❓WHAT HAPPENED: A YouGov survey has revealed the top ten places in Britain where residents feel most unsafe, and almost all of them are majority-minority areas which have been subjected to significant demographic change.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The survey was conducted by YouGov.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The poll was published on March 20, 2026, focusing on various localities across Britain.
💬KEY QUOTE: “The results show a widespread belief among the public (65-67%) that police would not attempt to properly investigate minor crimes such as phone theft, shoplifting, or vandalism. More people than not also think police wouldn’t try and investigate burglary (50%), or online fraud (47%).” – YouGov Poll Analysis
🎯IMPACT: The findings highlight public fears about safety in areas that have experienced significant demographic shifts, prompting concerns over integration and social cohesion.
A recent YouGov poll has revealed the areas in Britain where residents feel most unsafe, with almost all of them being majority-minority. The survey lists Newham, in London, as the area where residents feel most unsafe, at 43 percent. Notably, Newham’s population is just 14.8 percent White British.
Along with Newham, the survey lists Barking & Dagenham, Brent, Leicester, Luton, Birmingham, and Hounslow, all have white populations below 50 percent. The remaining three areas in the top ten, Sandwell, Westminster, and Wolverhampton, are white-majority, but not by much.
The Ministry of Justice’s latest data from 2024/25 shows that ethnic minorities are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system, with black people accounting for 12 percent of prisoners despite accounting for only four percent of the general population. Non-white groups overall comprise 27 percent of the prison population, against an 18 percent share of the general population.
Foreign national conviction rates further highlight disparities, with data secured by the Centre for Migration Control under the Freedom of Information Act showing significantly higher rates of violence, sexual offending, and theft among certain nationalities compared to British citizens. For instance, the conviction rate for sexual offenses in England and Wales per 10,000 people is 59 for Afghans, compared to just six for British citizens. Similarly, the conviction rate for crimes of violence among Afghans is 102—behind only Somalis and Congolese, at 129 and 187, respectively—compared to 16 for British citizens.
Where in England & Wales are people most likely to say they feel unsafe in their local area?
1. Newham: 43%
2. Barking & Dagenham: 36%
3. Brent: 34%
4. Sandwell: 29%
5. Leicester: 29%
6. Luton: 29%
7. Westminster: 28%
8. Birmingham: 28%
9. Hounslow: 28%
10. Wolverhampton: 27%… pic.twitter.com/zXMXXId4zS— YouGov (@YouGov) March 20, 2026
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