Bradford used to be the “Wool Capital of the World” and is one of the most important cities in West Yorkshire. It is famous for its rich history, industrial heritage, vibrant nightlife, and more.
Bradford also has one of the busiest airports in the whole of the UK, which is Leeds Bradford Airport. Millions of people travel via this airport in a year which makes this area busy as compared to some other areas of West Yorkshire.
But now the crime rate in Bradford has increased to a massive level, which we will cover today. Moreover, we will talk about the top 12 most dangerous areas of Bradford in today’s article. But before doing that, let’s take a closer look at the overall crime rate in Bradford.
Key Takeaways
- Crime Rate in Bradford: 144.61 per 1,000 people, 46,766 crimes reported.
- Most Dangerous Areas: 12 high-crime areas including Eccleshill, City, Royds, Great Horton, Wibsey, Tong, Thornton and Allerton, Windhill and Wrose, Bolton and Undercliffe, Wyke, Heaton, and Little Horton.
- Crime Trend: Slight decline (165.70 in 2022 → 144.61 in 2024), but still high.
- Safest Areas: Wharfedale, Craven, Ilkley, Worth Valley, Bingley.
- Stay Safe: Use guards, CCTV, alarms, and keyholding.
- Security Services: Guard Mark Security offers expert protection in West Yorkshire.
- Source: Crime Rates and Data Police
Table of Contents
Overall Crime Rate in Bradford
When talking about the overall crime rate in Bradford, it is the worst in the whole of West Yorkshire. Bradford’s crime rate is at the top when compared with other 118 cities, towns, and areas in the county. According to the Crime Rate, the overall crime rate in Bradford in 2024 was 144.61 crimes per 1,000 people, which is one of the highest in West Yorkshire.
- Total Crimes in 2024: 46,766 reported incidents, slightly lower than in 2023.
- Worst Year: 2022 recorded the highest crime rate at 165.70 per 1,000 people with 53,586 incidents.
Moreover, the most common and prominent crimes that happened in the last 12 months (Year ending Sep 2024) were Violence and Sexual Offences, Public Order offences, Criminal Damage and Arson, Anti-Social Behaviour, and more.
What are the Most Common Crimes in Bradford?
According to the most recent and fresh batch of data, here is the list of the most common and prominent crimes that happened in Bradford in the last 12 months (year ending Sep 2024):
| Crime Type | Number of Offences/Incidents |
|---|---|
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 22,402 |
| Public Order | 4,419 |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 4,259 |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 4,077 |
| Other Theft | 3,558 |
| Vehicle Crime | 2,690 |
| Burglary | 2,320 |
| Shoplifting | 2,189 |
| Drugs | 1,793 |
| Other Crime | 1,573 |
| Robbery | 578 |
| Theft From the Person | 523 |
| Possession of Weapons | 435 |
| Bicycle Theft | 209 |
When looking at the overall crime rate and crime by types that happened in Bradford, we don’t have a clear picture of what’s happening in the areas and towns that are in Bradford. So, let’s now look at the situation of the top 12 most dangerous areas in Bradford to see the broader picture.
Revealed: Top 12 Most Dangerous Areas in Bradford
Here is the list of the top 12 most dangerous areas in Bradford. Please read carefully to see whether it is good to live in that specific area or not. Moreover, if you are planning to move in any of these areas, this article will help you reconsider your choice.
1- Eccleshill
200 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 2,798 Total Criminal Incidents
Eccleshill is one of the famous villages in Bradford famous for its textile manufacturing history. Moreover, this village is well known for its white woollen cloth manufacturing.
When looking at the overall crime rate in Eccleshill 200 crimes per 1,000 people and the area has faced 2,798 criminal offences and incidents in the past 12 months year ending Sep 2024 making it the worst area in Bradford for criminal activities.
2- City
189 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 9,497 Total Criminal Incidents
City is one of the most dangerous wards in Bradford which is famous for its culture, history, and wool production. There are many other areas as well in this ward that are affected by crime and other illegal activities.
The most recent and fresh batch of data shows that the City has an overall crime rate of 189 crimes per 1,000 people and it has witnessed almost 9,497 criminal and illegal offences.
Now if you compare the number of crimes that happened in the City and the number of crimes that happened in Eccleshill, you will see a huge difference.
However, due to having more population and areas in the ward, the City has a lower crime rate as compared to Eccleshill. Moreover, the most common crimes here are violence and sexual offences, public order offences, and other thefts.
3- Royds
181 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 2,544 Total Criminal Incidents
Royds is one of the famous parts of Bradford which is famous for its marvellous film location “Rita, Sue, and Bob Too”. Most of the people know Royds because of its cinematic locations and culture.
When looking at the crime rate of this area, it has an overall crime rate of 181 crimes per 1,000 people, and the residents have faced 2,544 total number of criminal incidents and offences in the past 12 months year ending Sep 2024.
The most common and prominent crimes and offences here are violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime, and criminal damage and arson making it the 3rd most dangerous area in Bradford.
4- Great Horton
175 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 2,661 Total Criminal Incidents
Great Horton is known for its historic architecture, industrial heritage, and its location near popular attractions including the National Science and Media Museum.
Great Horton is number 4th on our list and when looking at its overall crime rate, it is 175 crimes per 1,000 people and the total recorded crimes were 2,661 offences and incidents.
Moreover, the most common and prominent crimes here are violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, and public order offences.
5- Wibsey
169 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 2,004 Total Criminal Incidents
Wibsey is one of the areas in Bradford mostly known for its rich history, coal mining, and textile industry. Moreover, there are some famous attractions including Wibsey Park and St. Paul’s Church.
The overall crime rate in Wibsey is 169 crimes per 1,000 people and the total number of recorded crimes that happened in the area in the last 12 months is 2,004 offences and incidents making it one of the most dangerous areas in Bradford.
Moreover, the most common and prominent crimes and offences in Wibsey are violence and sexual offences, vehicle crime, and public order offences.
6- Tong
168 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 3,985 Total Criminal Incidents
Tong is a small village in Bradford and is known for its historic buildings like Tong Hall and St James’s Church. Moreover, it is well known for its history and architecture.
The overall crime rate in Tong is 168 crimes per 1,000 people and the total number of recorded criminal incidents is 3,985 offences making it one of the most dangerous areas in Bradford.
When looking at the data from the last 12 months, the most common and prominent crimes here are violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, and public order offences.
7- Thornton and Allerton
154 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 1,994 Total Criminal Incidents
Thornton and Allerton has almost 135 listed buildings and is famous for the birthplace of the Brontë sisters, Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, and their brother Branwell. The area is also famous for its writers, film locations, and cinematography.
The overall crime rate of Thornton and Allerton is 154 crimes per 1,000 people and the area has faced almost 1,994 total number of criminal and illegal incidents.
When looking at the most common types of crimes and offences in Thornton and Allerton, it is violence and sexual offences, other thefts, and public order offences.
8- Windhill and Wrose
148 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 1,815 Total Criminal Incidents
Windhill and Wrose are famous and known for their historical significance, residential areas, local amenities, and proximity to natural beauty.
The overall crime rate in Windhill and Wrose is 148 crimes per 1,000 people and the area has faced 1,815 total criminal and illegal incidents in the last 12 months year ending Sep 2024.
The most common and prominent crimes here are violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, and other thefts making it one of the most dangerous areas in Bradford.
9- Bolton and Undercliffe
139 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 2,106 Total Criminal Incidents
Bolton and Undercliffe is well known and famous for its rich history in Undercliffe cemetery, industrial past, community and residential areas, and the cricket club.
The overall crime rate in Bolton and Undercliffe is 139 crimes per 1,000 people and the area has faced 2,106 total criminal and illegal offences.
The most prominent crimes in Bolton and Undercliffe are violence and sexual offences, public order offences, and criminal damage and arson.
10- Wyke
131 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 1,922 Total Criminal Incidents
Wyke is one of the famous parts of Bradford and is well known for its community spirit and history, local amenities, sporting culture, historical buildings, and local landmarks.
The overall crime rate in Wyke is 131 crimes per 1,000 people and the residents saw almost 1,922 criminal and illegal incidents in the last 12 months year ending Sep 2024.
When looking at the most common and prominent crimes by type in Wyke, it is violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, and burglary incidents.
11- Heaton
124 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 1,994 Total Criminal Incidents
Heaton is well-known and famous for its residential character, green spaces, historical elements, and educational institutions including Bradford Grammar School.
The overall crime rate in Heaton is 124 crimes per 1,000 people and the area has faced 1,994 total number of criminal and illegal offences in the last 12 months.
Moreover, the most common and prominent crimes here are violence and sexual offences, public order offences, and criminal damage and arson.
12- Little Horton
123 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 2,722 Total Criminal Incidents
Little Horton is one of the well-known areas in Bradford and is famous for its historical significance, multicultural history, residential areas, and historical buildings.
The overall crime rate in Little Horton is 123 crimes per 1,000 people and as per the most recent batch of data, the area has faced 2,722 criminal offences and incidents in the last 12 months.
Moreover, when looking at the data, the most common crimes here are violence and sexual offences, public order offences, and other thefts.
How Do We Have Sourced This Data?
At Guard Mark Security, we often publish articles and blogs based on the statistics that show a clearer picture of the crime rates in the United Kingdom, its regions, cities, and towns.
We always try our best to find the most trusted and authentic platforms where we can source the data to share in our articles. For this specific blog post, we have sourced the statistics from a platform called “Crime Rate“.
It is one of the platforms that shares the statistics related to the crimes and other illegal incidents that happened in the UK in the past. You can visit their website to ensure all the statistics and data we have shared in this article are accurate and authentic.
For the safest areas in Bradford, we have analysed and gathered all the data from the Police UK website. You can visit their website and ensure all the data we have shared is correct and accurate.
What Crime Rate in Bradford Looks Like When Compared with Other Famous Cities in the UK?
When comparing the crime rate of Bradford with other famous cities including the City of London, Tower Hamlets, Sheffield, Camden, Nottingham, Liverpool, and more, Bradford has the highest crime rate in the last 12 months year ending 12 months.
Here are the crime rates of the top 10 most famous cities in the United Kingdom:
| City | Crimes per 1,000 People |
|---|---|
| City of London | 28.93 |
| Tower Hamlets | 98.60 |
| Sheffield | 102.94 |
| Camden | 108.07 |
| Nottingham | 110.86 |
| Liverpool | 124.42 |
| Birmingham | 128.63 |
| Bristol | 130.84 |
| Westminster | 132.94 |
| Leeds | 139.98 |
| Bradford | 144.61 |
Is the Crime Rate Increasing in Bradford?
As per the most recent and fresh batch of data, if we compare the decades, then the crime rate obviously has increased by a huge margin in Bradford. However, when we look at the crime rate and the number of crimes in the last 3 years, there is a slight decline in the crime rate and the number of crimes.
Key Crime Statistics:
| Year | Crime Rate (per 1,000 people) | Total Recorded Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 165.70 | 53,586 |
| 2023 | 162.12 | 52,429 |
| Year Ending September 2024 | 144.61 | 46,766 |
This shows that the crime rate in Bradford is slightly decreasing but more efficient and reliable techniques are required by the police and law enforcement units to reduce the crimes by a huge margin.
What are the Safest Areas in Bradford?
While some parts of Bradford have higher crime rates, there are also areas known for their safety, making them ideal for both residential and business purposes. Here are the top five safest areas in Bradford based on crime statistics:
- Wharfedale: 41.4 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 214 Total Criminal Incidents
- Craven: 62.1 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 310 Total Criminal Incidents
- Ilkley: 65 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 914 Total Criminal Incidents
- Worth Valley: 65.2 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 329 Total Criminal Incidents
- Bingley: 77 Crimes Per 1,000 People | 1,474 Total Criminal Incidents
So all the above-listed areas are safest in Bradford, but you need to be careful even if you are living in any of these areas. You must ensure that you have done everything to protect and secure your business in the perfect manner.
How to Stay Safe in Bradford?
Here are some of the best and most proven tips and techniques to stay safe in Yorkshire.
Safety Tips For Residential Properties
1- Use Modern and Trusted Locks:
Always install modern and trusted locks on your doors and windows to ensure no unauthorised person can access your property. Moreover, these modern locks come with built-in alarm systems that can help you reduce the risk of theft and vandalism.
2- CCTV Cameras:
Try installing the CCTV cameras and monitoring them when you are not at home. CCTV cameras also help gather the pieces of evidence in case someone breaks into your house. Modern CCTV cameras come with features like thermal imaging and low light mode which means you can capture the footage during the nighttime as well.
3- Alarm Systems:
You can also install motion sensor alarms in the areas that are close to your doors and windows because these are the only options for anyone to break into your house. These alarm systems will automatically trigger if detect any kind of motion during activation.
Safety Tips For Businesses
1- Security Guards:
Hiring security guards is one of the best things you can do for your business’s safety and protection. You can hire security guards who can help you patrol the premises and ensure it is safe and protected all the time including non-working hours.
2- CCTV Cameras:
Just like installing CCTV cameras at your residential property, it is crucial for your business establishment to have CCTV cameras as well. You can hire a separate CCTV monitoring officer to monitor the establishment 24/7. These CCTV monitoring officers will alert the security guards as soon as they detect any kind of potential threat or danger.
3- Keyholding Services:
Hiring the keyholding services for your business is one of the smartest and most cost-effective decisions you can make. Keyholding services help you ensure your property is safe and secure all the time. Moreover, if the alarm triggers or goes off during non-working hours, you don’t have to come to your business establishment to check if everything is okay.
The keyholding officer will reach your promises as soon as possible, investigate the cause of the alarm trigger, and will let you know with a detailed report.
Hire the Best Security Services in Bradford
If you are a business person concerned about your business after checking the crime statistics in Bradford, you are in the perfect place. At Guard Mark Security, we have been providing security services for more than a decade and have helped many businesses in Bradford and West Yorkshire ensure their security and protection.
No matter if you need manned guarding, CCTV installation services, CCTV monitoring officers, alarm installation services, keyholding services, or any other type of security services in West Yorkshire, we are able to cater to all your needs and requirements in the best manner.
If you require any security guard services for your business in West Yorkshire, we are just a ring away. Contact us now, share your security requirements, and we will help you with the most suitable and customised security plan for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1- What factors contribute to the high crime rate in Bradford?
As one of the most reliable and efficient security guarding companies working for years in Bradford, we say that there are different factors contributing to the increase in the crime rates of Bradford.
These factors include lack of counselling, depression (which leads toward drugs), recession, economic disturbance, and more. When we look at the data, the crime rate increased by a huge margin during the pandemic period which means the biggest cause of the increase in the crime rate is economic disturbance.
2- Is Bradford Safe?
When talking about safety and security, Bradford is the blend of both some of the most dangerous areas and some of the safest ones.
The safest areas in Bradford include Wharfedale, Craven, Ilkley, Worth Valley, Bingley, and more.
3- Is Bradford a Good Place to Live?
Bradford provides some of the best working opportunities that can help you increase your pace of making money. But all you have to do is be careful when choosing where you are going to live.
There are some areas that are very dangerous, but some are the safest, too. So, make sure to choose the safest one when making the mind to live or do business in Bradford.
4- Why Is There So Much Crime in Bradford?
In recent years, crime in many of the major cities in the UK has increased by a huge margin. Bradford is also one, and the major cause of the increase in crime here is the bad economy, wages, and recession.
5- How Dangerous Is Bradford, UK?
Undoubtedly, Bradford is one of the most dangerous areas in the UK and is on the top when compared with the other cities in West Yorkshire. But again, there are some safe areas as well where you can live peacefully with your loved ones.
6- Which city is more dangerous: Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Preston, or Hull?
When compared to the national average, Bradford has the highest crime rate, which means that Bradford is the most dangerous when compared with Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford, Preston, and Hull.
7- Which Is Better, London, Sheffield, York, Leeds, or Bradford?
When choosing the location or a city to live or to do business in, there are multiple factors you need to consider. So, based on the crime rate only, we can’t choose a city. You also need to analyse your targeted audience, their level of interest, and many more.
Also, if you are looking for residential purposes, you have to analyse the community, culture, working opportunities, and many more. So, in case you are worried about the crime rate in Bradford, you can still move to the safest parts of the city, which we have mentioned above in the blog.
8- How does Bradford’s crime rate compare to the national average in the UK?
Bradford’s crime rate is on the list of the top 20 most dangerous and worst areas in the UK when looking at the crime rates and illegal incidents.
9- What initiatives are in place to reduce crime in Bradford?
Police and other law enforcement authorities have introduced new laws and made some policies to reduce the crime rates in Bradford. When looking at the crime rates in 2024, we see witness a notable decline in crime rates which is a huge achievement for Bradford’s police and local authorities.
10- How reliable is the data on crime rates in Bradford?
At Guard Mark Security, our number one priority is to provide you with data that is authentic and trusted at the same time. For this blog post, we have analysed the data from the UK’s police website and Crime Rate (Government approved crime data provider platform in the UK).
11- What are the safest areas in Bradford to live or visit?
Some of the safest areas in Bradford include Wharfedale, Craven, Ilkley, Worth Valley, Bingley, and more. You can visit these areas for both commercial and residential purposes.
12- What role does technology play in crime prevention in Bradford?
When talking about technology, CCTV cameras, and alarm systems are the devices that can help both commercial and residential properties ensure their safety and protection. You can easily detect any potential danger via these technological devices and mitigate it before it escalates.
Conclusion
The crime rate in Bradford is one of the worst in the whole of West Yorkshire and when compared with other famous cities in the UK, Bradford is the city with the highest crime rate. But there are some safest areas in the city as well where you can live a peaceful life. When analysing the safest areas, criminal activities are there too.
So no matter if you are living in the most dangerous area or choose the safest one, you should always take care of your home and business establishment by hiring security guards and keyholding services.
So, if you are a business owner looking for the most reliable and trusted security company, contact Guard Mark Security, share your requirements, and we will be more than happy to assist you in everything.
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