Is Sheffield still one of the safest major cities? Sheffield-based neighbourhoods are experiencing harassment and spike in crime as local charities and movements try to help.
Sheffield’s crime rate has increased steadily in the past two years. The crime rate in 2022 was 10% higher than it was in 2021, according to crimerate.co.uk, with 103 crimes per 1,000 people.
Sheffield is ranked the most dangerous city in South Yorkshire, however, it is still not seen as dangerous as cities like London and Leeds.
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, Sheffield is still the second safest major city.
Therefore, as much as the crime rate increases, it is still a highly safe city, in comparison to bigger, more dangerous major cities.
People living on one newly built estate just outside Sheffield city centre say they regularly experience harassment and violence from young offenders. The community holds regular meetings with the local police.
Sky Edge estate, just off City Road, has experienced break-ins, stolen cars and a series of fly tippers since opening in Autumn 2021. The estate has experienced 105 crimes, just in January of 2023 alone.
Harrison Smith, 23, a resident of the estate, said he regularly sees “flashing lights going past the window as well as a group of teens that like to wear balaclavas”. He said: “I didn’t expect to be frightened walking home past 5pm, and I definitely wouldn’t have moved here knowing what comes with it.”
20-year-old waitress, Alicia Peacock, says that she fears for her “safety when leaving work in evenings, especially in winter where there is a scary kind of pressure to get home before the sun goes down, or else you could be one of these unlucky ones”.
There are improvements in place to help the current crime issues around the city and around the affected areas.
IN2CHANGE is a movement based in Sheffield helping ex-prisoners and their families. Movements like these help improve the crime rate in Sheffield and prevent prisoners from reoffending when they are released, as the reoffence rate of former adult prison inmates is 22.7% in the UK.
Another Movement ‘Always An Alternative’ is an organisation put together to help stop knife and gun crime in Sheffield. They do this by teaching teens productive alternatives to violence at a younger age and in doing this hopefully, the crime rates will come back down and create a safe-feeling city again.