Understanding the crime statistics for an area is often a key consideration. It’s an area of focus for families and young professionals, as well as being part of the business plans and future preparations for the conscientious business owner.
At Churchill Support Services, that’s something we’re passionate about too. As one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of bespoke security services, we believe that good security starts with effective education, which is why we’re dedicated to bringing you a comprehensive overview of each region of the UK.
Here, we’ll break down crime statistics for the East Midlands, what you need to be aware of if you’re planning a move to the region, and the key statistics to keep in mind for your home and business security.
We take data from open-source police reports from the different cities and towns across the East Midlands, as well as using independent aggregators, in order to provide an objective view of crime in the region.
We’ll then display this as a ratio of crimes per 1,000 residents. This allows us to show data that’s reflective of the size of the area, and of the amount of people that live there.
You’ll also learn about the most common crime in each area, and how that can factor into the decisions you make for the security of your business or home.
The East Midlands is an exceptionally diverse region of the UK. From cragged coastlines that border the tumultuous North Sea, to the gentle rolling hills of the Lincolnshire Wolds, and punctuated with centres of culture and commerce, the East Midlands offer an attractive prospect to those considering the area.
With many choosing to relocate to the major hubs of Leicester or Nottingham, as well as the region’s picturesque towns and villages, the draws of the area are abundantly clear.
However, the caveat to this is that the East Midlands has a higher crime rate than you might expect, with a rate of 90 crimes per 1,000 residents. This places it as one of the more dangerous regions of the UK, with violence and sexual offences being the most common crime (188,736 incidents over the last year, or around 39 offences per 1000 people).
That’s one of a few different offences that have slowly crept up over the last year, with public order offences (44,701 incidents), weapon possession (4,846 incidents) and criminal damage (46,710 incidents) all seeing a rise in 2022 compared to 2021.
Of course, that’s not to say that every area in the East Midlands has a comparable crime rate. Let’s take a look at some of the more populous areas of the region, and how their individual crime rate stacks up against the area as a whole.
Set amongst the greenery and gentle topography of Nottinghamshire, Arnold represents one of the safer areas of the county. The market town has a modest crime rate of 50 crimes per 1000 residents, with the main contributor towards this rate being violence and sexual offences (840 incidents).
However, what does present a concern for Arnold security is the higher rate of anti-social behaviour, with 445 offences over the last year.
Often referred to as a “hive of industry” thanks to its insect-esque name, the quaint town of Beeston presents a great choice for the savvy business owner. Its crime rate, however, tells a different story – 58 crimes per 1000 people, with the most common crime being violence and sexual offences (1039 incidents).
Another pressing problem for business security in Beeston is the town’s higher rate of shoplifting, which is 25% higher than the average for Nottinghamshire.
Often mistaken for the US metropolis, the market town of Boston is shielded by the enveloping Lincolnshire coastline, nestling along the banks of the River Witham. However, this idyllic locale harbours a much higher crime rate than expected, with a substantial 116 crimes per 1000 residents.
Perhaps the most concerning statistic for Boston business security is the town’s high rate of robbery (44 incidents) and drug offences (170 incidents), both of which are almost double what’s expected for a town the size of Boston.
One of the major hubs of modern Derbyshire, and often referred to as the “gateway to the Peaks”, Chesterfield has its obvious draws for families and businesses alike. However, its high crime rate of 94 crimes per 1000 people does present a key consideration.
The bulk of this stat is made up by violent and sexual offences (3918 incidents), but high rates across shoplifting (611 incidents) and burglary (446 incidents) also stand out as areas of concern for Chesterfield business security in particular.
Perhaps one of the more literally named towns across the UK, Coalville has its roots firmly planted in mining and industry. While its history lies in coal, the town has developed with the times, becoming a hub for Leicestershire.
With that development unfortunately comes a higher crime rate (91 crimes per 1000 people), with worrying statistics in theft (399 crimes) and criminal damage (450 crimes) that drive home the need for effective Coalville security services.
Perhaps most closely associated with the eponymous trouser press, Corby is much more than just an appliance – it’s now one of the fastest growing towns in Northamptonshire. That growth sadly brings with it a rising crime rate, at 95 crimes per 1000 residents.
The biggest contributor to this, and the largest Corby security concern, is violence and sexual crime (2845 offences), but the soaring figures in shoplifting (559 offences) also represent a key area of concern for retailers and shops.
The largest settlement and namesake of its county, Derby is one of the UK’s central hubs for the British rail industry, as well as a constantly expanding city. It’s this expansion that’s unfortunately led to Derby’s higher crime rate of 118 crimes per 1000 residents.
There’s a worrying trend upwards across both robbery (466 incidents) and personal theft (442 incidents) which represent a key concern for Derby security, and are over double the expected rate for the county as a whole.
The sleepy market town of Glossop sits in the shadow of the Peak District, and thrives on the tourism that the surrounding green areas brings. It’s this quaint setting that means Glossop often tops the charts of the safest areas in the East Midlands, with just 49 crimes per 1000 residents.
However, there are still high stats that mean Glossop security is of paramount consideration. The town has lofty figures in antisocial behaviour (517 offences) and violent and sexual crime (728 offences).
One of Lincolnshire’s excavated historical gems, the industrious town of Grantham offers a microcosmic view of England’s history, juxtaposed against a developing modern economy. However, in spite of its illustrious history, the town’s crime rate (99 crimes per 1000 residents) casts a shadow over Grantham’s undoubted positives.
This majority of this crime rate is made up by the high figures in violence and sexual crime (1835 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (969 incidents), but there’s a concerning recent rise in weapon possession (54 incidents over 2022) that prompt increased focus on Grantham security.
One of England’s most historic industrial towns, Ilkeston’s celebrated history with coal mining and iron working has now faded to be replaced by a modern hub for the county of Derbyshire. Sadly, though, this change has brought with it a soaring crime rate of 105 crimes per 1000 residents – substantially higher than the county’s average.
The most common crime in Ilkeston is violence and sexual crime (1975 offences), but significant figures in shoplifting (298 incidents) represent a key cause for Ilkeston security concern, especially as it’s almost double the county’s average.
Kettering has one of the richest histories across all of Northamptonshire, dating back to pre-Roman times and encompassing everything from rebellion to railways. This distinguished history is sadly offset by modern Kettering’s high crime statistics, with an overall rate of 120 crimes per 1000 residents.
Violent and sexual offences make up over 40% of the town’s total crimes (3295 crimes), but there’s alarming trends across shoplifting (489 incidents) and drug offences (319 incidents) that highlight the need for effective Kettering security.
Often associated with sport thanks to its football and rugby union connections, the city of Leicester offers a melding of culture, sport and industry. However, its surging popularity has attracted attention of the wrong kind, resulting in a soaring crime rate of 128 crimes per 1000 residents.
Key statistics that contribute towards Leicester’s high crime statistics are the soaring rates of violent and sexual crime (21,815 incidents), public order offences (7240 incidents), and antisocial behaviour (4750 incidents).
One of the UK’s most visually impressive cathedral cities, the architectural splendour of Lincoln belies its rising crime rate. 2022 saw a crime rate of 138 crimes per 1000 residents, the highest in recent memory, and a significant rise over 2021.
Violence and sexual offences (6065 incidents) form the bulk of Lincoln’s high rates, but that’s sadly just the tip of the iceberg. Spiralling figures in shoplifting (1938 incidents), criminal damage (1573 incidents), and antisocial behaviour (3171 incidents) further underscore the need for effective Lincoln security coverage.
Part of Derbyshire’s expansive Erewash district, the historic town of Long Eaton couples Palladian architecture with modern conveniences. Its modest setting matches with its crime rate, hovering around the county’s average at 80 crimes per 1000 residents.
While the most common crime in Long Eaton are violence and sexual offences (1316 incidents), one of the more surprising statistics is the rate of shoplifting (445 incidents) – almost 4 times the county’s overall rate.
Heavily grounded in its culture and heritage, Loughborough offers one of the more historic towns across the whole of Leicestershire. However, that legacy is offset somewhat by the town’s crime rate, which sits at 108 crimes per 1000 residents after rising year-on-year since the pandemic.
The most widespread crimes are violence and sexual offences (2615 incidents), but high rates in shoplifting (466 incidents), criminal damage (855 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (880 incidents) underline the need for effective Loughborough security.
The market town of Mansfield has seen huge developments over the last few years, injecting further investment and employment opportunities into the Nottinghamshire town. Alas, that’s not been enough to stave off the rising crime rate of 116 crimes per 1000 residents.
The bulk of Mansfield’s soaring crime statistics comes from violence and sexual offences (3585 incidents), but there’s also exceptionally high figures in shoplifting (1320 incidents) and criminal damage (1094 incidents) that are a cause for concern when it comes to security in Mansfield.
Built on the sturdy banks one of England’s largest and longest rivers, Newark-on-Trent’s charming nature is significantly counterbalanced by its climbing crime rate of 133 crimes per 1000 residents – almost 60% higher than the county’s overall rate.
While the most common offences were those of a violent or sexual nature (1295 crimes), it’s high statistics across the board that trigger increased investment into Newark-on-Trent security services. Of particular note for businesses are the high rates in antisocial behaviour (815 incidents) and shoplifting (763 incidents).
Often synonymous with its county namesake, the market town of Northampton offers equal parts culture, commerce and convenience for its burgeoning population. However, it’s with that influx of residents that the crime rate creeps up, with the statistics showing a ratio of 111 crimes per 1000 people.
The main component of that soaring rate is violent and sexual offences (12,165 incidents), but key statistics to note for your Northampton security include the higher levels of theft (2178 incidents), criminal damage (2449 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (4397 incidents).
Perhaps best known for its affiliation with Robin Hood, Nottingham has a past that’s grounded in both concrete truth and fanciful myth. However, what’s certainly true is the city’s climbing crime rate – 125 crimes per 1000 residents means it’s one of the more dangerous parts of Nottinghamshire.
With soaring rates across violence and sexual offences (14,907 incidents), antisocial behaviour (8230 incidents) and criminal damage (4048 incidents), security in Nottingham often represents a crucial area of consideration.
A quiet market town nestled in a small valley, Rushden is a quintessential example of what many expect from Northamptonshire. It’s this charming nature that means the town has a relatively modest crime rate of 86 crimes per 1000 people.
There are standout stats, however, that prompt focus on Rushden business security. These include rising rates in shoplifting (272 offences), robbery (44 offences), and drug crimes (108 offences), all of which have seen rises compared to their 2021 statistics.
One of the East Midlands’ ceremonial counties, and the smallest across the whole of England, Rutland is predominantly made up of chocolate box villages and towns. The crime rate reflects that, with a comparatively low rate of just 47 crimes per 1000 residents.
There’s still causes for Rutland security concern, though, with violence and sexual offences (853 incidents) making up over 45% of the total crime in the area. There’s also notable figures in criminal damage (201 incidents) and vehicle crime (119 incidents).
One of Lincolnshire’s premier market towns, Spalding perches upon the banks of the River Welland and intertwines itself with the horticulture of the area. While the locale may be picturesque, its crime rate of 80 crimes per 1000 residents paints a less than positive picture.
The majority of Spalding’s crime rate is made up by violence and sexual offences (1475 incidents), but alarming figures in antisocial behaviour (538 incidents), criminal damage (275 incidents), and theft (212 incidents) drive home the need for effective Spalding security solutions.
With heritage dating back to the medieval era, the market town of Wellingborough has a rich and storied history that often attracts tourists. However, what’s less of an attractive prospect is the town’s higher rate of crime – 109 crimes per 1000 residents.
The key contributing crime to that rate is violence and sexual offences (2867 incidents), making up over 40% of Wellingborough’s overall crime statistics. There’s also soaring numbers in antisocial behaviour (1205 incidents), criminal damage (579 incidents) and public order offences (44 incidents).
One of Nottinghamshire’s key market towns, and the largest in the Bassetlaw District of the county, Worksop offers rich Anglo-Saxon history alongside modern conveniences. With that modernity unfortunately comes a higher rate of crime, with a rate of 119 crimes per 1000 people.
Violence and sexual crimes (1764 incidents) make up the bulk of Worksop’s high rate, but there’s also steadily increasing figures in areas like shoplifting (883 incidents) and vehicle crime (372 incidents) that prompt focus on Worksop security services.
