A new list of the most dangerous towns and cities in England has been published, based on the likelihood of residents becoming victims of violent crime. Birmingham has been placed 13th, with a violent crime rate of 46 per 1,000 residents, according to the latest data on 'violence against the person' offences.
How the rankings were determined
The rankings are derived from statistics that adjust total offences for population size, providing a clearer picture of areas with serious crime problems. This approach prevents larger cities such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester from automatically topping the list due to their higher populations. The data focuses specifically on 'violence against the person' cases, which include stabbings, robberies, assaults, threats of violence, stalking, and harassment.
Top 10 most dangerous places
Blackpool tops the list with a violent crime rate of 69 per 1,000 residents, making it the place where locals are statistically most likely to be victims of crime. Bradford is second, followed by Westminster in third, Middlesbrough in fourth, and Manchester in fifth. Other cities in the top 10 include Nottingham, Liverpool, Leicester, and Sheffield.
Birmingham's position
Despite its long-held reputation for violence, Birmingham did not make the national top 10. The city's rate of 46 per 1,000 residents is significantly lower than Blackpool's 69. Data suggests that Birmingham's crime levels are at least partially attributable to its large population, with more people leading to more offences. Two other Midlands cities also feature in the top 20: Gloucester in 16th place and Derby in 17th.
National crime statistics
Crimes logged by police in England and Wales last year included 503 homicides, encompassing murder, manslaughter, and infanticide. There were also over 507,000 violent attacks causing injury, 826,000 assaults, 2,100 crimes of causing death or serious injury by illegal driving, and 622,000 crimes of stalking and harassment. Overall, the number of violent crimes recorded in 2025 remained stable compared to the previous year. However, stalking and harassment offences increased by 3%, and violence without injury rose by 1%, while all other violent crime types fell.
