Whether you’re planning on moving to the city or just downright curious, the crime rate in Manchester is a hot topic for lots of people. It’s important to know about if you live locally or plan to, which is why we’ve put together a simple guide about the Manchester crime rate, how it’s changing through the years and how it compares to other cities like London.
Manchester crime rate explained
Let’s start with the current crime rate for Manchester, which is 126.7 crimes for every thousand people living there. For clarity, figures are generally quantified per thousand people, as this provides a rate of crime rather than just a total number.
126.7 was the rate for April 2021 to March 2022, also known as the 2021-22 reporting year. In previous years, the crime rate was as follows:
- 2020-21 – 107.9
- 2019-20 – 98.2
- 2018-19 – 116.7
- 2017-18 – 122.6
- 2016-17 – 105.9
- 2015-16 – 81.1
As you can see, the Manchester crime rate in 2021-22 was an increase from 2020-21 and the highest figure in the recorded period from 2015.
How does Manchester’s crime rate compare to other cities?
Crime rates don’t mean anything on their own. After all, what is the ‘norm’ for a crime rate? To put Manchester’s figures into context, London has a lower crime rate of 92.8 offences per thousand people in 2021-22. Does that mean London is safer than Manchester? Not necessarily. The capital is much more densely populated, meaning the rate is slightly misleading.
Here are the figures for other English cities in 2021-22:
- Leeds & Bradford – 125.5
- Birmingham – 123
- Liverpool – 115.6
- Sheffield – 105
- Newcastle & Sunderland – 92
Manchester vs Greater Manchester
It’s worth noting that the available figures are from police forces with large cities in their territories. As such, Liverpool’s crime rate is for all areas covered by Merseyside police. Similarly, the Manchester crime rate is actually for the whole of Greater Manchester, which is covered by Greater Manchester Police
As you might expect, the figure for the city centre is a little higher than the region’s average, with 169.37 for Manchester specifically, followed by towns such as Rochdale, Bolton and Oldham on slightly lower figures. You can find out more in our blog post on Manchester crime rates by area.
Again, to put this into context, the City of Westminster in central London has a much higher crime rate of 281.41.
At the other end of the scale, there are also some significantly safer areas to live in Manchester based on crime, including:
- Sale
- Chorlton
- Didsbury
Crime rate in Manchester – key takeaways
What is the crime rate in Manchester?
It varies year upon year, typically ranging from 80 to 130.
Is this a high crime rate?
Manchester’s crime rate is generally higher than most other English cities, though central London’s rate is much worse.
How can I stay safe?
Check out our blog for more information on crime in Manchester. Or contact our team of private investigators for a range of professional investigation services in Manchester and across the UK.
