Westminster is consistently ranked as the most dangerous borough in London, with the highest crime rate of 341.21-349.9 offenses per 1,000 people, largely driven by high theft rates in tourist-heavy areas like the West End. Other high-crime areas include Kensington and Chelsea, Hackney, and Camden.
What are the top 10 cities for crime rate? According to police-recorded crime data by Community Safety Partnership area (year ending December 2024), the top 10 cities for crime rate (excluding fraud) in England are London, Manchester, Bristol, Doncaster, Liverpool, Leeds, Bradford, Birmingham, Wakefield, and Leicester.
That said, across recent years (patterns visible in Met and ONS dashboards) the highest volumes of theft and street-theft reports tend to be concentrated in central shopping and nightlife boroughs — notably Westminster (West End, Oxford Street, Leicester Square), Camden (markets, busy streets), Lambeth (parts of ...
Poverty rates across New York City's boroughs reveal clear economic divides. The Bronx has the highest levels of poverty, followed by Brooklyn and Manhattan, highlighting persistent income inequality. In contrast, Queens and Staten Island show lower poverty levels, reflecting relatively more stable economic conditions.
The Most Dangerous Place In Britain: “You Can Get Stabbed Walking Anywhere”
What is the poorest neighbourhood in London?
The poorest parts of London are concentrated in boroughs like Tower Hamlets, Hackney, and Newham, especially regarding income deprivation for children and older people, with pockets of poverty also in Brent, Barking & Dagenham, and parts of Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. These areas face high rates of poverty, with some wards like Northumberland Park (Haringey) and Stonebridge (Brent) being among the most deprived.
Keep your mobile phone and valuables out of sight. If you're using your phone it's more likely to be snatched from your hand as you're not paying attention to your surroundings, so look around you. And never leave a mobile, any other device, wallet or purse on the table of an outdoor café, pub or restaurant.
In the last three years, the rate of homicide in England and Wales has been highest in London, with an average of 13.5 offences per million population each year, followed by the West Midlands (12.5). Rates are lowest in the South East (6.2) and South West (8.6) of England.
The highest-ranking returns us to Leicestershire. Specifically, LE3, which applies to areas including Braunstone, Glenfield, and the popular, restaurant-packed Westcotes area, and is the most dangerous UK postcode going by the number of reported violent crimes.
Croydon and Hackney see the most stabbings. Knife crime jumps there, often tied to gangs. It is advised to people and tourists to not visit those areas alone after midnight. Moreover, the police department is actively engaged to deal with those knife stabbing crimes in Croydon and Hackney.
The "roughest" areas in the UK, often defined by high crime, deprivation, and social challenges, include Blackpool (high violent crime), Camden & Westminster in London (high overall crime rates), Lambeth & Hackney (deprivation, violence), and cities like Liverpool & Leicester (deprivation, health issues). Specific estates, like London's Aylesbury Estate, are also noted for notoriety, though "rough" can mean different things, from violent crime to economic hardship.
Across the capital, 4,369 gun offences have been recorded by Police between November 2020 to November 2023. Most firearm crimes happened in Lambeth, according to a Freedom of Information request submitted to Metropolitan Police. Haringey saw the second most offences, followed closely by Kensigton and Chelsea.
The Bronx. The South Bronx has long been considered one of the most crime-ridden areas of any borough. The Bronx has experienced many economic downturns over the decades, increasing crimes related to poverty, drugs, and gang violence.
The area in London with the lowest crime rate consistently reported is Richmond upon Thames, often followed closely by Kingston upon Thames, Sutton, and Bromley, which are generally affluent outer boroughs known for their leafy, family-friendly environments and strong community feel, offering a safer lifestyle compared to central areas.
The least happy borough in London, according to Rightmove's data, was Barking and Dagenham. Coming in dead-last place out of the capital's 33 boroughs, the east London area ranked 220th nationally.
While inner boroughs like Westminster have historically recorded the highest rates of rough sleeping, there has been a noticeable shift. Street homelessness is increasing in outer boroughs, particularly in West London, where Ealing has reported some of the highest rates of rough sleeping.
Brixton is mainly residential, though includes Brixton Market and a substantial retail sector. It is a multi-ethnic community, with a large percentage of its population of Afro-Caribbean descent. It lies within Inner London and is bordered by Stockwell, Clapham, Streatham, Camberwell, Tulse Hill, Balham and Herne Hill.
Manhattan. Manhattan, the most densely populated borough of New York City, is a sought-after destination. Known for its iconic skyline, bustling streets, and diverse neighborhoods, it's considered the best borough to live in NYC.
In 2010, Jaywick was assessed as the most deprived area in England. In September 2015, it was again named as the most deprived, according to the indices of deprivation based on several factors including: poverty, crime, education and skill levels, unemployment and housing, after being assessed in 2012–13.
Almost 40% of children in London (around 800,000) are classified as living in poverty (compared to 30% across the UK). The boroughs experiencing the highest levels of poverty are generally in the east, with Tower Hamlets and Camden with having the highest proportion of children living in poverty.
