But those of us today, much more heavily dosed with Miami Vice and The Sweeney, are naturally and constantly afraid in a town of any size, afraid of dark, wet streets and car tyres squealing round their corners, afraid of groups of footloose lads, barging down the pavements yaddering bits of popsong, afraid of seedy, smelly heaps of rags and old coats, wheezing and reeking of rotgut cider.