Exclusive:
Jodie Weston says the worrying levels of knife crime in Britain is one of the reasons why she wants to ditch the country to instead start a new life with her young son in Dubai
An influencer is ditching the UK to instead raise her son 3,400 miles away – as the country has become “too scary”.
Jodie Weston, 30, achieved fame with stints on Channel 5’s Rich Holiday Poor Holiday and Rich Kids Go Skint. The DJ has also been open in the past about splashing out £30,000 on holidays for her and her son.
But the mum wants to make her next adventure abroad permanent so she can raise Koa, now two, in Dubai. Jodie is getting her work visa processed and is looking at apartments.
And one of the driving forces behind the move is her fears of raising a child in the UK.
Speaking about her concern for knife crime in particular, she told us: “Knife crime is not an issue out there which is something which worries me about having a boy. There are low crime rates there in general.”
And asked if she was scared about the levels of knife violence, she added: “I am very worried. It’s all I see everywhere on TV and in the news and it just scares me for the future. Obviously my son is only two but it’s an issue even with primary school aged kids and it has got so out of hand in London.
“I was watching a documentary the other day and a lot of the time it’s over just trivial matters like someone taking a snack that another person wants or even mistaken identity. And I just think more needs to be done but I don’t know when that is going to happen or how.”
There have been multiple knife crime horrors in the capital already this year including a 15-year-old boy, Keylan Bokassa, being stabbed to death on a London double decker. The Ben Kinsella Trust meanwhile found an 80 per cent increase in police-recorded offences involving a knife or sharp instrument in the past decade across England.
But away from crime, Jodie told us there are four other reasons she’s keen to move abroad.
She says she is fed up with expensive rent prices and British weather, adding: “I think this winter has been more cold and wet than ever. It just feels never ending. I can’t even take my son to the park most days as it keeps raining.”
Dubai stays sunny all year round with the maximum temperature in August being 44C and the average lowest being 30C. This is compared to the lowest month which is January where average maximums are 25C while the average lowest is 14C.
And asked to expand on her point about her child having more activities to choose from in Dubai, she mentioned things like most apartment complexes having swimming pools.
As well as the beach, she said she was also encouraged by the soft play options, outdoor playgrounds, kit flying and mini towns where kids can drive in toy cars.
Jodie, who said she has been looking at international schools costing from £3,000-£15,000 a year, added: “There’s also theme parks with kids rides, water parks with slides, sensory centres that are much bigger than the ones we have here; everything just seems a bit grander out there.”
As for what excited her most about bringing up Koa in Dubai, where she has visited before, she said: “Obviously it’s great to be around different cultures and in a cosmopolitan city like Dubai I think you’d get a great range of life experience and opportunities that you maybe wouldn’t if you stayed in the UK.”
But she admits it’s not all positive, explaining: “Obviously being in an unfamiliar place with some strict laws and family not near me.”
Among her other drawbacks were:
The United Arab Emirates is known for its ultra-strict laws. British man Marcus Fakana, 18, was jailed for one year for having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old, who at that age is considered a minor.
Same-sex sexual activity is also illegal in the UAE. The UK Government has also warned that public displays of affection like kissing are frowned upon and could lead to arrests.
Books with themes of magic or witchcraft like Harry Potter can also be flagged at customs.
And as for swearing, the UK Government said: ”It is illegal to swear and make rude gestures, including online, as they are considered obscene acts. You could be jailed or deported.”
Drinking or being under the influence of alcohol in public is also prohibited in public places.
The UK Government also has warnings over social media, saying: “It is illegal to post material, including videos and photographs, online that is critical of the government, companies or individuals, or which relates to incidents in the UAE.”
