The safest place I ever lived was on the roughest, most dangerous estate in our local city (before I was fortunate enough to move here). I never once felt threatened or in danger. I walked through the estate at all hours of the day and night. The scallies didn't bother people walking ....they kept their fights between themselves. There were some scary people but at heart they were the kindest, most generous people I have ever met. I wasn't like them....I don't drink, smoke, swear, fight etc but they accepted me for what I was and when I got my degree and became a teacher they were all so proud of me.
You just had to see past the protective wall they'd built up around themselves. They would complain bitterly about immigrants and asylum seekers but when a family moved onto the estate from Afghanistan, people made sure the children had bikes, toys etc. because they couldn't bear the thought of the children not having things that their own took for granted.
I never once feared for my girls on the estate even when they were older and stayed out late. They would phone me once they were on the estate and I would start to relax.