What is the most unsafe place to live in the UK?

Based on 2025–2026 crime data, London is frequently ranked as having the highest crime rates, with the City of Westminster recording the highest volume of offences (approx. 350 per 1,000 residents). Other high-crime areas include Bradford, Birmingham, and Liverpool, with Middlesbrough and Blackpool also listed among dangerous areas.

Where is the least safe place to live in the UK?

Luton is frequently ranked as the least desirable place to live in the UK. Residents often highlight safety concerns, particularly after dark, as well as limited employment opportunities and a shortage of vibrant social or community spaces.

What is the roughest postcode in the UK?

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.

Which is the safest place to live in the UK?

The safest places to live in the UK generally include affluent market towns and areas with strong community policing, like Harrogate, Wokingham, Chester, Sevenoaks, and Guildford, while some London boroughs such as Sutton and Richmond upon Thames also rank highly, with the Shetland Islands and East Dunbartonshire frequently cited for extremely low crime rates, offering a blend of natural beauty and security. Specific locations like Truro (Cornwall) and York also boast very low crime statistics, but safety depends on individual priorities like lifestyle, proximity to cities, and type of crime.
 

Which county in England has the lowest crime rate?

The lowest crime rate in England was in the relatively rural areas of Wiltshire in South West England, as well as North Yorkshire.

The Most Dangerous Place In Britain: “You Can Get Stabbed Walking Anywhere”

Is it safe to live in the UK now?

Yes, overall the UK is considered safe, with relatively low violent crime rates.

What UK city has the most stabbings?

London. The capital remains the city with most stabbings UK authorities have recorded, and by a wide margin. With 188 knife crimes per 100,000 people, London continues to face significant challenges despite major police initiatives.

What town has the highest crime rate?

Memphis, Tennessee had the highest violent crime of 100,000+ population cities, with 2,501 violent crimes per 100,000 residents in 2024. Oakland, California and Detroit, Michigan, followed at 1,925 and 1,781, respectively.

What is the most burgled postcode in the UK?

A postcode in Birmingham has the highest number of burglary claims of anywhere in the country, new data shows. Households in the B15 postcode, covering Edgbaston and its surrounds, saw 57.7 burglary-related insurance claims for every 1,000 home insurance quotes from the start of 2021 to the end of 2024.

What is the most run-down city in the UK?

Middlesbrough, Birmingham, Hartlepool, Kingston upon Hull and Manchester are the Local Authority Districts with the highest proportions of neighbourhoods among the most deprived in England. Two London boroughs (Tower Hamlets and Hackney) rank as the most deprived regarding income deprivation among children.

What city has the least amount of crime?

Cities With the Lowest Crime Rates (2025)

• Irvine, CA and Virginia Beach, VA are the safest U.S. cities with 250,000 or more people in the U.S.
• Gilbert, AZ, Plano, TX and Honolulu, HI are large U.S. metros (250,000+ residents) with violent crime rates below the national average (361 per 100,000 people).

Which UK city has the highest gun crime?

Possession of Weapons Stats and Figures

The most dangerous cities for possession of weapons are Birmingham, Peterborough, and Southampton, with crime rates of 2.69, 2.1, and 2.09 per 1,000 daytime population respectively.

What are the roughest areas of the UK?

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. 

Is Glasgow or London safer?

1. Is London or Glasgow safer? London is considered safer compared to Glasgow, which has a crime rate higher than the national average.

What country in the UK has the most crime?

Explore crime rates. in your area

Among England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the country with the highest crime rate is Wales, with 70 crime reports per 1,000 people. Crime rates represent crimes reported during the 12 months ending November 2025.

What are the top 5 crime cities in the UK?

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.

Which state is no. 1 in crime?

Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra have violent crime rate higher than the national average in 2023. Some causes of crimes are region specific.

Where in England has the most murders?

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.

Where to avoid in London at night?

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 ...

What to be careful of in the UK?

Key guidance on keeping safe

• Be aware that fraud is a common crime in the UK and some criminals deliberately target students. ...
• Be aware of pickpockets, particularly in large cities, and keep valuables hidden to deter muggers or bag-snatchers.
• Do not leave your possessions unattended in bars, restaurants, or libraries.

Why are so many Brits leaving the UK?

Brits are leaving the UK due to a combination of factors, primarily driven by young professionals seeking better economic prospects, a higher quality of life, and lower living costs, with destinations like the UAE, Australia, and the US offering higher salaries (often tax-free), better work-life balance, and warmer climates, contrasting with the UK's rising cost of living, stagnant wages, housing crises, and tax burdens.