Police rubbish claims that Bradford is Europe's most dangerous city

Serbia-based Numbeo, a controversial crowd-sourced database, claimed the city had the continent’s highest crime rate and is more risky than war-torn Ukraine.

It was followed by the West Midlands’ Coventry and Nantes in France.

But, in place of official evidence-based statistics, Numbeo uses users’ reviews to rank cities based on their safety.

One national newspaper, which used the data, made reference to drugs, prostitution, violent crime and child grooming gangs as part of its coverage. 

The information was circulated further to almost 60,000 social media users in a viral TikTok.

The city glows in the dark for Bradford is #LIT festival. Pictures by T&A Camera Club members Tom Nom Marshall, Waqar Kari, and Philip Lickley

The video falsely claimed the high crime rates were based on data "reported per 100,000 people in 2022". 

The city was represented with the depressing image of a boarded up, derelict building, leading some TikTok users to respond with racist and hate-fuelled comments.

"I was wondering why the police shows are always set in Bradford," one said.

"Of course it's Bradford," another comment reads.

Some residents were quick to defend their city, with one adding: "I live in Bradford. Everyone makes it out to be some warzone it isn't even rough."

Colourfully lit arches at St Blaise Square in Bradford, captured by T&A Camera Club member Philip Roger Bailey

Another said: "Some areas are bad and some aren't, it really depends. I wouldn't say Bradford's the worst but it ain't that great."

"It's an awesome city," one TikTok user said.

'Bradford cannot be Europe's most dangerous city'

“Bradford is a safe place to live, work and visit,” Rob McCoubrey, Bradford District Commander Chief Superintendent at West Yorkshire Police, said.

“West Yorkshire Police does not recognise this data and does not accept how any methodology can provide a credible comparison across continents, countries, and cities.”

Knife crime in Bradford has fallen by 19 per cent over three years, police said, while residential burglaries are down 57 per cent.

Claims published on Numbeo about Bradford being Europe's most dangerous city are uncredible, police say. Picture shows the table on the Numbeo website. Picture: Numbeo website

He added: “Like any city where deprivation and poverty exist there are of course challenges.

"We work closely with partner agencies and communities to effectively tackle issues as they emerge.

“It is disappointing that this survey fails to recognise many of the attributes that make Bradford such a fantastic city.

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“Our crime data is set by the Home Office, and we follow strict rules. We are rated as 'outstanding' by the HMICFRS in respect of how we record crimes, so people in Bradford can have confidence that when they report crime it will be properly recorded and acted upon.”

T&A Camera Club member Philip Lickley captured this glorious, sunshine-filled moment of togetherness at Pride 2022

It isn’t the first time that Numbeo’s accuracy has been called into question.

Back in 2017, the site became the centre of a fake news experiment when a man named Linus Trulsson pushed the idyllic Swedish city of Lund to the top of the ‘dangerous city’ list.

Mr Trulsson managed the feat in just a day, simply by giving Lund multiple bad reviews.

The Bradford 'data' is based on responses from just 98 people who filled in a Numbeo questionnaire over the last three years.

Chief Superintendent Kim Madill, the Chief Supt at West Midlands Police, said the force doesn’t “recognise this survey or the perceptions of crime and safety on which it’s largely based”.

T&A Camera Club member Anna Dyson-Clarke captured festivities in Bradford's City Park this July, including a performance from Punjab Roots Academy

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The police chief spoke out in defence of Coventry and Birmingham, which allegedly ranks in fifth place.

Forces across the UK and the rest of the world each record crimes at different thresholds and varying detail.

Chief Supt Madill explained: “The Home Office has set out very rigorous rules for how police forces record crimes in England and Wales. I think the comparison with other countries is very difficult to make in any meaningful way; undoubtably different countries record crimes at different thresholds.

“The rules in this country are exceptionally detailed and I am confident that has resulted in a higher level of crime being recorded.

The Bradford BID Super Soapbox Challenge drew hundreds of people to the city centre this year. Picture: T&A Camera Club member Matt Roberts

“It is also of note that West Midlands has been cited as now having a very high level of compliance with these rules.

“The Commonwealth Games gave Birmingham a platform to shine on a global stage…people across the globe have seen the best of Birmingham, its people and attractions. The event has done wonders to shift perceptions about the city and it’s a shame this survey doesn’t recognise that.

“I’m sure the overwhelming majority of the million or so visitors to Birmingham for the Games, who’ve received a warm welcome and enjoyed the city, would be equally sceptical of these survey findings.”

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