Safe, Warm, Welcoming Environment – For All

Leicestershire offer a warm, welcoming and safe environment: Recorded crime in the County of Leicestershire averaged just 31 offences per 1,000 population in 2003/04; well below national average of 47 incidents per 1,000 population (England and Wales – Home Office, 2003/04). Crime rates in the City of Leicester are significantly lower than other major cities in the region (27 burglary dwelling offences per 1,000 households, compared to 65/1,000 in Nottingham and 33/1,000 in Derby – 2003/04). Leicester city centre has achieved the Home Office Safer Shopping Award – the first city in the East Midlands to receive this award. The City of Leicester is a truly international city of culture and cultures is well known for the tolerance and harmony which exists between its communities. It is probably the best example in the UK of a city where it works.

Table 3. Crime Statistics, 2003/04	Population1 thousands	Households thousands	Six key offences2 per 1,000 population 03/04	Burglary dwelling offences per 1,000 population 03/04	Burglary dwelling offences per 1,000 households 03/04	Vehicle crime offences per 1,000 population 03/04
Leicester	283.6	113.1	74.3	10.9	27.2	23.1
Leicestershire County	615.5	252.3	30.7	5.3	13.0	11.7
Nottingham	270	113.8	114.0	27.5	65.4	45.8
Nottinghamshire	753.2	316.3	47.5	11.3	27.0	21.2
Derby	223.2	93.1	66.9	13.7	32.7	20.3
East Midlands	4215.5	1754.6	47.3	9.2	22.2	18.0
London	7347.5	3206.1	63.1	9.3	21.2	21.6
England and Wales	52505.1	22118.4	46.8	7.6	18.2	16.9