Quote: zooo @ June 23 2009, 3:42 PM BSTNo one I know has ever been the victim of a violent crime.
Me neither.
My life feels in limbo at the moment... Page 6
Quote: DaButt @ June 23 2009, 3:52 PM BSTThe sharp rise in the UK is due to changes to recording procedures, BTW.
Ah.
Quote: DaButt @ June 23 2009, 3:33 PM BSTI've read that England has more tornadoes per square mile than any place on the planet.
Can't say I've ever seen a tornado.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ June 23 2009, 3:53 PM BSTCan't say I've ever seen a tornado.
Oops, looks like the Netherlands have you beat.
From Wikipedia: "While the United Kingdom has more reported tornadoes, relative to its land area, than any other country excluding the Netherlands, the vast majority are weak."
We have lots of teeny weeny ones that pick up the odd crisp packet.
But no significant ones.
I saw an awesome one a few years ago that just picked up mown grass from the fields and came right through our garden. It was huge but all slow and gentle. 
Quote: DaButt @ June 23 2009, 3:52 PM BSTVIOLENT CRIME PER 100,000 PERSONS
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/cfi/cfi115.htmlThe sharp rise in the UK is due to changes to recording procedures, BTW.
I think London probably takes care of most of that, the rest of the country tends to be mcuh less violent crime-y. I come from Cumbria, I don't think I even heard of a violent crime taking place, let alone knew anyone who'd been involved in one!
Quote: DaButt @ June 23 2009, 3:52 PM BSTVIOLENT CRIME PER 100,000 PERSONS
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/cfi/cfi115.htmlThe sharp rise in the UK is due to changes to recording procedures, BTW.
That includes Wales though DaButt. Without it, England would be much lower, honest...
I don't think I live in a violent society. I've lived in some dodgy parts of London and Liverpool most of my life but have never been a victim of violent crime, and don't know many who were. Most of those were involved in that kind of culture.
Quote: zooo @ June 23 2009, 3:55 PM BSTI saw an awesome one a few years ago that just picked up mown grass from the fields and came right through our garden. It was huge but all slow and gentle.
That's not a tornado. Over here we'd call it a dust devil. This is a tornado:
I don't think the term tornado only applies to those which kill people!
It's still a tornado (I think), just a nice harmless safe British one.
Quote: Rob H @ June 23 2009, 3:56 PM BSTI don't think I live in a violent society. I've lived in some dodgy parts of London and Liverpool most of my life but have never been a victim of violent crime, and don't know many who were.
What is your definition of violent crime? Just curious, because I've read that UK police tend to ignore things like random punchings, threats and other things that would lead to an arrest here in the States.
Quote: DaButt @ June 23 2009, 3:58 PM BSTThat's not a tornado. Over here we'd call it a dust devil. This is a tornado:
Well, we certainly don't have many that cause any noteworthy damage or nuisance. You don't tend to hear about tornados hitting often on the news or weather!
Quote: DaButt @ June 23 2009, 4:04 PM BSTWhat is your definition of violent crime?
Being assaulted, mugged, etc; the usual.
Quote: zooo @ June 23 2009, 4:03 PM BSTI don't think the term tornado only applies to those which kill people!
It's still a tornado (I think), just a nice harmless safe British one.
An actual tornado connects to the base of a cloud. A whirlwind or dust devil is merely a strong, rotating wind.
Ahh, right. I don't know nuffink 'bout weather.
Was a whirlwind then. A dust devil is a vacuum cleaner.
Quote: DaButt @ June 23 2009, 4:04 PM BSTWhat is your definition of violent crime? Just curious, because I've read that UK police tend to ignore things like random punchings, threats and other things that would lead to an arrest here in the States.
I don't think that's true. If you report it to the police then they record it as a crime, so it'd appear on those figures. They might not necessarily b eable to arrest anyone but it'd still be a crime. I'd include things like random punchings, muggings, common assault, domestic violence etc. etc. Anything with violence involved. Not sure if threats - in a verbal sense -would count but obtaining money through menaces - verbal sense backed up with real threat of violence.
Quote: zooo @ June 23 2009, 4:07 PM BSTAhh, right. I don't know nuffink 'bout weather.
Was a whirlwind then. A dust devil is a vacuum cleaner.
So what's an anti-cyclone?
Quote: Matthew Stott @ June 23 2009, 4:06 PM BSTWell, we certainly don't have many that cause any noteworthy damage or nuisance. You don't tend to hear about tornados hitting often on the news or weather!
The UK averages 33 per year; the U.S. averages 1200 but it's much larger.
Quote: Rob H @ June 23 2009, 4:09 PM BSTI don't think that's true. If you report it to the police then they record it as a crime, so it'd appear on those figures.
By "ignoring" I meant not arresting and prosecuting. The stuff mentioned in this article will land you in a jail cell in the U.S.:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-381799/Let-burglars-caution-police-told.html