Don't want to troll this issue, but when I 1st joined this forum in 2005, every other post was about vandalism, rock throwing youths, no-go areas, bandit country, etc.
It was therefore with some trepidation we bought our boat and set off on our canal adventures. Needless to say we have experienced none of the horrors so widely reported at that time (touches wood carefully !), and have thoroughly enjoyed our canal experience so far.
Have things gone a bit quieter, I hope so.