Phil,

I think "Avoid walking the streets or using public transport alone at night", is difficult to misinterpret.

Just for the record, I've only seen police officers once in Forest Hill (during the dark evenings), and I walk through FH each and every night at varying times. On the one occasion I did see two officers, they were stood in the well lit station chatting to staff.

Regardless of if "walking the beat" is effective, it's dramitically influences people perception of safety, I'd argue that this is half the problem.