Feeling safe in London....

[Nick Armstrong]

Lots of parking attendants, mind. Perhaps that's the new strategy for beating the bad guys.

I don't know what they do to the enemy but they scare the **** out of me.

[Richard Barrett]

I was living in central London during the IRA bombings, and I was close enough to hear (but not see) one of them. But a bit of perspective is needed here - the chances of being killed or injured by a terrorist attack is small compared to many other bad things that can happen to people in a big city. I find London stressful enough without worrying about that as well...

[Stillhomewardbound]

I was living in central London during the IRA bombings, and I was close enough to hear (but not see) one of them. But a bit of perspective is needed here - the chances of being killed or injured by a terrorist attack is small compared to many other bad things that can happen to people in a big city. I find London stressful enough without worrying about that as well...

Incredibly so, but the fact that there hangs in the air a fug of fear means that the terror in terrorism is having an impact. If ever there was a time for one of those 'Carry on ... And do nothing to change your lives or routine', this is the time.

Ps. And I say this having been within earshot of two bombs, my parents having survived an attempted bombing of their hotel and my brother having given assistance to the injured of the Admiral Duncan bombing.

[teamsaint]

Armed plod on the streets of South Kensington yesterday.

Aren't londoners sick of this nonsense? I am,and i am there about once a fortnight.

[Serial_Apologist]

Armed plod on the streets of South Kensington yesterday.

That's where I lived up to the age of 12. They must be looking for me...

[teamsaint]

That's where I lived up to the age of 12. They must be looking for me...

i dont think they were looking for anybody, not even you,surprisingly.

They were smoking,chatting,and having their picture taken with tourists.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

like S_A i was born and raised in London [let us praise the LCC] from '45 until i left for the middle kingdom in '79; cycling and scooters were always more risky than terrorism even in the IRA days

Taking the long view, cycling in London actually appears to be getting safer. The annual KSI, or average number of cyclists killed or seriously injured, between 1994 and 1998 was 567, compared with 515 per year from 2008 to 2012. That's a fall of 9 per cent. At the same time, there has been a huge rise in the number of people getting on their bikes - 176 per cent more since 2000.

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24636-despite-the-deaths-cycling-in-london-is-getting-safer.html#.VQDD2OERGTY

i think major cities are safe and possibly safer now than then; the Security State just loves terrorism but getting on a bike looks more risky to me ..... i missed the 7/7 attacks by one day, having meetings in the Kings X and Tavistock Sq area on the 6th ... very sad that they happened and that people lost their lives or were injured in such horrific and painful ways ... i certainly feel queasy around Kings X and the Tube since then .....

[Dave2002]

I would prefer fewer armed police at the Railway stations. don't know what the point of them is, though I do have opinions, but the police with automatic weapons don't make me feel safe.

Coming up the escalator onto the concourse at Waterloo tonight Mrs D and I just about banged into not just one, but three police officers, each carrying what I assumed was a semi-automatic weapon. Indeed I may actually have banged into one of the weapons - we were that close. However, no point in stopping to talk, they just carried on - fortunately. I think that most of the police with these weapons are quite well trained, and hopefully they mean well.

I would not normally go out of my way to approach an armed officer, though I have a vague recollection of asking one at one UK airport which way something was, and getting a reasonable reply. Must be a big responsibility having that kind of kit.

[MrGongGong]

I think that most of the police with these weapons are quite well trained, and hopefully they mean well.
.

Most?
Quite?
Hopefully?

[Flosshilde]

Dave's is as good as the best of Mr Pee's!

[Dave2002]

Dave's is as good as the best of Mr Pee's!

What a comparison!

I'd hardly be writing this if they (the policemen) hadn't been as I described, would I? Perhaps as a ghost to haunt you all.
Maybe we could have a ghost emoticon.