I am rather sure that most of Europe is quite a lot safer than The US. I lived in London for 4 1/2 year with out even once having problems. Denmark where I am from is one of the safest places in the world and Spain where I live now (Madrid)does not have half as many tourists as London but here I have to be on my gard all the time from pickpockets because the police does nothing....
This is unreal in a city of this size and I know it is a bit of a sensitive political subject as well. At the moment my Spanish sucks but that will improve and so will my prostests both written and oral. If I pay tax I also want security........