Nottingham has been named the sixth most dangerous city in England, while Derby and Stoke-on-Trent also feature in the top 20, according to the latest crime rates released by the Home Office.
Birmingham, despite having the highest overall number of offences, does not top the Midlands list due to its population of over one million, which skews per-capita crime statistics.
Midlands cities in the national ranking
The new list, based on crime rates per head of population, shows where residents are most likely to become victims of crime. Crime rates calculate the number of offences in towns and cities relative to the number of people living there, offering a clearer picture for smaller areas that may still suffer from high offending.
Among the Midlands cities, Nottingham is the only one to break into the top 10, securing sixth place. Derby and Stoke-on-Trent follow at 18th and 19th respectively, according to the data.
Why Birmingham is not the most dangerous
Birmingham's high overall offending is largely a factor of its massive population, which exceeds one million. This means that while the total number of crimes is high, the rate per resident is lower than in other cities.
Urban, densely populated areas with higher levels of poverty tend to experience higher crime rates, the figures suggest. The Home Office released the latest offending data, which shows that cities and larger towns generally dominate the top of the list.
Middlesbrough tops the national list
Nationally, Middlesbrough has overtaken Blackpool to become statistically the most dangerous place in England, according to the latest crime statistics.
The ranking highlights the concentration of crime in urban centres, with the Midlands having three cities in the national top 20. Residents in these areas are more likely to become victims of crime, based on the per-capita figures.
