Higgins, I know you're well aware that the perspective (and history, culture, law, politics) on such things in America differs drastically from the viewpoints of most in Britain, so I'll try not to belabor the obvious.
I would point out that Britain still has some serious problems with violent crime, thuggery and public misbehavior, much of it stemming from rugby hooligan clubs and late-night revelry getting out of hand... but no small amount of it from more serious criminal activity as well. The study saying Britain has 4x the US general violent crime rate has been posted many times, along with assertions that different methods of data-collecting and classification may be a factor granted... but still, it is indicative that one could argue whether "evolved" is really quite the right word to use.
No offense intended there, of course... as we've mused on several occasions, Britain has its ways and America its own, and to each his own.
It is simply that our history, culture, demographics, and what you might call "national mythology" revolves heavily around personal independence and self-reliance, as well as what we consider a healthy distrust of government, and of allowing any singular body to have an exclusive right to the means and use of force.