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London and Nottingham named as burglary hotspots
14.08.09
People living in London and Nottingham are most likely to be victims of burglary, research showed today.
Five of the top 20 postcode districts in which people have made claims for theft or burglary on their home insurance during the past five years are in London, while four are in Nottingham, according to financial website moneysupermarket.com.
The group, which analysed 2.6 million home insurance quotes, found that people living in the NG5 postcode area in Arnold, Nottingham, were most likely to have been burgled, followed by those in LE3 in Leicester and NG2 in the West Bridgford area of Nottingham.
The CH66 postcode area in Ellesmere Port in Cheshire and the LS8 district in Roundhay, Leeds, completed the top five.
People in SW11 in Clapham were the most likely to have been burgled during the past five years in London, followed by those in the N8 district of Hornsey.
Areas of Sheffield, Croydon and Hove also made it into the top 10 districts in which burglaries were most likely to occur.
Julie Owens, head of home insurance at moneysupermarket.com, said: "Along with many other UK cities London and Nottingham are classed as high risk areas for crime and it is no surprise to see these areas dominating the top 20.
"The research highlights a broad mix of areas across the north and south of the UK so it is clear that no matter where you live, there is always a risk you could become a victim of theft or burglary."
The hotspots
Areas and percentage of households who claimed on their insurance for burglary
SW11 Clapham 31%
N8 Hornsey 28%
E17 Walthamstow 24%
SW6 Fulham 24%
SE23 Forest Hill 24%
Reader views (9)
London? A burglary hotspot? Who would've guessed it!? More importantly - it needed research to reach that conclusion? Why?
- Rogan, Irving
Got this from a recently retired police superintendent: 100 crimes committed with something to link them then Home Office guidelines are to report them as a single crime. If the perpetrator is caught and admits to or is proven to have committed the 'crime' then it goes down as 100 solved crimes. No wonder the crime figures are a joke and no wonder the superintendent decided he'd had enough - he joined when 'nicking' criminals made his day.
- Dave, Cornwall
A year or two ago this paper reported that the burglary would no longer be punished by jail time. Instead cautions and fines would be used. Is this policy still in place?
If so, is it reasonable to assume the policy has failed?
- Trunk, US
Enter the new private police who will actually turn up when asked and actually try and support you rather than focusing on protecting the 'uman Rites of the offenders.
- Barry, woking, GB
Britain certainly wasn't a police state in the 1920s, yet didn't it have 4x as many coppers in those days ? ... and serving say a third less people [population of 40m?]?
It might sensibly help [just a tad] if we were, at the very least, to double the number of police!
And it would also help to install judges who are seriously interested and sincere in justice.
Justice that actually fully supports all victims and completely punishes all criminals!
If not, then I suggest that anyone reading this, get out of 'town' ... fast!
- Dave, Cumbria
Clear up rates for burglaries are as low as 12-13% (and that probably includes offences "taken into consideration" as a means of bumping up the figues).
Let's face it, the police aren't actually very good at their jobs. More police on the beat might make some people feel better, but what we need is a 21st century police force who actually know how to use computers and can harness technology to solve crime. Wandering round at night hassling kids on the off chance you might bump into a burglar red-handed is not the most efficiemt way to solve crime. Stop moaning about paperwork (which seems to be code for being made to be accountable for your actions) and do your job!
- Nolan, Londonist
Bob Cheam - Well I happen to live in the 'burglary hotspot' of West Bridgford, which falls into Ken Clarke's Rushcliffe constituency. I'm not too sure how accurate these figures are, but I know that the lack of police presence, is not helping the situation. You can put up as many 'smart water area' or 'neighbourhood watch area' signs as you like, this is not going to deter burglars. How many residents actually watch their neighbourhood anyway?? We need real police officers doing real policing, and not just pushing pencils while these so called powerless PCSO's are left to do their dirty work.
- Kokopelli, Nottingham, England
More police on the beat, please.
Less concentration on form filling and statistics, please.
Loose the political correctness pandering and stop anybody that looks suspicious, please.
Protect my human rights to quietly enjoy my possession's above that of somebodys hurt feelings - yes please !
- Jack, London, England
Just out of curiosity, anyone have any idea which party these constituencies are governed by?
- Bob, Cheam
