A newly published national crime list has ranked towns and cities across the UK, revealing the areas with the highest levels of serious offending. The rankings are based on a 'crime severity score' system, which gives greater weight to the most serious crimes such as murder and rape.
Midlands Cities Feature Prominently in High-Risk Rankings
According to the data, Birmingham ranks as the sixth most dangerous location in the country out of more than 300 areas analysed. The city's crime severity score was recorded at 27.3, which is significantly higher than the England and Wales national average of 16.3. Approximately two-thirds of this score was attributed to violent and sexual offences.
This ranking follows a year marked by a series of high-profile violent incidents in Birmingham, including the tragic murder of Katie Fox at a bus stop. The city's position near the top of the list underscores ongoing concerns about public safety in the region.
Nottingham was the only other Midlands city to break into the top 20 most dangerous areas, securing the 19th spot nationally. Several other urban centres in the region also featured highly on the list.
How Other Midlands Locations Compare
The full ranking for key Midlands areas is as follows:
- Birmingham - 6th
- Nottingham - 19th
- Stoke-on-Trent - 28th
- Leicester - 30th
- Wolverhampton - 31st
- Coventry - 35th
- Derby - 39th
- Sandwell - 44th
- Walsall - 69th
- Dudley - 113th
The data indicates a clear trend, with larger urban towns and cities consistently appearing nearer the top of the list, reflecting higher concentrations of reported serious crime.
National Picture: From Blackpool to Wiltshire
Beyond the Midlands, the national list reveals stark contrasts across the UK. Once central London is excluded due to figures being skewed by crimes against tourists, Blackpool emerges as the area with the most severe crime in the country.
The seaside resort recorded the highest levels of violent crimes and sexual offences of any council area, surpassing even central London. Middlesbrough followed closely with a score of 29.9, also driven primarily by high rates of violence and sexual offending.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Wiltshire was identified as the safest place to live, boasting the lowest crime severity score of just 6.0. It was joined by other low-crime areas including Wokingham (6.4), Ribble Valley in Lancashire (6.9), Waverley (6.9), and East Hampshire (7.1).
The publication of these crime severity scores provides a detailed snapshot of regional safety across England and Wales. Residents can explore the interactive map to see the exact ranking for their own town, city, or county.
