Violent crime capital of Britain named as police figures show highest rates across country

Police figures show there were almost 69 violent crimes for every 1,000 residents in Blackpool last year, seeing the seaside town far excel cities over its rate of thuggery

Updated

Blackpool has been named the violent crime capital of Britain after recording the highest rate of offences anywhere in the country.

Police figures show there were almost 69 violent crimes for every 1,000 residents in the seaside town last year – meaning roughly one in 20 people were hit. That put it well clear of every other area, with Westminster and Bradford the next worst, both recording rates above 53 per 1,000.

Middlesbrough and Manchester also saw rates above 50 per 1,000, underlining the scale of the problem in major urban areas.

In Blackpool alone there were more than 3,100 violent offences where victims were injured, alongside over 4,000 incidents where no injury was recorded. A further 2,700 stalking and harassment cases were also logged, adding to the town’s overall violent crime total.

At the other end of the scale, Buckinghamshire recorded just 14.3 offences per 1,000 people – less than a quarter of Blackpool’s rate. Other areas that saw a low level for violence were Waverley (14.6), Wokingham (14.7), Richmond-on-Thames (14.9) and the Isles of Scilly (15.2).

Clive Grunshaw, Lancashire’s Police and Crime Commissioner said: “Serious violence is corrosive. It destroys lives, damages communities, and requires a whole society approach involving policing, criminal justice, health services and local authorities.

“These figures are, of course, alarming and highlight the very real challenges faced in popular seaside resorts like Blackpool, which attract millions of visitors, but also in Lancashire and across the country in tackling serious violent crime.

“My Police and Crime Plan makes clear that we will challenge any culture of violence through strong enforcement and continued investment in prevention within our communities.”

Blackpool has some of the highest rates of poverty in England, with nearly 40% of neighbourhoods ranked in the most deprived category.

The seaside town faces severe challenges, including high unemployment, struggling healthcare systems, and the lowest life expectancy in the country.

Bradford also faces severe poverty and deprivation, ranking among the top 15 most deprived local authorities in England with nearly half of children under 16 living in relative poverty.

A spokesman for Lancashire Police said: “We remain committed to disrupting and preventing crime across Lancashire, including in Blackpool.

“We want to reassure anyone with concerns that we have dedicated teams across the town, covering a number of different aspects of policing, including community engagement, immediate response, and detectives.

“These officers will continue to conduct their duties and police Blackpool with the intent of keeping residents safe and reducing crime.”