Skegness has been identified as the UK's worst seaside town for crime, recording 181 offences per 1,000 people, more than double the national average of 87.
Close behind are Cleethorpes and Margate, with similarly high crime rates.
In stark contrast, Padstow in Cornwall, known for its association with chef Rick Stein, boasts the lowest crime rate among seaside towns, with just 14 offences per 1,000 people.
Despite recent incidents, including a man being shot with a pellet gun and a woman being assaulted over the Bank Holiday weekend, tourists and locals maintain a positive outlook on Skegness. Last month, five people were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder following a brutal attack involving a metal pole, and a grievous bodily harm (GBH) arrest was made after an altercation at a McDonald's car park.
Visitors like Rod Horne, who traveled from Lincoln with his wife Dee and grandson Harrison, five, are surprised by the crime statistics. "We come here quite regularly and we’ve not seen any problems," Rod said.
Darren Jones, who operates a coffee and doughnut stall on the pier, shared a similarly positive perspective. "I’ve worked all over the country and I have to say, everyone is really positive about this town. Skegness is fantastic – a very community-based place," he remarked, highlighting the town's bustling half-term period.
The research, conducted by Howden Insurance and based on 2023 crime data from crimerate.co.uk, examined various offences including violent crime, sexual offences, robbery, and drug offences across popular seaside resorts in England and Wales.
Cleethorpes, just 30 miles from Skegness, ranks as the second most crime-affected seaside town with 177 crimes per 1,000 people, followed by Margate in Kent.
On the flip side, the safest seaside towns include St Ives in Cornwall with 19 crimes per 1,000 people, Ilfracombe in Devon, and Falmouth in Cornwall, each with 36 crimes per 1,000 people. The Devon city of Plymouth also ranks among the safest with 49 crimes per 1,000 people.
Top Five Crime-affected Seaside Towns:
Skegness: 181
Cleethorpes: 177
Margate: 157
Scarborough: 152
Blackpool: 151
Bottom Five Crime-affected Seaside Towns:
Padstow: 14
St Ives: 19
Ilfracombe: 36
Falmouth: 36
Plymouth: 49
While the statistics paint a grim picture for Skegness, the local community and visitors continue to see the town as a welcoming and enjoyable destination. Photo by MOTORAL1987, Wikimedia commons.