[mellavora]

> it definitely feels as if there's a low key lawlessness about town.

history of police: the NY police force stared when one politician got his street gang made official.

So the police have a cultural heritage.

And on the other side,the city isn't a bunch of people who basically agree (or think they basically agree) on what is right and wrong, then use the law to enforce this. Counter-example, Sweden from circa 1000 to 2000 AD. (Sweden still thinks it is this, but has growing issues with immigrants from non-nordic cultures)