The Daily Mirror has released details of the 50 postcodes around the country that have the worst crime rates; areas where a crime is committed every 15 minutes, and that includes airports and shopping centres but also residential streets. A small shopping area near the Olympic Park in London has the highest recorded rate of crimes and criminal activities, with one crime committed roughly every five hours. It is some way ahead of the next most prolific crime epicentre, which is Stansted Airport.
Cities and transport hubs are among the areas where the majority of crimes happen, primarily due to the large concentration of population that reside or work in the area. The more people there are, the more criminals there are, and the greater the opportunity for crimes too. What’s more, shopping centres are a target for shoplifters and thieves, as well as pickpockets, who are also rife in transport hubs like the underground and at airports.
However, there are a number of residential streets that also make the list, and while many are found in the largest cities around the country, there are also streets in Blackpool, Southampton, and Wigan that have reported especially high crime rates. However, none come close to the 158 crimes that were committed in Meridian Square in London in the month of April.
Shopping areas did feature prominently in the list, while Stansted and Gatwick were both also in the top 50. Doncaster Prison was also in the top 50, which may be considered a surprise, but there are some caveats that should be mentioned with the list. In some cases, crimes committed on smaller side streets may not be recorded under their own postcode but listed under the closest large street, but the list does give some idea of the areas that residents should avoid if they want a relatively crime free life.
The table of the top 50 is based on figures released by the Home Office, and it also features night clubs, supermarkets, and industrial centres among the top 50.
