Hey all,

This is an interesting one and one that my Mum in particular is concerned about! She went to NZ to see her sister a few years ago and when she was there, there was a murder in Hamilton (where my Auntie lives). Now she thinks that all of NZ is a terribly dangerous place. I live in Birmingham and try to tell her that it is twice as dangerous here as it is there.

When I lived there for a year I experienced very little crime personally. I realise that this doesn't mean there isn't any, just that I was lucky. Having said that I lived in a suburb of Auckland and was more than happy to leave the front door open all day - as were my neighbours. I don't think that happens in Brum any more... It's all relative as they say.

Nowhere in the world is safe from crime, but I think that if you are going to be somewhere with crime why not make it New Zealand. NZ has a stronger sense of community than most of the UK and if you are a victim of crime you can count on your neighbours to support you.

So, no crime isn't REALLY a problem - or at least no more so than Birmingham, London, Manchester, Hemel Hempstead, Nottingham...

Dan-ish :P