Crime is something that we know happens but we often do not realise the full extent of crime. Protect Yourself has done some research, and compiled a list of 7 areas where stab vests could be useful. The list is not intended to show the places with the highest crime rates, rather the places where people are searching for stab vests on Google, and provides a closer insight into those places.

The number of times that someone types a word into a search engine may indicate what the general need is in a given area for a product. Checking on Google Trends under the term “stab vests” is was found that the following 7 locations are where the most people are needing a stab vest. Further analysis reveals the figures behind the need.

1. Thames Ditton, United Kingdom

Thames Ditton crime statistics

So these figures are pretty worrying. There is a record of a large number of violence and theft in the Thames Ditton area. It should be interesting to see how other cities compare.

Findaproperty.com also describe Thames Ditton as follows:

A peaceful village on the banks of the Thames, Thames Ditton is a predominantly family area offering Georgian and Victorian houses and cottages, 1930s family homes, and new developments of flats and apartments.

Although only 30 minutes from central London, Thames Ditton is a genuine and in some senses archetypal English village complete with ancient cricket grounds, fine old pubs, attractive riverside walks and a long and venerable history which has bequeathed Anglo-Saxon architecture and some engaging folklore dealing with Henry VIII’s residence at nearby Hampton Court.

Good schools, green space and proximity to the City make the town especially attractive to middle-class families and young professionals who can get more for their money here than they might in established parts of South London.

The town also attracts overseas residents who come for proximity to the American School, and overseas companies who like the quintessential Englishness and easy access to London.

The property market, which is fairly mixed, includes a limited collection of Georgian and Victorian houses and cottages, 1930s family homes, and new developments of flats and apartments.

Prices are highest for riverside properties on the exclusive Boyle Farm Estate and for houses in the prestigious Giggs Hill Green area.

Thames Ditton has much to offer in the way of leisure and recreation facilities. The river is the most obvious asset, providing some lovely riverside walks as well as opportunities for boating, sailing and skiffing.

Sports facilities include the Colets Fitness Club (state of the art gym, swimming pool, and home to a champion squash team); Golf course, cricket club, and Lawn Tennis Club.

The town has some particularly nice riverside pubs, ‘villagy’ shops (bakers, books, antiques etc) and restaurants, and access to some exceptional green spaces (Hampton Court, Bushey Park, Richmond Park).

The nearby towns of Esher, Kingston and Surbiton provide more in the way of shops, restaurants and recreation facilities.

2. Brentford, United Kingdom

The figures for Brentford show a much higher general level of crime and violence. Comparing to Thames Ditton Brentford has higher crime. We would expect this to be reflected in the need for stab vests in this area. Birmingham is a city well know to us so we will look at that now.

3. Birmingham, United Kingdom

Acocks Green – Birmingham

Very similar to Brentford. Lets look at Manchester.

4. Manchester, United Kingdom

Offence	Total Locally	Per 1000 Population
		Locally	Nationally
Robbery	552	2.60	1.85
Theft of a motor vehicle	922	4.33	4.04
Theft from a motor vehicle	2317	10.89	9.56
Sexual offences	213	1.00	1.17
Violence against a person	3275	15.40	19.97
Burglary	1501	7.06	5.67

5. Dublin, Ireland

AWAITING STATISTICS

6. Poplar, London, E14, United Kingdom

The most violence so far. Quite a dangerous area should you not be streetwise and protected.

7. London, Central, United Kingdom

Offence	Total Locally	Per 1000 Population
		Locally	Nationally
Robbery	39	4.53	1.85
Theft of a motor vehicle	74	8.60	4.04
Theft from a motor vehicle	178	20.69	9.56
Sexual offences	55	6.39	1.17
Violence against a person	942	109.47	19.97
Burglary	25	2.91	5.67

Note the low population but high crime, due to the fact that people come from all over London and the World to Central London. London has a high crime level due to the fact that there are so many people and there are established criminals which work any major city on a daily basis.

Visiting any major city you have to be aware that crime can vary greatly depending on the area you are in. Consulting a local person or tourist guide is always a good idea, as is wearing body armour.

What the figures mean:

Based upon the years 2005/2006 the Crime data is collated by Police Force and by the local Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP).

CDRPs are a partnership of the police, the local authorities and organisations such as fire authorities and primary care trusts who together implement strategies to tackle crime and disorder including anti-social and other behaviour adversely affecting the local environment.

Local police force areas – Thames Valley, Greater Manchester, The Metropolitan Police, and so on – usually have several CDRPs, which are organised by borough or local authority area.

Reading the table:

In the table above we give the Police Force and the CDRP – eg: Surrey, Elmbridge.

Population and Number of Households refers to the CDRP.

The first column of crime figures is the general total for the local CDRP, the second is per thousand of the population in that CDRP, the third column is the national average.

Statistical sources:

All crime rates are based on mid-2003 population estimates supplied by the Office for National Statistics.

Please Note:

Caution needs to be taken when considering crime rates of city centre areas, due to the very small population and household levels in these areas.