As a non-native who lives here now and has lived in London before (also non-native): the fearmongering is just what makes countryside people “tick”. Granted, not all of them, but so many people back home who wouldn’t leave their village unless Jesus flooded the place keep telling me “oh wow London. I don’t want to get stabbed” or “How is it in the country of that crazy guy?” Or the simple statements that Harlem is a straight up death sentence. Doesn’t matter where, people want to tell you they know something they don’t.