There’s no substitute for feeling safe in the place we call home. Whether that’s knowing we’ve got a good sense of community, neighbours we trust, or a good complement of nearby hospitals and schools, the importance of safety and security can’t be understated. That’s always been the goal of the crime statistic reporting we pioneer here at Churchill Support Services.
Our familiarity with crime statistics stems from a long series of pieces that explore the UK’s ongoing and well-documented issues with crime. These range from exposés on crime hotspots across the country, to a hard-hitting deep-dive on the state of gun crime in the UK.
With our latest report, we’re looking at homicide in the UK. An understandably sensitive topic, and one that’s sure to divide opinion, we’ll be breaking down what the latest government statistics show us, and what they might mean for any area you’re considering.
While it’s a statistic few of us would like to think about, it’s a grim reality that homicide can and does happen in the UK. It’s very often headline news when it does, and the tragedy that surrounds it is proportionate to the devastating and far-reaching impact murder has. We’ll be approaching these statistics with the sensitivity and carefulness they warrant.
According to the latest report from the Office of National Statistics, the latest period of data (covering July 2023 – June 2024) found 562 separate instances of homicide. That’s approximately 10 murders each week – a startling realisation when it’s laid out like that – and means there are around 9.3 murders per 1,000,000 UK residents.
A closer look only serves to compound some of the UK’s more well-known issues. 44% of all homicides involved a knife or sharp instrument, up by a further 2% compared with the statistics we saw last year. The remaining 56% is accounted for by other means, including assault, firearms offences, and deaths caused by dangerous driving.
That’s perhaps symptomatic of Britain’s ongoing concerns around knife crime, as well as larger issues that have consistently been the focus of government and policing initiatives. However, while issues persist, there’s a positive note on which to reflect as part of those statistics.
Homicides have seen a steady decline over the last 20 years, with the rate having almost halved since March 2003 (562 offences in 2024, compared with 1,047 in 2003). That’s only continued when we compare this year’s statistics with last year’s, where we see a 3% decline (562 murders, compared with 578 murders).
The alarm bells still ring loudly, though. While we’ve examined the UK as a whole, looking more closely at some of the UK’s larger areas reveals key problem points. Let’s examine the UK’s worst areas for murder, and what that could mean for those living there.
We’ll be using the latest available data to discover the worst areas for murders across the country. We’ve taken the official number of recognised murders, as well as the number of murders per 100,000 residents.
A major educational hub for the capital as home to Blackheath and Goldsmiths, Uni of London, Lewisham is an integral part of the inner London area. Despite its prominence, the borough enters the UK’s worst areas for murder, with 6 homicides in the last year alone.
Arguably among England’s most ancient cities, and the namesake of its county, Leicester is more renowned in the modern era for its cultural, artistic and sporting eminence. But with 4 homicides over the last year, there’s a secondary reputation lurking beneath that exterior.
On the northern shores of Scotland lies the county of Moray. Best known for Elgin, the town at its centre, many won’t see Moray as a surprise inclusion, given its well-publicised issues with drug crimes. However, the 2 homicides in the last year still come as a shock.
Famed for its history in hat making that persists in modern-day Luton, as well as its multi-national airport, Luton’s status often means it’s often mistaken for a city. But while it is technically a town, its rate of homicide (4 murders in the last year) is usually only reserved for larger cities.
Grounded in its literary history as the birthplace of acclaimed author George Eliot, the borough of Nuneaton and its associate Bedworth are cultivating a separate reputation for criminality. That’s most stark in its rate of homicide, with 1 murder in the last year.
Officially nominated as the UK’s City of Culture in 2021, it’ll no doubt be disheartening to see this West Midlands mainstay enter the rankings for the worst areas for homicide in the UK. But with 2 murders in the last year alone, there are concerns for safety in Coventry.
Home to everything from footballing prowess in Tottenham Hotspur to the cultural hub of Alexandra Palace, there’s much to bring the discerning visitor to Haringey. The rate of homicide in the borough (4 in the last year), however, leaves much to be desired.
Nestled in the depths of the Calder Valley, the borough of Calderdale in West Yorkshire is one of the leafier entrants on these rankings, with Halifax as its metropolitan centre. With just 1 murder over the last year of data, it’s the smaller population that earns it a spot.
Famed for both its mythological contributions with Robin Hood, and its more modern trappings as a thoroughly 21st-century city, Nottingham is an attractive prospect for tourists and residents alike. Less attractive is its rate of homicide, with 6 murders in the last year alone.
Arguably one of the more concerning entries among the worst areas for homicide, given how rural the district is, and the overall resident happiness according to a recent Ipsos Mori survey. With 94% of North Kesteven being green space, the 1 homicide in 2024 resonates even further.
Perhaps most known as the home to Gatwick Airport, Crawley’s expansion in recent years has seen it quickly become a thriving residential borough of the capital. However, that expansion has led to a rising rate of homicide, with 1 murder in the last year.
Well-known as one of London’s primary shopping districts, much of the heart of Croydon lies in its extensive retail options which position it just shy of the West End for its affluence. That’s overshadowed by the rate of murder in the borough, though, with 3 over the last year.
Lending its name to the iconic London black cabs, the borough of Hackney offers a seamless blend of greenery and residential areas. That’s sadly not translated to a safer area, however, with Hackney seeing 1 murder in the last year.
Home to the historic Scottish town of Paisley, the leafy county of Renfrewshire lies in the lowlands of Scotland. Despite its idyllic surroundings, though, Renfrewshire experiences some of Scotland’s worst issues with homicide, seeing 5 murders in the last year.
The subject of much renovation in recent years, and one of England’s younger cities, Chelmsford’s evolution hasn’t stopped it from experiencing similar issues with homicide. Over the last year, the Essex city saw 2 murders.
One of Lincolnshire’s coastal hotspots, and home to the infamous town of Skegness, East Lindsey perhaps wouldn’t be the first area you’d expect to see among the UK’s murder hotspots. But with 1 homicide in the last year and a relatively small population, there’s mounting concern.
Central to much of Greater Manchester’s public art scene, the Bury borough is actually the smallest across the wider area, making its statistics on homicide far more concerning. Last year saw 1 murder – concerning given the lower population.
Arguably one of London’s biggest corporate hotspots outside of the infamous Canary Wharf, Hounslow and its associated Brentford are undoubtedly attractive. But with 2 murders over the last year, there’s a sour note to that appeal.
One of London’s most expansive boroughs, and encompassing some of London’s most recognisable landmarks in its borders, Lambeth routinely draws in the crowds. That’s led to a drastic rise in the instances of murders – 7 homicides over the last year.
One of the largest and most well-known cities of the West Midlands, Wolverhampton’s transformation over recent years from hub of industry to bastion of the aerospace industry is undeniable. Equally irrefutable, though, is its issues with homicide, with the last year seeing 5 murders.
One of England’s most famous cathedral cities, and lending its name to the wider county of a similar name, Gloucester’s natural beauty could be considered overshadowed by its issues with homicide. The last year of data alone saw 2 murders.
One of the more remote parts of the British Isles, and almost as close to Norway as it is to the mainland, the Shetlands are perhaps the last place one would expect to experience issues with homicide. But while 1 murder in the last year may seem innocuous, it takes on a new dimension given the islands’ low population of just 23,020.
Arguably one of England’s most famous seaside destinations, Blackpool holds a special place in many Northerners’ hearts. That’s overshadowed by its high ranking among the UK’s worst areas for homicide, with 4 murders in the last year alone.
Among the smallest areas of Scotland, Inverclyde is nestled at the tail-end of the River Clyde from which it takes its name. While the surroundings may sound ideal, the largest area of the county – Greenock – is among Scotland’s most deprived, and that’s starkly reflected in its 4 homicides over the past year.
Officially the worst area for homicide across the UK, the town of Hartlepool is perhaps a shock entry, especially given its keen sense of history. But with 4 murders rocking the seaside staple in the last year alone, it’s clear to see why it warrants its spot.
Given that these rankings of the worst areas for homicide in the UK are naturally an incredibly sensitive topic, we’ve sought to be as objective and transparent as possible. We’ve used the latest data available from both the Office of National Statistics (for England and Wales) and the Scottish Government Statistics Database.
We’ve then displayed this as both the number of homicides in that area, and how that stacks up against the population of that area. This allows us to better represent where the most dangerous areas are, and what that might mean.
One thing to note here is that, while some of the entrants (such as Hartlepool, or The Shetland Islands) don’t have a population of over 100,000, we’ve used the data to represent what that rate would be. Our data sources allow us to do this, and mean that we can better provide an insight into every area individually.
We’ve also opted to represent London as its boroughs (such as Haringey or Lewisham), rather than as the city as a whole. In total, the Metropolitan Police recorded 111 homicides in London over the last year, with an additional 1 coming from the City of London.
Of course, while statistics give us a good insight into where the worst areas for murder in the UK are, they’re not always representative of how we feel. Even if our area doesn’t make these rankings, we can still be concerned about crime.
We’ve picked out some of the UK’s most populous towns and cities, along with their number and rate of homicide over the last year.
19 Homicides In 2024 ——- 1.6 Homicides Per 100,000 People
0 Homicides In 2024 —— 0.6 Homicides Per 100,000 People
3 Homicides In 2024 ——- 0.2 Homicides Per 100,000 People
1 Homicide In 2024
9 Homicides In 2024 ——- 1.4 Homicides Per 100,000 People
5 Homicides In 2024 ——- 1.1 Homicides Per 100
14 Homicides In 2024 ——- 1.9 Homicides Per 100,000 People
10 Homicides In 2024 ——- 0.8 Homicides Per 100,000 People
2 Homicides In 2024 ——- 1.1 Homicides Per 100,000 People
12 Homicides In 2024 ——- 1.6 Homicides Per 100,000 People
7 Homicides In 2024 ——- 1.3 Homicides Per 100,000 People
11 Homicides In 2024 ——- 1.9 Homicides Per 100,000 People
