December 23 2024

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The safest places to live in the UK 

It’s no secret that crime levels vary from region to region, city to city and even from street to street. Where you live can have a significant impact on both your safety and the security of your home. There are, however, precautions that you can take to protect yourself and your property. Doorbell cameras, CCTV and burglar alarms are just a few security systems you can install at home to keep you and your loved ones safe.

To discover the safest places in the UK, our experts analysed crime figures from across the nation, revealing the postcodes and cities with the highest and lowest incident rates.

If you’d like to check out the crime levels where you live, you can use our crime in my area tool.

The 10 safest places to live in the UK, based on crimes per 1,000 people

1. CW4 7 - Crewe (7.1)
2. CA8 7 - Carlisle (10.4)
3. ST7 3 - Stoke-on-Trent (10.4)
4. CW4 8 – Crewe (10.9)
5. PL8 1 – Plymouth (11.5)
6. EX5 5 – Exeter (13.8)
7. EX4 5 – Exeter (14.6)
8. TQ7 3 – Torquay (15.3)
9. CA7 5 – Cumbria (15.6)
10. PL9 0 – Plymouth (15.6)

UK postcodes with the lowest crime rates

1) Postcode: CW4 7 | Region: Cheshire

Total Crime August 2023 - July 2024: 40 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 7.1

The postcode sector with the lowest crime rate in the UK is CW4 7, which is in Cheshire and covers the town of Crewe. The population of this area is 5,634 and the crime rate is 7 per 1,000 people. More than 90% of these crimes were non-violent, with the majority being anti-social behaviour.

2) Postcode: CA8 7 | Region: Carlisle

Total Crime August 2023- July 2024: 16 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 10.4

The postcode with the second-lowest crime rate in the UK is in Carlisle, Cumbria. There was just a single burglary over the time period, and just twice instances of criminal damage.

3) Postcode: ST7 3 | Region: Stoke-on-Trent

Total Crime August 2023- July 2024: 77 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 10.4

The third postcode area is in Stoke, Staffordshire. The crime rate for this postcode area is 10 per 1,000 people, but around 13% of these were burglaries.

4) Postcode: CW4 8 | Region: Cheshire

Total Crime August 2023- July 2024: 40 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 10.9

The postcode with the fourth-lowest crime rate is also in Crewe, just like the safest location. The crime rate for this area is 11 per 1,000 people, with anti-social behaviour the only prominent issue.

5) Postcode: PL8 1 | Region: Plymouth

Total Crime August 2023- July 2024: 25 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 11.5

This postcode in Plymouth has the fifth-lowest level of crime. The population of the area is 2,177 and the crime rate is 11 per 1,000 people, with only 25 reported incidents in total.

Areas in the UK with the lowest crime rate

1. TR - Truro (62.9)
2. EX – Exeter (70.5)
3. TQ – Torquay (73.2)
4. LD – Wales (73.9)
5. PL – Plymouth (75.7)

Area: 1) Truro

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 6,123 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 62.9

Truro, located in Cornwall, is the area of the UK with the lowest crime rate. The region’s crime rate was 62.9 per 1,000 people.

Area: 2) Exeter

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 14,876 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 70.5

Exeter, located in the county of Devon, has the second-lowest crime rate. The area’s crime rate is 70.5 per 1,000 people.

Area: 3) Torquay

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 13,010 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 73.2

The area with the third-lowest crime rate is Torquay. With a population of 177,778, the area’s crime rate is 73.2 per 1,000 people.

Area: 4) Llandrindod Wells

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 3,714 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 73.9

Fourth on the list was the LD postcode group, which covers South Powys, Llandrindod Wells, Brecon, Builth Wells, Presteigne, Knighton, Rhayader, Llandwrtyd Wells and Llangammarch Wells. The crime rate for this area is 73.9 per 1,000 people.

Area: 5) Plymouth

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 20,488 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 75.7

Also representing the south coast is Plymouth, boasting the fifth-lowest crime rate in the UK. The area’s crime rate is 75.7 per 1,000 people.

UK postcode sectors with the highest crime rates

1. SR1 3 – Sunderland (3,372)
2. BN1 1 - Brighton and Hove (3,292.0)
3. LU1 2 – Luton (3,150.6)
4. GL 1 1 – Gloucester (2,735.1)
5. KT1 1 - Kingston upon Thames (2,404.0)
6. MK9 3 - Milton Keynes (2,299.1)
7. WF1 1 - West Yorkshire (2,294.7)
8. DE1 2 – Derby (2,280.5)
9. BA1 1 - City of Bath (2,218.3)
10. NR2 1 – Norwich (2,213.2)

1) Postcode: SR1 3 | Region: Sunderland

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 3,406 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 3,372.3

The postcode with the highest crime rate in the UK is SR1 3 in Sunderland and covers an area called Waterloo Place. The population of this area is 1,010 and its crime rate is 3,372 per 1,000 people. Violent and sexual offences and shoplifting are the crimes most committed in this location.

2) Postcode: BN1 1 | Region: Brighton and Hove

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 6,156 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 3,292.0

BN1 1 is the postcode with the second-highest crime rate, found in Brighton and Hove. This postcode has a population of 1,870 and a crime rate of 3,292 per 1,000 people, with more than three crimes per person on average.

3) Postcode: LU1 2 | Region: Luton

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 3,639 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 3,150.6

The postcode with the third-highest crime rate is LU1 2, which is Guildford Street in Luton. The crime rate for this postcode is 3,150 per 1,000 people and 71% of the crimes in this area were violent and sexual offences

4) Postcode: GL1 1 | Region: Gloucester

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 5,432 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 2,735.1

GL1 1 in Gloucester is the postcode sector with the fourth-highest crime rate. This postcode has a population of 1,986 and a crime rate of 2,735 per 1,000 people. More than four-fifths (83%) of crimes committed in this area were related to anti-social behaviour.

5) Postcode: KT1 1 | Region: Kingston upon Thames

Total Recorded Crimes August 2023 - July 2024: 2,630 | Crime Rate per 1,000 People: 2,404.0

The postcode with the fifth-highest crime rate is KT1 1 in Kingston upon Thames. This postcode has a population of 1,094 and a crime rate of 2,404 per 1,000 people. Shoplifting and violent or sexual offences are the main crimes committed in this area.

The least burgled postcodes in the UK, all with zero reported burglaries

1. EX4 5 - Exeter
2. ST7 2 - Stoke-on-Trent
3. TQ7 4 - Torquay
4. S18 3 - Sheffield
5. CA7 2 - Wigton
6. TR2 5 - Tregony
7. L38 9 - Liverpool
8. L21 5 - Liverpool
9. PL7 5 - Plymouth
10. DE7 9 - Derby
11. L19 7 - Liverpool
12. TQ6 9 -Devon
13. L27 6 - Liverpool
14. L30 7 - Liverpool
15. L32 3 - Liverpool

The fifteen postcodes above tie for the title of least burgled area in the UK, with every one of them recording zero burglaries over the time period of Aug ‘23 - Jul ‘24. Six of these postcode areas are in Liverpool, while Exeter, Carlisle and Derby also feature.

2) Postcode: CW4 7 | Region: Crewe

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 1 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 0.2

CW4 7 in Crewe is the postcode that is burgled the second least, with a burglary rate of 0.2 per 1,000 people. This postcode covers Holmes Chapel in Cheshire.

3) Postcode: LS1 9 | Region: West Yorkshire

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 1 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 0.2

LS1 9 in West Yorkshire takes third place, covering the wards of Leeds and contains Harehills, Gipton, Osmondthorpe, Cross Green, and Burmantofts. Per 1,000 people, there were 0.2 burglaries.

4) Postcode: PL7 4 | Region: Plymouth

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 2 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 0.2

PL7 4 in Plymouth is the fourth-least burgled postcode, with a burglary rate of 0.2 per 1,000 people. This postcode covers Plympton, Sparkwell and Plymouth.

5) Postcode: EX8 4 | Region: Exmouth

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 2 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 0.2

A region of Exmouth places fifth for the lowest burglary rate, with EX8 4 having a population of 9,132 and a burglary crime rate of 0.2 per 1,000 people.

The least burgled areas in the UK 

1. TR - Truro (1.6)
2. PL – Plymouth (1.7)
3. EX – Exeter (1.9)
4. TQ – Torquay (2)
5. LD – Llandrindod Wells (3)

Area: Truro

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 153 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 1.6

Truro, a city located in Cornwall, is the least burgled area in the UK. There were just 1.6 burglaries per 1,000 people.

Area: Plymouth

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 462 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 1.7

Plymouth has the second-lowest burglary rate in the UK, with 1.7 burglaries committed per 1,000 residents.

Area: Exeter

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 394 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 1.9

Exeter, the county town of Devon, is the third-least burgled area in the UK. With a population of 211,138, there were only 1.9 burglaries committed per 1,000 people.

Area: Torquay

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 348 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 2

Torquay, in South West England, is fourth on the list across the UK. With a population of 177,778, there were 2 burglaries committed per 1,000 people.

Area: Llandrindod Wells

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 149 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 3

Llandrindod Wells, an area of Wales, came in fifth place for the least amount of burglaries with 149 committed in total. With a population of 50,225, there were just 3 burglaries committed per 1,000 people.

The most burgled postcodes in the UK

1. LU1 2 – Luton (106.5)
2. SR1 3 – Sunderland (101)
3. GL1 1 – Gloucester (96.7)
4. ST4 1 - Stoke on Trent (90.4)
5. SR1 1 – Sunderland (84.6)

1) Postcode: LU1 2 | Region: Luton

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 123 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 106.5

The most burgled postcode in the UK is LU1 2, which is located in Luton and covers the wards of Aley Green, Caddington, Lower Woodside, Pepperstock, Skimpot, Slip End and Woodside. There were over 100 burglaries per 1,000 people last year, meaning more than one in ten (11%) experienced a break-in.

2) Postcode: SR1 3 | Region: Sunderland

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 102 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 101

The second-most burgled postcode in the UK is SR1 3, which is located in Sunderland and covers Waterloo Place. It’s the only other postcode to have more than 100 burglaries per 1,000 people.

3) Postcode: GL1 1 | Region: Gloucester

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 192 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 96.7

The third-most burgled postcode in the UK is GL1 1, which is located in Gloucester and covers Linden, Wotton, Barton, Tredworth and St Paul’s. This area of the UK has a burglary rate of 96.7 per 1,000 people.

4) Postcode: ST4 1 | Region; Stoke-on-Trent

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 92 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 90.4

The fourth-most burgled postcode in the UK is ST4 1, which is located in Stoke-on-Trent. Around 9% of its residents experienced a burglary between August 2023 and July 2024.

5) Postcode: SR1 1 | Region: Sunderland

Total Burglaries August 2023 - July 2024: 85 | Burglary Rate per 1,000 People: 84.6

Another Sunderland postcode on the list, SR1 1, ranks in fifth with almost 85 burglaries per 1,000 people.

Regardless of the crime rates in your area, it’s always worth investing in extra protection for your home to ward off criminals. Security systems, such as those we offer at ADT, give you and your family that extra peace of mind.

If you want to know which items are targeted most often by burglars, we also have you covered.

Methodology

• Crime data for each postcode and area was sourced from our Crime in My Area tool
• Crimes were divided by population, then multiplied by 1,000 to get crimes per 1,000 people in each location
• *Only postcodes and areas with populations over 1,000 have been included in the data