Liz: New York is safer than London

Liz Hurley has become the latest celebrity to claim that the streets of London are meaner than New York's.

Pleading for more bobbies on the beat, the 37-year-old actress said the shortage of patrolling officers made her feel extremely nervous.

"We definitely need a stronger police presence on the streets," said Miss Hurley in an interview with Woman's Own magazine.

"It's rare to see them at all now. In America, uniformed cops eat in coffee shops, diners and restaurants, and I always feel safer having them around.

"This would be an easy change to make in the UK and I think we should do it."

Miss Hurley is speaking from bitter experience, having been robbed at knifepoint by four teenage girls eight years ago. As she walked from her office to the flat she shared at the time with Hugh Grant in Kensington, the gang pushed her against some railings and demanded money.

Fortunately, a van driver saw what was happening, stopped and chased off her attackers, who escaped with £10 and a bag of photographs.