F1 heiress Petra moves to LA (it’s much safer than Britain)
It is home to some of the world’s most notorious gangs and has rising crime levels.
But Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone has chosen Los Angeles to be her family’s new home – because Britain’s streets have become too ‘unsafe’.
Miss Ecclestone, 29, who owns a £100million home in Chelsea, said she found it ‘crazy’ how the UK was seeing so many violent attacks, including knife crime and robberies. She will employ four bodyguards in LA to ensure her safety and that of her three children.
the youngest daughter of F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone said other mothers at her children’s school expressed similar worries about safety. She stressed: ‘It’s crazy how unsafe the UK has become.
‘talking with mums at school, there have been so many incidents, so many attacks – robberies, knives during the day.
‘You don’t feel safe walking around the neighbourhood.’
She said of the bodyguards: ‘I have them for peace of mind. I want them to stay with my kids and to protect them and me.’
Los Angeles is part of a sprawling urban mass but the city’s population is just under four million – less than half that of London. It has a higher murder rate, but much lower levels of rape, robbery and burglary.
Experts say a high prison population, better policing and immigration into the city have helped cut rates.
Miss Ecclestone plans to move into a 57,000 sq ft mansion – the largest house in LA county.