get relover rifles but not semi auto. You can get semi auto shotguns. It's daft, just no one who has a licence is able to talk about it as the police will take their licences away.

[@kalicom2937]

@@davedavids57 I see that you like to ignore concealabilty as a potential reason to ban short barrel pistols versus long barrel pistols, rifles and shotguns. Also, rifles and shotguns have legitimate use in pest control / farming as well as for sport. Not so much a short barrel .357. At least I never saw one being used during a competition shoot at my club or being used by farmers to kill rats.

[@douglasdodds8490]

Northern Irland most police officers carry guns but very rarely used because of our special circumstances.

[@ChudleyGG]

Is this because of what happened during The Troubles in NI?

[@douglasdodds8490]

@@ChudleyGG thats right will and still a small threat from dissidents on both sides.I happen to live in Belfast and believe it are not probability one of the safest cities in the world.ta and God bless.

[@06802300]

In addition to roadworthiness, the British M.O.T. test also checks the engine emissions: when they exceed a certain level, the vehicle fails the test and may not be driven on public roads until the issue has been resolved.

[@PhilipSiddall]

No 'rolling coal' idiots in the UK!

[@terencewilliams789]

The MOT is only after vehicle reaches 3 years old.

[@mrmeaner3917]

Yes because the huge majority of cars are road worthy and under a manufacturers warranty to that point.

[@daviddavies3637]

Indeed. A bit of a coincidence, me watching this. Ours is due for its first one this morning.

[@terencestrugnell4928]

The police carrying tasers and pepper spray is quite new. In the seventies, they only had a whistle and truncheon. I remember seeing my first policeman carrying a gun outside Downing Street and feeling very shocked. I remember a tv cop show in the mid-seventies called "Softly, Softly TaskForce". One episode was about an armed robbery. The police had been informed about an up and coming bank raid. An officer had to have a gun and needed to sign a release form for the three bullets he was given. How times have changed!

[@NickfromNLondon]

After an unfortunate case of detectives on the Met signing out revolvers and shooting someone who had been misidentified (luckily he survived) there was a wholesale reform of police firearms training and organisation. Firearms officers have to be selected and trained. This hasn’t stopped the odd incident but it is much reader and better controlled.

[@bobhollis6077]

Pennsylvania has an annual car inspection that is a combination of roadworthiness and pollution control done by an auto mechanic. Costs about $60. A driver's test is also done on public roads. Sounds a lot like the UK.

[@G6JPG]

The UK MoT has a fixed (well, maximum - test stations _can_ charge less, but of course few do) fee. Of course, that doesn't include any remedial work required to pass! (If the remedial work is done at the same place as the test [most testing stations are also garages], the retest fee is lower - I think possibly 0.)

[@keithlordofalbascotland3371]

Never seen a British Bobby standing on some poor buggers neck

[@highpath4776]

you must have been looking in the wrong direction, mate. Blair Peach for one. couple of others over the past three years too, thought it must be iterated it is when officers do things that are NOT in their training that is the problem

[@tommyfred6180]

very common for met coppers to do it mate.

[@keithrose6931]

Poor bugger criminal ?

[@lolazal1]

@@keithrose6931 George wasn't a criminal

[@corleth2868]

@@highpath4776 Blair Peach was over 40 years ago...... in 1979. the fact that you have to go that far back to get one should tell you something. What about Marcus Coutain? There's a video of a MET police office kneeling on his neck that came out not long after George Floyd. He wasn't handcuffed, his hands weren't behind his back, it wasn't for 9 minutes and he didn't die and was able to give media interviews not long after it happened. Allowing for the difference in population UK police kill a tiny fraction of the number that the US do.

[@peterbrown1012]

Lot's of cities have extensive CCTV, you can be followed remotely across the city, some even have microphones and speakers so they operator can hear and speak to you. The police who carry guns carry out normal duties but firearms are kept in a secure area of their car, so if they are needed they would be there fairly quick.

[@adam9612]

I've just discovered your channel, and my I just say how interesting it is. You're very articulate and a natural behind the camera! 😁👍

[@hannahw90hw]

I was on holiday in florida and rented a car. I swear to god I was on the "highway" and a car driving in the next lane had a fully shattered front windscreen which was duct taped in place and he was driving with his head out the side window! WTF how is that legal?!?

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Haha, that is what my husband says!! He was shocked!

[@nonstop9907]

That can't be legal surely? must have still been illegal, sounds really dangerous for everyone on that highway.

[@scottwyllie1268]

Was it Ace Ventura?

[@James-yw1lj]

@@scottwyllie1268 beat me to it 😂

[@heathwagaman5566]

It's not.

[@chrisdevine5503]

The first time I went to Ireland about 1998, I was picked up from the office in a car where the passenger seat was not anchored to the floor, the driver had to pump the brakes repeatedly to even get the car to even slow down, and there was a diagonal crack right across the windscreen. I have never questioned the British MOT system... ever!

[@ttrjw]

Ireland didn't have a vehicle test in those days. The introduction of the NCT - National Car Test - which is like the MOT only every 2 years resulted in a lot of Irish vehicles being scrapped.

[@geraldinemccormick8635]

In Ireland we now have the nct. National car test. You don't see any bangers now. They will fail you for the simplist thing. Its a bit of a money racket. You gave to pay half again for a retest on the failure issue.

[@Chebab-Chebab]

Ireland isn't Britain.

[@harrycooper5231]

Freedom isn't being able to carry a gun. Freedom is not needing to carry a gun.

[@jasonpalmer3154]

My experience as a Londoner is that whilst the policy are not armed, armed response teams are in and around London 24/7. In fact because of the high probability of a terrorist act, we have a lot of other ‘special’ anti-terrorist units, crucially all highly trained (and not gung-ho) entry level police officers. For me, seeing these officers around makes me feel much safer, especially in these mad times.

[@glynlewis3424]

As an ex police employee maybe I can help on the subject of 'police arms'. Bear in mind that there are 43 different forces in England and Wales and local variations apply but in general the following is what happens and applies to both male and female officers. All warranted officers carry handcuffs, an extendable baton and an incapacitant spray (PAVA). Depending on the force a number of officers carry TASER. You would find that many response officers, those who are more often called to situations that might involve violence have these. Often an officer chooses NOT to carry TASER and the chief constable of a particular force may allow this discretionary choice. Firearms officers are a specialist set. They are in specially equipped vehicles which contains a safe for ammunition and certain firearms. The officers in this section are specially selected after psychological and physical tests. The training is rigorous and many will not make the grade even though they may be excellent officers. They are also 're-certified' on a regular basis. You will also note that the number of incidents in which armed officers discharge their weapons is rather infrequent which tells you a lot about a) their training and b) the deterrent effect their mere presence at a scene has.

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Thank you so much for your insights and information on this topic, really appreciate you sharing!

[@mcairns2846]

London is also considered one of the more dangerous cities in the UK. Just for context really.

[@jaysinha0]

Sadly, some poorer parts of London can be very rough and dangerous. You can be mugged in the richer parts too.

[@richardwani2803]

In America it's a police force in the UK it's a police service big difference also British police will try to desolate the situation first

[@GirlGoneLondonofficial]

Ah yes, really interesting in the difference in language.

[@Sue474]

"desolate"? Do you mean "de-escalate"?

[@joho5955]

In the UK you are a Subject, in the US a Citizen. In the UK owning a gun is a privilege, in the US it's a right. UK Subjects fear the Goverment, US Goverment fears it's Citizens.

[@jeremybarker7577]

@@joho5955 Legally people in the UK are Citizens and the term "British Subject" hasn't appeared on anything official such as a passport for 30+ years.

[@trevcornwall8160]

The armed police they are called armed police, specially trained police that are scrambled to any crimes involving guns which is incredibly rare. Probably 1 in 10 years.

[@tommyfred6180]

mate if you are talking about the UK. armed response is used several times a week just in london. i used to live in croydon and we probably had then on the streets twice a month and sometimes twice a week. for most of the six years i lived in the place.

[@trevcornwall8160]

@@tommyfred6180 London's a fckin freak show, it's doesn't get reported on.

[@niallrussell7184]

I think it's way more common than that - anything considered a possible robbery, like a 24hr garage at 2am. They're not news worthy events. (West Midlands)

[@RobCCTV]

CCTV does indeed give a level of safety that you simply do not get in other countries. It is not just a deterrent, it is a very effective crime solving tool too. I should know, as I am a specialist technical officer of London's Metropolitan Police. And on the subject of firearms, I strongly feel that the UK police have a FAR better (and longer) training regime with guns than their American counterparts.

[@cjspartacus]

I travelled around the west coast of the States for a few months when I was in my early 20s. It was just after I finished uni and I was still a complete idiot. I got drunk like I would back here in Glasgow and I hitchhiked with a couple of strangers I met in a hostel. Everyone I met was friendly, loved my accent and appeared interested in me. I never once felt like I was in danger. It was a great experience and I would suggest to anyone to visit the USA. A beautiful country with wonderful people. I'm still glad I live in the UK though. There's no competition on that front.

[@skyebates246]

The ones you said you see at train stations and airports wont normally have a hand guns it will be a machine gun. And they are specially trained armed police.

[@gortmundy01]

It will be an assault rifle, set to semi-automatic. I think the current Police standard in UK is a H&K G36 rifle, it used to be an H&K MP5 semi-auto carbine (fires pistol rounds). Armed Police do carry pistols as standard as well, I think current standard is a Glock 17, but I cant really remember.

[@LG-cz6ls]

They do carry a side-arm, too. Usually a pistol, strapped to their leg.

[@jacketrussell]

Not much chance of being shot by a trigger happy cop if you are pulled over for a traffic violation in the UK.

[@TheSnowdogsShorts]

My late wife was American, and held similar opinions. The main difference was that she had been affected far worse by crime in the USA. In my personal experience. I felt safe in New York, even at night. This was 20+ years ago. I felt unsafe in southern Texas, where I heard gunfire multiple times a day. Saw guns fired in anger twice, and nearly got caught up in a drive by. All of that happened in two weeks in an inner city area. I was involved in helping young people who were involved in gangs over a two week stay. From a British perspective, it was eye opening. In the UK I have never heard a gun fired in anger. I have met many people who have never even held, and sometimes never even seen a firearm. Unusual for a UK civilian, I have actually used firearms. I was in the Army Cadets for a couple of months when I was 15, where I got to fire the Lee Enfield .303. I then belonged to a rifle club for a couple of years. 16-18. Rifle clubs were much more common 40 years ago. The rifle range had their own guns, and I hired them, and bought ammo to use at their range. I was a pretty good shot. Fun times. I have also gone clay pigeon shooting a couple of times, and I can’t gif those things for toffees. Although, one place also did clay rabbit shooting, which is where the clay is shot out vertically along the ground, and bounces erratically. Clay rabbit shooting is apparently much more difficult than clay pigeons. The instructor said to me, “There is no point you trying, if you can’t hit the pigeons, you’ll never hit a rabbit.” I hit every single one of them. It turned out that I have a problem with my eyes, in which I have very poor depth perception with things that are in the air, while on the ground my depth perception is pretty good. I think I’ve rambled on and forgot what I was talking about. 😝 Anyway, I mostly feel safer in the UK.

[@grizzlygamer8891]

The UK have specialist units called Armed Response who basically attend to events as necessary. They also regularly patrol palaces, stations, government buildings. In the UK, if you see an armed officer, hell look more like a soldier.

[@georgebarnes8163]

Not really, all the local beat police in my area carry firearms, a sidearm at least and they look just like regular cops because they are just regular cops.

[@orangew3988]

@@georgebarnes8163 where do you live? I don't know any local policing unit that can walk the streets with sidearms. I see a lot of police through my work and none of them have ever been armed.

[@georgebarnes8163]

@@orangew3988 NI UK

[@orangew3988]

@@georgebarnes8163 wow! Really is a different over there still.

[@georgebarnes8163]

@@orangew3988 always has been, not that uncommon to see cops with semi-auto rifles, all police in NI are armed 24/7 on and off duty.

[@slashdisco]

The UK driving test, along with Sweden and Japan, is consistently ranked as the most *difficult* in the world. If you don't believe me, just search mock test videos on KZbin. I've watched *real* US driving tests on KZbin and have been SHOCKED at how poor they are: far too short, and absolutely no consideration of safety. In the UK, it's less about your own driving skill, and more about how you react to other (potentially dangerous) road users.

[@jaseman]

I've never felt unsafe in the UK. Once I was in Los Angeles and walked along Hollywood Boulevard late at night for a reasonable distance. There were cars cruising by with young men in the front and back seats - all the windows down - eying me up and shouting things. I could sense the danger and I was wondering if I was going to make it to my hotel alive. The next morning when I put the TV news on, some crazy guy had gone on a killing spree with a shotgun one block away from where I had been walking. Now I fully understand that song 'Walking in LA, walking in LA... nobody walks in LA!'

[@TarnishUK]

To clarify UK gun legality. In simplified terms handguns and semi-auto and full auto full bore rifles are illegal under Section 5 of the Firearms Act. Section 1 weapons are legal to own with the appropriate checks and licences, these are primarily manually operated full bore rifles (for example the Lee Enfield No.4 Mk.1 in my profile picture) and manual and semi auto small bore (.22LR) rifles. Air guns are legal to own without a licence but with age restrictions.

[@PhilipSiddall]

Air guns need a licence in Scotland.

[@def_not_dan]

There never really was much of a gun culture before they were banned either.

[@ToTaLePiCpEaNuT]

America Inherited it’s gun culture from Britain.

[@def_not_dan]

@@ToTaLePiCpEaNuT No.

[@LG-cz6ls]

@@ToTaLePiCpEaNuT Don't talk bollocks, lad.

[@ToTaLePiCpEaNuT]

@@def_not_dan Literally yes. Why do you think the founding fathers were so obsessed with “their rights as Englishman” the American bill of rights if almost a direct copy of English bill of rights. The whole revolution was literally because they believed they weren’t been treated as Englishman. The britain of the late 1700’s was a gun toting society, any knowledge of history and you would be aware of this.

[@rachaelharris9226]

@@ToTaLePiCpEaNuT I think you may have miss understood the historical context here, whilst the English Bill of Rights 1689 does give the "freedom to bear arms for self defence" the bills main objective is to take power away from the monarchy and place it with parliament. It was written following the overthrowing of King James II whilst the country was in the midst of a revolution so this is not a well rounded view of british gun culture x

[@WheelyHeidi]

I was riding my motorbike home from work. It was midnight and I was tired, so when I couldn’t get the front light to work, I gave up and road home on the county roads rather than the main ones. I got stopped by the police, who tried to fix it. When her couldn’t either he followed me home to Keep me safe. I did t get a ticket, but did have 7 days to fix it. No stress, no fear and absolutely no thought that I would be hurt by the policeman. They are here for your safety and anyone who hurts them are hurting themselves.

[@twt3716]

As an Englishman I can confidently assure you all that UK police dont need firearms because they dont show up anyway. It might be raining.

[@TR4zest]

Yours is a great summary. I am a Brit who lived in PA for 20 years, now back home. While firearms are not an issue in the UK, we do however suffer knife crime, particularly among underprivileged teens and young adults in inner cities.

[@dapablo2]

Our system is known as "Policing by consent".

[@charliecroker7380]

yeah, right.

[@dapablo2]

@@charliecroker7380 · "When Sir Robert Peel first established the Metropolitan Police in 1829 he did so on the principle of policing by consent." Just because you don't like the police doesn't negate the principle.

[@charliecroker7380]

@@dapablo2 Policing by consent implies that the people have given these constables the power. Funny how the oath says they serve the queen, not the people.

[@charliecroker7380]

@@Pigdowndog Well spotted. I'm anti-any-authoritary, not just the police.

[@charliecroker7380]

@@Pigdowndog Ha ha, they didn't even bother coming out when my car was stolen.

[@kureaz]

Uk police office are great as a POC I feel really safe with them. Was once forced to call as got into an accident near Perth. Unfortunately my insurance would only toll the calm back to home base in York. I got really stressed and scared as didn't really have much money on me and had to get Aberdeen as exams next day. Officer talked me down a panic attack and drove me to closet train station. He even stayed until toll truck took my car as it was late at night.

[@flappitty]

In London at least the Armed police i believe are supposedly able to be on scene with 10 minutes probably even less in central London where they tend to circulate all day.

[@georgebarnes8163]

Same in Northern Ireland as ALL police in NI are armed 24/7

[@RJS4287]

Thanks for this. I thought very fair. I suspect a lot of the US views are influenced by ideology - right to bear arms, distrust of government - by some not all. As I have said being a UK/Australian dual, attitude to guns in Australia is closer to UK. Right wing politicians like Howard and Fisher tightened gun laws here after Port Arthur shootings 25 years ago largely with public support. But police are all armed that has resulted in more police shootings than UK - some tragically accidental.

[@norwegianblue2017]

Sadly, there will be a day where Aussies will regret giving up their guns.

[@RJS4287]

@@norwegianblue2017 None I know - we do not like killing each other

[@norwegianblue2017]

@@RJS428714,542 gun homicides out of population of 311,000,000. Most of those in highly concentrated urban areas. The chance of a regular American being killed by a gun are infinitesimal. Whereas I can show you example after example of times when civilians would do anything to have a gun in times of war/government oppression. It is the safety net against tyranny. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of times a year that guns are used in self defense in the US.

[@RJS4287]

I find that number of deaths unacceptably shocking even given the size of the total population. I have a totally different world view - one I believe shared by people in Australia and UK. Most - 80% - of Australians live in large coastal cities where gun crime is rare.

[@MeanLaQueefa]

@@RJS4287 62% of gun deaths are suicide. Then the rest is self defense, gang on gang shootings, and random homicide.