London has never been a crime-free utopia. And as women, we are trained to carry a heavy awareness of our personal safety around with us at all times. Before I embarked on my first solo commute to London at age 16 my mother, who lived and trained here as a nurse in the 1980s, gave me sage advice. Always keep my bag tucked under my arm to dissuade pickpockets, and be prepared with cutting remarks to aim at flashers on the Tube.
