West Sussex town rated among 'safest places in UK'

A new analysis rates Horsham as No 5 in the top 12 safe towns and cities with the lowest crime rates in Britain.

Property consultants CJ Bloor compared more than 100 towns and cities in the UK by crime index rate. Topping the list as the most safe was the North Yorkshire town of Harrogate, followed by Wokingham, Chester, Sevenoaks – and Horsham.

“These locations show consistently low crime rates and strong community well-being indicators, making them ideal for homeowners and families,” says CJ Bloor.

But, says the company: “House prices in some of these areas are on the higher side too. According to Right Move, properties in Harrogate average at £397,105, while Horsham homes sell for an average of £441,414.”

It adds: “What’s interesting about these regions is that they’re home/close to major cities like London, Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool. Yet, for obvious reasons, the inner cities tend to be lower down the list of safest places to buy a home.

“Crime index rates will pretty much always be higher in major urban cities than outskirts, but it does show how you can balance both safe suburban areas to live with close proximity to a bustling major city.”

CJ Bloor says its rankings are based on data which makes use of surveys akin to official government methodologies. The survey measures responses to perceptions of crime, perceived safety during daylight and night hours, specific crime concerns, and both property and violent crime severity.