Rome

So where are you going instead that's so much safer?

I've been to Rome recently, walking around at night...without children,but that makes no difference to safety (probably the opposite. ...you are more likely to be targeted by a mugger if you are alone, not with a family I guess).

As I said..no problems at all.Of course you can be unlucky anywhere.....

Rome is indeed full of refugees from countries with lesser cultural histories, all of whom have come to gawp at the historical riches of the place. The dangers to families with children are that you will get separated amid the throngs. But don't all kids have smartphones these days? They can just WhatsApp you for help.

The anxious mother cited in the OP reads too much tabloid media, and clearly has not herself left home in years.

I cannot speak for Italy, yet as an example, over here in Germany (which has taken some refugees over the course of recent years) a number of people claim they feel much less safe now than before. and whilst there is hardly any evidence at all, there are political groups and media outlets that like to exploit and fuel these fears in order to serve their own agendas, resulting in a raising feeling of insecurity - a doom loop. the crucial thing is that feeling safe or unsafe is something highly subjective, i.e. even with statistics and sober judgement, it is hard to take the wind out of these sails.

as a rule of thumb, violent crime, e.g. a robbery at knifepoint or a fight, is still an extremely rare occasion (without destinction whether the assailant may be refugee or resident), whereas pickpocketing is something you should brace yourself against (e.g. moneybelt, alertness, common sense, copies of important documents). actually, the refugees being at the risk of deportation when caught offending, personally my perception would be they are actually less likely to involve in crime.

on a somewhat related note: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/23/why-has-italy-been-spared-mass-terror-attacks-in-recent-years

and off-topic: whilst I admire how Italy copes with the situation in general, I am well aware that many many refugees in the country are living in dreadful conditions of black labour and slave-like exploitation. I really wish the Union as a whole would try to tackle the refugee situation.

I have also spent a couple of nights in Rome in the last 3 months and never miss an opportunity to go for a stroll, even if it something really touristy like a walk to the Trevi and back. Granted it may depend where Motay's friend's mother lives - some areas of Rome have perhaps more than their fair share of refugees - but as a visitor in the central area of the city where the tourists go, refugees will not be a problem

Yes, I was thinking that, as a resident, she probably doesn't live in the centre, which is huge and which few tourists ever leave because that's where almost all the sights are. And her particular neighborhood may have gone slightly downhill in the last few years.

Rome continues to attract millions of tourists a year, so I doubt OP will be missed.
But if OP is replacing Rome with another European metropolis, the same issues (and non-issues) will apply. Just far less so than they would in an American metropolis.

Hi, I as in Rome with 3 friends for 2 weeks in May. I had been 4 times previos since 1995. I found the streets to be very unsafe at this time. Our hotel advised us not to go out after dark without a taxi. It is a far cry from even 2006. I guess the refugees are very poor and hungry so they steal whatever is not nailed down. Naples was the same as always. I don't think the locals would put up with any crap.

I live in Rome, i am 23 years old. I can tell you that Rome is as safe as any other metropolis in Europe. Perhaps this lady lives in a not central neighbourhood, thus the small criminal activities it encounters. But tourists of course will most certainly visit the central areas, and those areas are super protected. The city is full of refugees, but that's not important from a touristic point of view.

Feel free to contact me if you want any suggestions of cool places to visit :)

Cheers

Been not there for some years, but I would trust Spaghettiontheloose.

I guess "the mother" and the "hotel staff" from post #16 are just listening to "far-right" politicans
who spread fear and tell lies about refugees.

Trump was only elected because of the fear of the so gruel Mexicans, the AFD in Germany, Le Pen in France
and the Brexit is all thanks to fearmongers.

Cozytoes; tell us exactly what you have experienced and why you found the streets unsafe ?

Please tell us which hotel you were staying in and which neighbourhood. As someone who regularly (several times per year) stays around Termini - occasionally Trastevere- I have never felt in any danger, though I'm not usually out after about 10 or 11 in the evening.