Crime Rates in Britain 2025: Trends, Hotspots & Safety Tips

Are crime rates in Britain really getting worse, or is it just the headlines? If you’re wondering how safe your area is, or where the biggest risks lie, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, you’ll get a clear picture of which crimes are currently on the rise, the UK’s crime hotspots, and how Britain compares to other countries. Plus, we’ve added smart, practical tips to help you stay safe whether you’re living in a busy city or planning a trip across the country.

Is Crime Going Up or Down?

So, are crime rates in Britain really climbing, or is it just the headlines? The answer isn’t straightforward because it depends on how you measure it.

The Crime Survey for England & Wales (CSEW) estimates there were around 9.6 million crimes in the year to December 2024, up 14% on the previous year. That jump was driven mainly by fraud and thefts against individuals.

By contrast, police-recorded crime revealed by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed a small dip of 1%, with 6.6 million offences logged in the same period.

Why the difference? The CSEW picks up crimes that aren’t reported to the police, while police stats depend on what gets logged. Together, they give us a clearer view.

The big picture? Crime rates are still well below the peaks of the 1990s, but certain high-impact offences are creeping back up.

What Types of Crimes Are Increasing?

Not all crime rates in the UK are rising, but a few types are driving the overall numbers up, especially fraud and theft. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the crime types that are seeing the sharpest growth:

On the flip side, some serious crimes have fallen:

• Firearms offences dropped by 20%.
• Homicides fell by 5%.
• Computer misuse crimes declined 23%.

So, while certain offences are increasing, the overall picture is mixed.

Which Areas Have the Highest Crime Rates?

Not all regions experience crime at the same rate. In fact, crime stats in the UK are highly localized, with some counties and cities facing considerably higher risks.

Here are the top 5 police areas in England & Wales with the highest crime rates per 1,000 people (based on ONS data year ending Dec 2024):

If you zoom into local council areas, Westminster tops the list with 432.3 crimes per 1,000 people. But keep in mind, that’s skewed by its huge daily influx of commuters and tourists.

Elsewhere in Britain:

As you can see, big cities tend to have higher crime rates, partly due to population density and reporting habits. In rural areas like Wiltshire, Devon & Cornwall, and Dyfed-Powys, crime levels remain much lower (around 40-60 per 1,000).

How Does Britain Compare Internationally?

When it comes to understanding crime rates in Britain, it’s crucial to place them within a global context. The UK often appears in media narratives as a nation under rising threat from violent crime, but international comparisons paint a more nuanced picture.

According to Crime + Investigation UK, while some people feel increasingly unsafe due to urban stabbings, theft, and antisocial behaviour, statistical data does not support the idea that Britain is one of the most dangerous places globally.

In fact, the intentional homicide rate in Britain—measured by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime—is 1.20 per 100,000 people, ranking the UK 174th out of 220 countries assessed. By contrast, countries like El Salvador top the list with a staggering 82.84 homicides per 100,000.

Additional comparative insights from Numbeo’s global Crime Index (used by global publications like The Economist and BBC) place the UK:

• 62nd out of 188 countries worldwide
• 8th out of 39 European countries, just behind Ireland and Bosnia, and slightly ahead of Belgium
• With a crime index of 42.72, compared to Estonia (20.80) and Sweden (49.35)

Countries With Higher Crime Levels Than the UK:

• South Africa: Renowned for high rates of violent crime, including carjackings, rapes, and farm attacks.
• Papua New Guinea: High unemployment and lawlessness result in frequent violent crime.
• Venezuela: Hyperinflation and economic collapse have led to massive rises in theft and violent gang activity.
• Afghanistan: Ongoing conflict, political instability, and lawlessness make daily life dangerous.

Safety Tips for Living and Travelling in Britain

Despite a moderate global crime ranking, staying safe in Britain still requires awareness—particularly in urban centres where petty theft and fraud are rising.

Here are practical safety tips for residents, students, and travellers alike:

Personal Safety

• Keep valuables secure: Use zipped bags and avoid displaying expensive phones or jewellery in public.
• Stay alert in crowds: Especially in train stations, markets, and festivals where pickpocketing is common.
• Stick to well-lit routes: Avoid dark alleyways or deserted streets, especially late at night.

Transport Safety

• Use licensed taxis or rideshare apps: Avoid unregistered minicabs, particularly at night.
• Wait in well-lit areas: Especially at train or Tube stations after dark.
• Keep a backup battery: Ensures your phone is available in case of emergencies.

Digital Safety

• Beware of public Wi-Fi: Avoid logging into banking apps or entering personal info on unsecured networks.
• Use strong, unique passwords: Enable two-factor authentication on key accounts.
• Stay aware of phishing scams: Fake delivery texts or emails from “banks” are on the rise.

Home Safety

Whether you’ve just moved into your first flat or you’re settling into a family home, keeping your place secure is all about layering good habits with the right tech.

Start with the basics: double-lock doors with a deadbolt, fit key-operated window locks, and don’t leave spare keys under plant pots (burglars know all the hiding places).

Once you’ve covered those essentials, adding a few smart security cameras and sensors can give you extra peace of mind. eufy’s home security range is designed to work straight out of the box, with no monthly fees, and it’s a great way to strengthen those traditional safety measures.

Check out these security solutions:

Keep watch outside with eufy SoloCam S340

This wire-free, solar-powered eufy SoloCam S340 is perfect for gardens, driveways or alleyways. It combines a 3K wide-angle lens and a 2K telephoto with 360° horizontal panning and 70° tilt, so it can follow movement and zoom up to 8× while keeping a crisp image.

The built-in solar panel keeps it charged all year, and with 8GB of built-in storage and on-device AI, your footage stays private without monthly fees.

Cover every corner indoors with eufy Indoor Cam S350

Inside the house, the eufy Indoor Cam S350 delivers impressive coverage thanks to a 4K wide-angle lens, 2K telephoto, and an 8× hybrid zoom. It pans 360° horizontally and 75° vertically to track movement, while an f/1.6 aperture and infrared LEDs mean you’ll still get a clear view even in pitch darkness (up to 10m). You can store recordings on a microSD card or pair it with the HomeBase S380 for larger local storage.

Secure your front door with eufy Video Doorbell E340

The eufy Video Doorbell E340 is clever in all the right ways, using two cameras, a 2K main lens for faces and a downward-facing lens to monitor parcels on your doorstep. It offers colour night vision, two-way talk, and AI detection for people, faces and packages so you get only the notifications that matter. With a removable battery lasting up to six months per charge and 8GB onboard storage, you’re covered even during Wi-Fi drops.

Protect every entry point with the eufy Home Alarm Kit

For whole-home peace of mind, this 5-piece eufy Home Alarm Kit includes a keypad, a motion sensor and two entry sensors. You can install it in minutes without tools, and the sensors last two years on a single battery. Arm or disarm the system from your phone or the keypad, adjust sensitivity for pets, and get instant alerts through the eufy app—again, no subscriptions needed.

Conclusion

The crime rates in Britain present a complex but manageable landscape. While certain crimes—like shoplifting, robbery, and online fraud—are rising, broader violent crime has generally declined over the past decade. Statistically, crime rates in the UK remain lower than many countries globally, and even safer than several EU nations. What matters most is context. The UK is not immune to criminal trends seen worldwide, particularly those influenced by economic hardship, technological change, and social inequality. However, through improved law enforcement, smart technology, and increased public awareness, many risks can be mitigated.

FAQs

Is the crime rate in Britain going up or down?

Overall, crime in England and Wales has dropped significantly since the 1990s. According to the ONS (Office for National Statistics), headline crimes fell to around 9.6 million in the year to December 2024, after trending downward over the past decade. However, recent rises in shoplifting, thefts, and certain violent offences have been reported, even as long-term trends remain lower than in previous decades.

What’s the highest crime rate in the UK?

As of the latest data from the ONS, the UK’s highest crime rate is in Westminster, London, with 432 crimes per 1,000 residents, driven by theft and street offences in this tourist-heavy area. At a regional level, Cleveland (covering Middlesbrough and Hartlepool) tops the list in England and Wales with 124.6 crimes per 1,000 people.

Which UK country has the lowest crime rate?

The UK country with the lowest crime rate is Northern Ireland, with around 51 crimes per 1,000 people (year to August 2024), the lowest since 2020–21. Within England and Wales, rural counties like Wiltshire (≈57 per 1,000) regularly feature among the safest.

Related Blogs

Check out these articles for more information:

• 10 Most Dangerous Parts of London 2025 to Know & Avoid
• Top 10 Most Dangerous Towns in England: Crime Hotspots Revealed
• City with Most Stabbings UK 2025: Top 10 Dangerous Areas