Question from an American - what are considered the roughest areas in Britain?

[JazMerkin]

You seem to have a decent amount of money, I know you travel for work and that you flew to the U.S. to see Pacquiao - Hatton, so why do you live where you do (if you don't mind me asking)?

I think how I live probably gives you the impression there's more than there is. The travel was for a work placement in Europe, so they covered my travel & living costs. The money that went on Hatton-Pacquiao, (which when taking hotel, flight, fight ticket, spending dough into account was about £2000) was money both me & my girlfriend had saved up together over the previous year for a holiday. I mean, by the standards of where I live, my family is pretty well-off, but I think if you compared us to most people in Britain, we'd be considered 'poor' by some.

I still live here, because it's where I grew up & even with everything wrong with it, it's the place I feel comfortable & all my friends & family are still here. I probably would have been just like most of my friends growing up headed either to jail or an early death, if it hadn't been for 2 teachers I had in my community college, who basically changed my life & because of them I've now got 2 degrees & at least some possibilities at 23. I know that the area isn't going to get better whilst the only role models are drug dealers & sports stars long gone, so I feel like if I just leave than I'd basically be selling out. I might feel different once I have kids as I don't know if I'd want them growing up here as it is now, but until then I want to actually at least try to do something positive for my community & leaving it behind won't do that.