i've never had any trouble in brixton, including numerous late friday nights staggering out of sundry clubs down coldharbour lane, which incidentally also contains london's best 2nd-hand bookshop. but then i suppose it's an advantage if you know the place. bit like streatham. if you hear a noise in the street you're never quite sure if it's a car backfiring or bullets. but you get used to it, know the areas to avoid, etc.