Glasgow is most violent city in UK says report

Glasgow has been ranked as the UK's most violent area. Picture: Robert Perry

Problems with gangs and knife crime contributed to the rating in the UK Peace Index, produced by the US and Australia-based Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP).

The index has drawn together more than ten years of data, looking at levels of violence across the country as well as the cost to the economy.

Areas were ranked according to the number of homicides and levels of violent and weapon crime, public disorder and numbers of police officers per 100,000 people.

The report describes Glasgow as “the least peaceful major urban centre in the UK”, with London and Belfast in second and third place.

Scotland has the highest homicide rate of any of the four UK nations, as well as the highest violent crime rate, at more than 1,500 per 100,000 people, the report said.

Within Scotland, the Orkney Islands was the area deemed the most peaceful followed by Aberdeenshire and Moray.

Following Glasgow as the most violent areas were West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire.

IEP founder and chairman Steve Killelea said: “Glasgow is one of the poorest areas in the UK and there is a strong association between crime and poverty and lack of employment.

“These are the things that seem to be consistent. Single parents seem to be associated with crime areas, as well as teenage pregnancies. Also, the sort of environment you are living in – clean streets, well-painted buildings for example.”

Mr Killelea said the report would be helpful in terms of policy debate and provides a basis for further study.

“It’s also a tool to better inform the public about the dimensions of violence and peace, and the economic value associated with peace,” he said.

The report argues that jail is not a cost-effective solution to reducing violence, with a price tag of £40,800 per prisoner per year.

Michael Kelly, a former Lord Provost of Glasgow, said: “The image that this city is very violent is clearly out of date, and having people pontificating over studies like this probably won’t help.

“When I was in local government we tried to look at a statistical analysis of crime and it was very difficult to make national or international comparisons.

“Definitions varied significantly and it was easy to identify quite obvious imbalances between cities.

“The best I can hope for is that this survey will be useful in pointing out to the police where the focus needs to be. However, it’s difficult to equate street crime here to the mass riots we saw in London two years ago.”