An industrial town in Yorkshire has surpassed a popular seaside destination as the most unsafe place to reside. Recent data from the Mirror indicates that Middlesbrough in North Yorkshire has the highest crime rate in England and Wales, excluding central London and the City of Westminster. Although Blackpool in Lancashire held this designation in 2025, its crime rate has since improved.
According to the latest Home Office crime statistics, there has been an increase in serious offenses across England and Wales, including sexual crimes (up by 4%), stalking and harassment (up by 4%), robbery (up by 10%), drug offenses (up by 12%), and possession of weapons (up by 8%). However, the overall trend of decreasing crime over the past decade has continued, with over five million non-fraud offenses recorded in the year ending March 2026, representing a 1% decrease from the previous year.
Although the highest number of offenses occur in major cities like Birmingham, Leeds, and Manchester, crime rates adjusted for population size provide a more equitable basis for comparing crime levels across different areas.
In the most recent update covering the 12 months up to March 2026, Middlesbrough has surpassed Blackpool as the most crime-affected area in England and Wales, excluding central London and the City of Westminster. Middlesbrough saw a slight 1% increase in crime over the past year, with 23,419 reported crimes translating to a rate of 150 crimes per 1,000 residents in the North East town.
Despite a decline in crime, Blackpool still maintains the second-highest crime rate in the country, with 146 offenses per 1,000 residents. Manchester follows closely with a rate of 143 crimes per 1,000 residents, trailed by Hartlepool (134) and Bristol (131).
Conversely, Broadland in Norfolk retains its status as the safest place to live in mainland England and Wales, boasting the lowest crime rate of 35 crimes per 1,000 residents. You can compare crime rates in your area using our interactive map.