House security is an important factor to consider for any homeowner, but particularly during the darker winter months.
Toolstation analysed data from Police Forces across the UK to gather burglary crime statistics from 2019-2022. Toolstation also conducted a nationwide survey of 2,000 UK homeowners and renters into their behaviours and attitudes towards home security and burglary prevention.
Statistically, these are the safest UK cities
When looking at the average number of burglaries per 1,000 people, number of police officers per 1,000 residents and how secure Brits feel in their homes, Belfast comes out on top.
| Police service | % of residents that feel secure in the home | Total burglaries per 1,000 people | Number of officers per 1,000 population | City name | Total score (out of 100) |
| Police Service of Northern Ireland | 68% | 6.6 | 3.7 | Belfast | 92 |
| Devon and Cornwall Police | 65% | 5.8 | 1.9 | Plymouth | 78 |
| Norfolk Constabulary | 68% | 7.3 | 2.1 | Norwich | 72 |
| Metropolitan Police Service | 56% | 19.4 | 3.8 | London | 67 |
| South Wales Police | 54% | 10.7 | 2.4 | Cardiff | 62 |
| Sussex Police | 65% | 9.0 | 1.7 | Brighton | 62 |
| Merseyside Police | 60% | 15.1 | 2.9 | Liverpool | 62 |
| Northumbria Police | 66% | 13.6 | 2.5 | Newcastle | 61 |
| Nottinghamshire Police | 73% | 13.6 | 2.0 | Nottingham | 58 |
| West Midlands Police | 61% | 20.6 | 2.6 | Birmingham | 55 |
| Avon and Somerset Constabulary | 60% | 12.1 | 1.8 | Bristol | 54 |
| West Yorkshire Police | 60% | 19.0 | 2.5 | Leeds | 54 |
| Hampshire Constabulary | 62% | 13.0 | 1.7 | Southampton | 52 |
| South Yorkshire Police | 56% | 23.6 | 2.1 | Sheffield | 47 |
Although Plymouth sees the fewest number of burglaries on average, with 6 per 1,000 people, the city just drops into second with only two officers per 1,000 residents. Likewise, while more than two thirds of Norwich residents (68%) feel secure in their home, the city places third with a higher number of burglaries.
On the other end of the scale, Sheffield takes the top position for the highest number of burglaries per capita in the UK, with 24 burglaries per 1,000 residents. This is followed by Birmingham with 21 burglaries per 1,000 residents, then London and Leeds both with a rate of 19 burglaries.
While police force data reveals there are on average 17% more burglaries occurring during the winter months (December, January, February) versus the summer months (June, July, August), the month that sees the fewest number of burglaries is in fact April, with just over 19,000 burglaries on average.
However, it is in fact Nottingham residents that feel most secure in their home with nearly three quarters (73%) saying they feel safe. When it comes to the security measures that people have installed in their home, one quarter (25%) of UK homes have none installed. More than a third (34%) have outdoor sensor lights, while one in five (20%) have CCTV cameras or a video doorbell.
Nearly half of Brits (46%) are changing their security habits due to the cost-of-living crisis, with one in five (22%) no longer leaving a light on when nobody is home and more than one in ten (15%) turning off all main external lights altogether.
Find expert tips on how to help secure the home from burglaries and more information on the research here: https://www.toolstation.com/content/safest-cities-in-the-uk
