A major new analysis of crime data has identified Blackpool as the most violent place in England. The popular seaside resort, a long-time favourite for holidaymakers from the Midlands and beyond, recorded the highest crime severity score in the country.
How the National Crime List Was Compiled
The ranking, published on 31 December 2025, assessed towns and cities across England and Wales based on the volume and seriousness of offences. Authorities used a 'crime severity score' system, which gives greater weight to the most serious crimes such as murder and rape.
This method moves beyond simple crime counts to paint a more accurate picture of the impact of crime in an area. The national average score for England and Wales stands at 16.3.
Blackpool and Birmingham Top the Charts
Blackpool's overall severity score was a stark 31.7, the highest of any council area. More than two-thirds of this figure was driven by high levels of violent crime and sexual offences, surpassing even central London boroughs.
In the Midlands, Birmingham emerged as the region's most dangerous location, securing sixth place nationally with a score of 27.3. The only other Midlands area to feature in the top 20 was Nottingham, which ranked 19th.
Following Blackpool, Middlesbrough recorded the second-highest national score of 29.9, also largely due to violence and sexual offending.
The Safest and Most Dangerous Places to Live
At the opposite end of the spectrum, Wiltshire was revealed as the safest place in the country, boasting the lowest crime severity score of just 6.0.
The findings place a spotlight on the challenges faced by traditional coastal resorts and major urban centres. For decades, Blackpool has been one of the UK's busiest seaside destinations, attracting millions of visitors annually, including many families from the West Midlands.
This new data provides a sobering metric for residents, businesses, and local authorities as they consider community safety strategies and resource allocation in the year ahead.
