Since the mid-2010s, England and Wales have experienced a significant increase in violent crimes and sexual offences. The rise in these types of crimes is particularly concerning, as it

highlights a growing challenge for public safety and the criminal justice system. In the fiscal year 2023/24, an estimated 6.66 million crimes were recorded across the two nations.

Amidst these increasing figures, other indicators reveal that the justice system is under severe pressure. In 2023, only 5.7 percent of crimes were solved, with sexual offences seeing an even lower clearance rate of 3.6 percent, according to data from the Home Office. One region, in particular, stands out as the most affected by crime, and it may come as a surprise that it is not London.

Cleveland, located in North East England, holds the highest crime rate in the UK. Data from the Office for National Statistics (UK) shows that Cleveland’s crime rate stands at 132.5 per 1,000 people. Other areas in northern England also report high crime rates, with West Yorkshire at 121.7 and Greater Manchester at 117.7 per 1,000 residents. Comparatively, London’s crime rate is lower, at 105.1 per 1,000 people.

Conversely, the lowest crime rates are found in rural areas such as Wiltshire in South West England and North Yorkshire, which report significantly fewer crimes.

Cleveland’s high crime rate is notable as the region does not include a major city; instead, it comprises towns such as Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, and Middlesbrough. Economic challenges in the area have contributed to increased drug use, which is cited as a major factor behind the region’s elevated crime levels. Photo by Evelyn Simak, Wikimedia commons.