Top 10 Most Dangerous Areas in England and Wales

Written by regionadmin

17th November 2022

England and Wales, one of the three legal jurisdictions in the UK. makes up 1/2 of the UK’s countries and has an estimated population of around 59,000,000 people.

There are exactly 70 counties between both countries and in this article, we will be going over the top 10 most dangerous areas in England and Wales. 

The Top 10 Most Dangerous Areas in England and Wales

Crime occurs a lot in the UK with many areas being more dangerous than others.  We will now be going over the most dangerous areas in England and Wales.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Areas In England And Wales

10th – Durham – 89.6 crimes per 1000 people

Starting at the top of our list is the county of Durham. Home to rich castles and cathedrals, Durham remains the 10th most dangerous area in England and Wales.

Durham is a vibrant area, full of beautiful landscapes and culture so it is worth a visit, nonetheless. With a small population of 522,000 people,

Durham has a reported 89.6 crimes per 1000 people. According to crimerate, Durham is also the 6th highest reported country among the two countries for violent crime with an average of 40 violent crimes per 1000 people.

9th – North Wales – 96.2 Crimes per 1000 people

Creeping into next place on our list is North Wales. Home to famous castles and mountainous landscapes, North Wales has slowly crept up to 9th place for the most dangerous area in England and Wales.

North Wales has the smallest population on our list with only around 70,000 people. Violence against other people was the most reported crime in North Wales with an average of 41 crimes per 1000 people.

 

8th – Kent – 97.6 crimes per 1000 People

Moving on with our list of the most dangerous areas in England and Wales is number 8 with the county of Kent. Kent is renowned for its charming architecture and therapeutic walks that most travellers love to embark on.

However, Kent has frequently been ranked high on the list of most dangerous areas in England and Wales with recently being placed at 8th place for the 2nd time.

Being one of the UK’s most populated counties with a population of 1.8 million people, Kent has reported a crime rate of 98 crimes per 1000 people. Violence and sexual offences were Kent’s most reported crimes with over 82,000 crimes committed.

 

7th – Yorkshire & The Humber – 98.0 Crimes Per 1000 People

Getting further down our list, at number 7, is Yorkshire & The Humber. Covering a large part of England’s northern region, Yorkshire & The Humber is home to 5,284,000 people, making it one of the most populated areas on this list.

Yorkshire and the Humber are renowned for beautiful country walks and scenic towns but there is one sad downfall and that is a crime. Yorkshire and the Humber was ranked the 7th most dangerous area in England and Wales with an average of 98.0 crimes per 1000 people.

Sadly, violence and sexual offences were Yorkshire and the Humber’s most committed crime with over 238,065 crimes reported.

6th – South Yorkshire – 102.6 crimes per 1000 people

Next on our list at number 6 in South Yorkshire. The area is home to popular cities like Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley, and Rotherham with an overall population of 1.4 million people.

South Yorkshire has seen a massive surge in crime in the last few years. Sadly, this could be due to the region having a lack of infrastructure and funding being put into the major cities.

South Yorkshire has reported 102.6 crimes per 1000 people. Violence and sexual offences were the highest committed crime with a reported number of 53,634 crimes reported.  

5th – Merseyside – 105.4 Crimes per 1000 People

Moving closer to the top spot, we have a number 5 with Merseyside. Filled with rich history, a lively atmosphere, and global sporting teams, Merseyside has gained a bad reputation for being riddled with crime.

Merseyside has a population of 1.4 million people and has a reported crime of 105.4 crimes per 1000 people making it the 5th most dangerous area in England and Wales. Violence and sexual offences were the highest reported crime with over 65,000 crimes reported per 1000 people.

4th – West Midlands – 110.6 Crimes per 1000 people

Getting closer to the number 1 spot, we have West Midlands, which makes number 4 on our list. Home to many major cities in the UK, including Birmingham and Wolverhampton, West Midlands has an estimated population of 2.9 million people.

It has a reported crime rate of 110.6 crimes per 1000 people with violence and sexual offences being its highest reported crime with over 250,000 crimes being reported.

3rd – Greater Manchester – 114.0 Crimes per 1000 people

Moving to 3rd place on our list is Greater Manchester. Home to the major city of Manchester, Greater Manchester has a population of 2,700,000 people.

Greater Manchester has seen a surge in crime due to the high population increase and has been stricken with poverty. It reported over 114.0 crimes per 1000 people.  Violent crimes have increased in Greater Manchester with a reported 108,000 crimes committed which according to plumplot,  is 130% of the national average.

2nd – West Yorkshire – 118.6 crimes per 1000 People

Heading into second place is West Yorkshire. Home to major cities like Leeds and Bradford, West Yorkshire has a population of 2.3 million people.

West Yorkshire reported an average of 118.6 crimes per 1000 people. The area’s highest reported crime is violence and sexual offences with over 122,000 crimes reported.

1st- Cleveland – 128.0 Crimes per 1000 people

Highest on our list at number 1 place in Cleveland. Home to cities like; Middlesbrough, Redcar and Yarm, Cleveland is the smallest populated area on our list with a population of 614,000 people.

Sadly, Cleveland is stricken with crime and reports the highest number of crimes committed in all categories. With a crime rate of 128.0 crimes per 1000 people, Cleveland remains the most dangerous area in England and Wales for another year. Violent crime is the highest reported crime with over 33.8k crimes committed.

Here is a summary of our top 10 list;

Area in England and Wales Crimes per 1000 People Danger Rank
Cleveland 128.0 1st
West Yorkshire 118.6 2nd
Greater Manchester 114.0 3rd
West Midlands 110.6 4th

Merseyside

105.4 5th

South Yorkshire

102.6 6th

Yorkshire & The Humber

98.0 7th

Kent

97.6 8th

North Wales

96.2 9th

Durham

89.6 10th

 

Conclusion

Cleveland remains 1st on the top 10 most dangerous areas in England and Wales for another year. There is a consistent increase in crime in all areas listed.

Investing in business security can help protect your company from these rising crime rates. To dissuade possible thieves, a security company may install CCTV cameras or hire security guards. Security companies may also assess your present security practices and advise you on how to make your organisation more secure.

Check out our security articles like; ‘What Is A Static Security Guard?‘ or ‘What Are The Differences Between Door Supervisors And Security Guards?

In addition to this, why not take a look at our Youtube Channel where we share various security tips, facts and statics you may find interesting such as How To Secure A Hotel Door?

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