The UK’s most crime-affected areas have been identified in new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with Cleveland Police emerging as the force managing the highest rate of offences per capita.
An interactive map now allows residents to explore the crime statistics for their local area.
For the year ending March 2024, Cleveland Police recorded 132.4 crimes per 1,000 people, well above the national average of 110.5.
Notably, Cleveland also ranks second in knife crime, with 154 incidents per 100,000 people. Serious violence accounts for one in every 20 crimes handled by the force.
Other high-ranking areas for crime rates include:
- West Yorkshire: 121.7 crimes per 1,000 people
- Greater Manchester: 117.7 crimes per 1,000 people
- South Yorkshire: 111.1 crimes per 1,000 people
- West Midlands: 111.1 crimes per 1,000 people
The Metropolitan Police, the UK’s largest force, is sixth, with 105.1 crimes per 1,000 people.
The ONS data reveals that overall crime rates across England and Wales fell slightly, from 6.74 million reported crimes in 2022/23 to 6.66 million in 2023/24.
However, long-term trends highlight a significant rise in violent crimes and sexual offences over the past decade. Shoplifting offences have also surged, hitting record levels.
The figures also shed light on the justice system’s ongoing struggles. In 2023, only 5.7% of crimes were solved, with sexual offences having an even lower clearance rate of 3.6%.
Victims face prolonged waits for justice, as crown court backlogs have pushed the average case duration to 676 days from the time of the offence to resolution.
These findings underscore significant challenges for police forces and the justice system in tackling crime effectively and ensuring timely justice for victims.
The statistics serve as a wake-up call for policymakers and highlight the need for increased resources and reform to address these persistent issues.
