News
Greater Manchester’s Christmas crime rate is one of the highest in the UK, according to study
Well, isn't this festive?
Emily Sergeant -
23rd December 2024 
New research has revealed the UK regions that should expect to see a spike in crime over the festive season this year… and it’s pretty grim reading for Mancs.
That’s because Greater Manchester has been identified as a so-called Christmas crime ‘hotspot’.
For several years running now, our region has unfortunately found itself near the top of the list when it comes to seeing the highest rates of crime over the Christmas holidays, and according to a recent study conducted by ADT, 2024 is unfortunately no different.
With what’s supposed to be ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ only a few days away now, home security experts have decided to analyse crime rates from December 2020-2022, and have highlighted the percentage difference in crime during the festive period in a bid to reveal where ‘Christmas crime’ is most prevalent.
Cleveland Police still has the highest reported crime rate in 2024, according to the study, with approximately 147.7 recorded crimes per 1,000 population, and more than 5,000 police reports of burglaries in early 2024 – with ONS data revealing 79% of which were residential burglaries.
West Yorkshire Police also stays in second place, with crimes in the county having risen by 20% in 2024, going from a crime rate of 111.61 in December 2021, to 133.8 crimes per 1,000 population by March 2024.
And then, we have Greater Manchester.
Once again, Greater Manchester Police ranks third for the areas with the highest crime rates in England and Wales, with 129.7 crimes per 1,000 population.
ADT’s research this year found that theft offences accounted for almost a third of all crimes committed in our region by March 2024, while residential burglaries and shoplifting had over 16,000 reported accounts, respectively.
Top 10 Christmas crime ‘hotspots’ in the UK for 2024
| Rank | Police force area | Crime rate per 1,000 population |
| 1 | Cleveland Police | 147.7 |
| 2 | West Yorkshire Police | 133.8 |
| 3 | Greater Manchester Police | 129.7 |
| 4 | West Midlands Police | 125.9 |
| 5 | Merseyside Police | 119.0 |
| 6 | South Yorkshire Police | 116.7 |
| 7 | Humberside Police | 108.1 |
| 8 | Durham Police | 101.8 |
| 9 | Gwent Police | 101.8 |
| 10 | Metropolitan Police | 100.2 |
Home security expert Michele Bennett, who is ADT UK’s General Manager, has shared some tips on how best to deter uninvited guests from your home during the Christmas period, and says it’s “important to remain vigilant” at this time of year by enhancing your home security.
“This will ensure you and your loved ones have a safe and enjoyable holiday experience,” she explains.
“Several proactive measures can be taken to deter intruders throughout the holidays, including installing visible security measures such as smart alarm systems or burglar alarms, with visible cameras and alarms display signs that indicate your home is highly protected.
“Also, secure your doors, windows, and other potential entry points with strong locks and deadbolts… and indoor and outdoor lighting is a good option to maintain a lived-in appearance by using smart plugs connected to lights, motion-sensing cameras, and video doorbells in and around entrances and other key areas of your home to make it less attractive to burglars.”
Read more:
- Greater Manchester has been named the ‘most dangerous’ region in the UK
- This Greater Manchester area has just been named one of the best in the UK to raise a family
- Greater Manchester’s Clean Air Zone cameras are now being used for ‘detecting crime’
“The combination of these measures can drastically improve your home’s security,” Michelle concluded.
“As the appearance of an active and protected home is crucial to deterring potential intruders during Christmas and throughout the year.”
Featured Image – ADT
