Yeah, what part of dangerous red necks did they not understand? This is what happens when people think things are exaggerated when they're not. If you just go on through and take care of your business, they'll leave you alone. If you take a piss, to use a British expression, who know what'll happen.
Oh, and don't kid yourself, there are some damn rough areas in the UK, possibly worse, to say nothing of some inner cities in the US.