Leeds is the main capital of North Yorkshire and one of the most populated cities in the UK with a population of over 500,000. Leeds was a massive city during the industrial revolution, attracting many tourists who were interested in living in the area. Over the course of 100 years, Leeds has gained a big reputation for being a crime-ridden city.
In this article, we will go over the top 10 most dangerous areas in Leeds and overlook the current crime rates of each area in Leeds
Is Leeds A Dangerous City?
From Confused.com gathering, Leeds the 14th least secure postcode in the UK. This data’s results have been gathered from 32 different factors. These factors include the number of officers in the neighbourhood, crime rates per 1,000 people, the number of CCTV cameras in the neighbourhood, and resident safety.
Leeds ranks high in the number of crimes with over 100,000 crimes reported in 2021. Comparing that to Birmingham, Leeds has only had 10,000 fewer crimes with over half the population so that doesn’t look great in Leeds’s favour.
Leeds doesn’t also have many CCTV cameras to try and combat this increase in crime with only around 300 cameras operating. This is significantly lower than most major cities and with crime extremely high, you would Leeds to try and combat this. There are however more police officers deployed in Leeds with over 5100 officers making it one of biggest police forces in the country.
According to crimerate, Leeds was voted the most dangerous major city in West Yorkshire. The most common crime in Leeds was violence and sexual behaviour with over 33,000 crimes committed. We will go more into detail about what the other most common crimes are below
It is hard to judge Leeds fully on how dangerous it is due to its large population and just like any other city, Leeds has its safe areas and more dangerous areas with higher crime levels. We will now be going to Leeds’s most dangerous parts
What Parts Of Leeds Are Dangerous?
Gathering data from the West Yorkshire police, show the crime rates per neighborhood.
Areas in Leeds |
Total Crimes |
Total Crimes per 1000 People |
Leeds City Centre |
9,038 |
665 |
Armley & New Wortley |
2,490 |
283 |
Lincoln Green & St James |
2,286 |
248 |
Beeston West & Cottingley |
1,947 |
236 |
Beeston Hill & Hunslet Moor |
1,583 |
232 |
Seacroft North & Monkswood |
1,306 |
229 |
Harehills South |
1,936 |
226 |
Seacroft South |
1,212 |
218 |
Holbeck |
1,893 |
215 |
Belle Isle North |
1,262 |
209 |
The statistics above show that Leeds city centre has the highest crime rate, making it the most dangerous area in Leeds. This could be due to the city centre being densely populated with tourists and residents. In most major cities in the UK, most urban areas are situated in the cities and these areas are renowned for experiencing high numbers of crimes.
What Crimes Happen The Most In Leeds?
Leeds is the largest settlement in the UK. With over 100,000 crimes reported in 2021, we will have a look into what crimes are committed the most in Leeds. We already know violence and sexual behaviours are the most committed crime in Leeds but what else comes out on top?
Below are the results gathered from West Yorkshire police. The results have been gathered for the total crimes and also the crimes per 1000 people. As we already know, violence and sexual offences are way ahead with 33,738 crimes. Public order is the second most common crime with 10,812 crimes committed and then anti-social behaviour with 10,548 crimes committed.
Type of Crime | Crime Count | Crimes per 1000 people |
Anti-Social Behaviour | 10,548 | 20.64 |
Bicycle Theft | 1,075 | 2.10 |
Burglary | 3,732 | 7.30 |
Criminal Damage and Arson | 7,511 | 14.69 |
Drugs | 2,592 | 5.07 |
Other Crime | 1,762 | 3.45 |
Other Theft | 5,543 | 10.84 |
Possession of Weapons | 741 | 1.45 |
Public Order | 10,812 | 21.15 |
Robbery | 956 | 1.87 |
Shoplifting | 4,318 | 8.45 |
Theft From the Person | 1,025 | 2.01 |
Vehicle Crime | 4,432 | 8.67 |
Violence and Sexual Offences | 33,738 | 66.00 |
Conclusion
Leeds does get a bad reputation for being a dangerous city but is this really warranted? Sadly, I would say yes. Leeds reports high numbers of crime on a consistent basis and is regularly voted one of the most dangerous cities in the UK. Every city has dangerous and safe areas. I would personally advise checking current crime rates in the area before visiting.
To stay protected just like other businesses in Leeds, you will want to hire security guards to protect you and your workers from becoming victims of crime. Hiring a security agency is one way to reduce your risk of being targeted by criminals. A security business like ours can install CCTV cameras to monitor the property or hire security guards to deter potential criminals. Region security also evaluates your current security procedures and advises you on how to make your organisation safer.
To stay up to date with all the latest Leeds or Yorkshire & Humber news, check out of latest articles like; ‘Is Leeds A Safe Place To Live? or Leeds Crime Revealed‘
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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