We reveal the most dangerous – and safest – areas of England and Wales for crimes including rape, burglary and arson
The Sun has crunched Home Office figures to show where people are most at risk - and what police are doing about it
CRIME is on the rise across the country but today we reveal how your chances of falling victim to a thief, sex offender or violent attacker wildly vary across England and Wales.
Sun Online has crunched Home Office figures to show the areas where people are most at risk of offences such as robbery, burglary and sex crimes.
West Yorkshire is the most dangerous place to live in England and Wales, with violent attacks in particular soaring by 40 per cent last year.
A father and son who were brutally beaten and stabbed in separate incidents in the region last year told Sun Online they "don't think police are taking violent crime seriously".
The force says it is dealing with high numbers of 'vulnerable' people while working with fewer resources but 'remains focused on protecting victims'.
We analysed the five 'victim-based crime' categories - violence against the person, theft, sex offences, robbery and criminal damage and arson and how many offences were committed compared to the size of population.
West Yorkshire came top with 88.6 victim-based crimes per 1,000 people living there.
Surprisingly, London is just fourth in a blacklist dominated by regions in the north of England.
Meanwhile, Dyfed-Powys was the safest place to live in the UK last year, with 36.6 offences per 1,000 people.
The figures mean people living in West Yorkshire are around two-and-a-half times more likely to be a victim of crime as those in mid-Wales.
Across the north, Cleveland, Greater Manchester and South Yorkshire were all in the top five, with Humberside, Northumbria and Merseyside also in the top 10.
Wealthy areas such as Devon and Cornwall, North Yorkshire and Surrey were among the places people are least likely to be targeted by criminals.
Police Scotland figures are published separately by the Scottish government and aren't directly comparable with the Home Office statistics.
North Wales saw a huge 41 per cent rise in sex crimes during 2016 and saw the highest rate of offences in England and Wales.
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Williams, North Wales Police, told Sun Online recent allegations regarding historic sexual abuse in football had an impact on his force's figures.
We have seen an upsurge in reports of non-recent sexual offending; including the disclosures around coaching in sport that received publicity at the start of the year
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Williams
West Yorkshire's violent crime rate was far higher than anywhere else in the England and Wales (27.3) and more than double that of neighbouring North Yorkshire (11.7) and nearby Lincolnshire (10.6).
Gloucestershire had the lowest level of violent attacks with 10.5 offences per 1,000 people.
Robbery rates were 26 times higher in London than in Dyfed-Powys.
The capital recorded 22,843 violent thefts in 2016, compared to just 50 across mid-Wales - less than one a week.
West Midlands and Greater Manchester both saw robberies rise by around 17 per cent and had the next second and third highest rates.
West Yorkshire was the area most vulnerable to thefts - including burglary, vehicle thefts and pickpockets - with 44.1 offences per 1,000 people.
Cleveland was the nation's hotspot for criminal damage and arson offences despite being one of the few areas with a fall in property offences last year.
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said the loss of 1,000 police officers in a decade means the force is struggling to stop crime rising.
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He said: "We do sit highest in terms of crimes per 1,000 population, but we are not that dissimilar from other metropolitan forces, who face the same complex and diverse challenges that we do.
"Not only is recorded crime up, but so is the demand placed on West Yorkshire Police. In the last 12 months, we have seen an increase of around 5% in calls for service from the public.
"We also cannot ignore the impact of police cuts, which has seen us lose more than 1,000 police officer posts in the ten years between 2006 and 2016.
"The most recent independent inspections by Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary (HMIC) rated West Yorkshire Police as ‘good’ for efficiency, effectiveness and legitimacy."
Dyfed-Powys Police chief superintendent Claire Parmenter said: “We are proud of the fact Dyfed-Powys remains the safest place to live, work and visit.
"It is testament to our communities, and our officers maintain close, effective relationships with local people and our partners.
"It is a wonderful area, and we want people to feel safe here. But we are not complacent and continue to undertake work to improve the way we respond in order to put the public first."
Detective Chief Inspector Andrew Williams, North Wales Police, said: "In common with many other forces around the country, have seen an upsurge in reports of non-recent sexual offending; including the disclosures around coaching in sport that received publicity at the start of the year.
"The statistics are therefore unsurprising and it is encouraging to see that people have the confidence to report offences to us in the knowledge that they will be taken seriously and believed."
Crime rising across England and Wales
- Overall crime in England and Wales rose by 10 per cent last year
- Violence against the person went up by 19 per cent
- Sex offences climbed by 12 per cent
- Robberies increased by 10 per cent
- Theft offences rose by 4 per cent - with an 8 per cent rise in vehicle thefts the main contributor
- Criminal damage and arson increased by 5 per cent
A Met Police spokeswoman said: "The MPS takes street crime very seriously - being robbed can be a traumatic experience and so tackling it is a key priority for us.
"Robbery is currently 33 per cent lower in the Met than in 2012. However, concerted actions to tackle street robbery continue - each borough uses separate initiatives to deal with robbery depending upon the scale of the problem locally.
"A number of boroughs have seen a significant increase in personal robbery, some of which has been committed by people riding on scooters. This is being tackled by Operation Venice the Met's response to scooter, motorcycle and moped theft and scooter enabled crime."
Crime across England and Wales grew by 10 per cent overall last year.
'I was attacked with bats and clubs and my son was stabbed but we didn't get justice... the area's becoming lawless'
A FATHER and son who were viciously beaten and stabbed in horrific attacks just two months apart in West Yorkshire say police aren't taking violent crimes seriously.
Simon and Freddie Clarke were both left needing hospital treatment following the sickening offences - one of which was captured on CCTV - but claims officers 'barely bothered' speaking to them before their cases were dropped.
The incidents were two of more than 62,000 attacks last year which saw the West Yorkshire Police's violent crime rate soar by 40 per cent.
Simon, 45, was savagely attack outside his home in Baildon by a gang of 35 thugs wielding baseball bats, golf clubs and a hammer, in an incident chillingly captured on security footage in January 2016.
He confronted the gang of youths after hearing them throwing stones at his neighbour's van before being battered with weapons as he lay defenceless on the ground.
I've lived in West Yorkshire most of my life and I definitely feel the risk of crime is getting worse and worse.
Simon Clarke
The dad-of-two was taken to hospital with head injuries, a swollen jaw, bruised ribs and a tear.
Seven males were arrested in connection with the attack but the case was later dropped after the Crown Prosecution Service decided there wasn't enough evidence to charge anyone over the assault.
Two teenagers were summonsed to court for violent disorder but their cases were also later discontinued.
Simon has since been forced to move from his home after being told his landlord feared further reprisals against the property.
He told Sun Online the response of West Yorkshire Police left him feeling betrayed by the justice system and that violent crime isn't a 'priority' among officers.
He said: "It doesn't surprise me violent crime is going up. From my experience, I honestly believe police aren't taking it seriously.
"They barely bothered speaking to me. After I'd given my statement I was contacted once by the lead officer, then three months later I was contacted by another officer who'd taken on the case.
"There were witnesses living nearby who I know were never asked for statements.
"The case was dropped by the CPS before it went to court despite the fact they had full CCTV. I believe more could have been done."
In an unrelated incident in March last year, Freddie, then 17, was stabbed in the abdomen and leg in an unprovoked attack while playing football in Guiseley.
The teenager believes he was targeted after being threatened when he accidentally clashed shoulders with his attacker in a Morrison's supermarket the previous day.
Freddie spent three days in hospital after suffering a severed artery and severe blood loss.
A 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with attack but no charges were ever brought.
Simon said: "I feel like if it does not directly affect the police or if it is not an easily solvable crime which can boost their statistics then they're basically not interested.
"I've lived in West Yorkshire most of my life and I definitely feel the risk of crime is getting worse and worse.
"Young people are being subjected to more and more negative influences through the internet and social media and when the deterrents aren't there on the street you slide into lawlessness.
"I've got no time for the police after what happened last year, because frankly I feel they didn't have time for us."
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Bradford Police mounted a thorough investigation in respect of an assault on Mr Simon Clarke on New Year’s Day 2016 and arrested seven males on suspicion of offences including violent disorder.
"A CPS review was undertaken of the case and it was unfortunately determined there was not enough evidence to authorise charges in relation to the assault. Although CCTV existed of the attack it was not of sufficient quality to identify suspects in relation to the assault itself.
"Bradford Police fully recognise Mr Clarke’s disappointment with regards to the outcome of this investigation. Officers conducted a range of protracted enquiries into the offence but unfortunately the available evidence was not deemed sufficient to be tested in court.
"Leeds District CID arrested two men, then aged 20 and 19, following an assault on Mr Freddie Clarke outside a leisure centre in Guiseley in which he suffered two none life threatening injuries to his body and leg, believed to have been caused by a knife. A number of enquiries were conducted to seek potential witnesses and CCTV was seized.
"Unfortunately the CCTV did not identify any suspects and due to a lack of other forensic and witness evidence, it was felt there wasn't enough evidence to approach the CPS for a charging decision."