'It’s like any other place in the UK, calling it ‘a dangerous place to live’ is going way over the top!”
Locals in Blackpool have hit back at statistics portraying the town to be the most dangerous place to live in the UK. According to the Home Office, out of the more than 250 council areas in England and Wales outside London, the most crime -ravaged place to live is the seaside town.
Last year, police in Blackpool recorded 21,437 non-fraud crimes, which translates to a crime rate of 149 offences for every 1,000 people who live in the town. Last year, the town was ranked second in the list, but despite a 3 per cent drop in crime in the last 12 months, it has overtaken Middlesbrough to move into first place due to high rates of violent offences.
Crime rates, which are calculated by dividing the number of crimes by the population size, are generally considered to be the fairest way to compare crime in areas of wildly different sizes. A spokesperson for Layton Methodist Church told the Express that there are real challenges in places like Blackpool . They added: “But from our experience on the ground, working through charities locally, that’s only part of the picture.
“What we see every week is community - people supporting each other, organisations working together, and a real effort to help people move forward. “We will continue to champion our community — highlighting the good, supporting those who need it, and working in partnership to create positive change. Blackpool has challenges, but it also has strength, resilience and a lot of people who care.
” Speaking to the EXPRESS , local Steve Beck said: “No more dangerous than any other town or city in the country. It has its problems, but it has a lot to offer. It’s not a Blackpool problem, it’s a national problem. But Blackpool attracts lots of people to live here, and over the years it’s impacted the town.
” Accountant John Woodman added: “I walk through town at night and have never felt unsafe! Yes, we have our issues, but so do many towns. It doesn't help that every other town/city sends its deadbeats to Blackpool, where they think the streets are paved with gold!
” The owner of Jewels by Jules, Julie Southern-Simpson, also claimed that the town is “definitely not” dangerous, adding: “I have lived here for 38 years and it’s only some areas that are a problem. It’s like any other place in the UK, calling it ‘a dangerous place to live’ is going way over the top! ” Lancashire Constabulary said it remains committed to disrupting and preventing crime across Lancashire, including in Blackpool.
A spokesperson for the force said: “We want to reassure anyone with concerns that we have dedicated teams across the town, covering a number of different aspects of policing, including community engagement, immediate response, and detectives.
'These officers will continue to conduct their duties and police Blackpool with the intent of keeping residents safe and reducing crime. ' Subscribe to our daily newsletter LANCS LIVE NEWS and get all the biggest stories from across Lancashire direct to your inbox
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