On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 20:29:23 -0000, "___" wrote:

London is such a dangerous place now just wondering How Melbourne compares ?


They are both big cities. Melbourne isn't as big as London - population
is just under 4 million - but it's no village.

In any big city the traveler should take some reasonable precautions for
safety. However, I drove cabs in Melbourne on the night shift for 17
years; I was never physically assaulted although I did have half-a-dozen
fairly scary moments. Not bad when you consider that I carried well over
50,000 passengers in that time.

If security is a major worry for you, then stay near the bright lights
and avoid the back streets of some suburbs after midnight (St Kilda,
Footscray, Springvale). There are no aggressive street beggars like
Madrid or Rome, but you may have problems with the occasional drunk if
you are near some discos or pubs after 10 pm.

But, bearing in mind that last year I was able to compare with many
other cities, including London, I would rate Melbourne and Sydney as two
of the safest major cities after dark in the world.


Cheers, Alan
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