But police say the rise might just mean more reports, not more crime

Richard Ault and bristolpost Administrator

16:00, 18 May 2025

General image of a police incident in Bristol(Image: Bristol Live/Jon Kent)

Bristol is among the most dangerous places to live in England and Wales, according to a new map showing the areas where residents are most likely to be plagued by crime.

Last year, more than 5.3 million non-fraud crimes were recorded in England and Wales. That includes 168,000 crimes in Avon and Somerset, which was about 21,000 more than in 2023 – a 14% rise, the second-highest rise of 43 domestic police forces.

That comes as nationally, crime has fallen by 2%. However, Avon and Somerset Constabulary says it is now easier for people to report crime, which may account for the increase, along with greater public confidence in reporting offending.

Crime rates – the number of crimes in each area for every 1,000 people living there – allow for a fair comparison of the threats to law and order in places with widely different population sizes.

They show that Bristol had the ninth highest crime rate in the country, showing that residents were more at risk of being a victim of crime than in the vast majority of more than 300 community safety partnership areas (which are broadly the same as council areas) in England and Wales.

In 2024, 63,307 crimes were recorded in Bristol. That was a rate of 132 crimes for every 1,000 residents, the equivalent of one crime for every two people who live in the city.

North Somerset had the next highest rate in the Avon and Somerset police force area, with 83 crimes per 1,000 residents. South Gloucestershire, meanwhile, had the lowest crime rate in Avon and Somerset, with 71 crimes per 1,000 residents, the equivalent of one in 14 people falling victim to crime.

Using our interactive map, you can check the crime rate where you live, whether crime is rising or falling, and how it compares nationally.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We recognise the importance of data in policing and have recently made substantial strides in both improving our recording of crime and in making it easier for the public to report incidents to us.

“More accurate data allows our resources to be used as effectively as possible to tackle the issues affecting our communities and make them even safer places to be.”