LikeLocLikeLocExplore
← All topics

What people in United Kingdom think about Safety

Local perspective from 28 sources · United Kingdom

negativeSkepticalConcernWaryUneasyDistrustfulAnxious

Key figures

Residents feeling safe
78%
Ethnic minority feeling safe
63%
White residents feeling safe
80%
Deprived areas feeling safe
62%
Women feeling unsafe at night
68.2%

Safety Perceptions

When it comes to feeling safe in everyday life, the experience varies widely across the UK. Many people express a sense of security in their local areas, but there are significant differences based on factors like socio-economic status, ethnicity, and community cohesion. Recent surveys indicate that 78% of residents feel safe in their local areas, with a notable correlation between feelings of safety and overall satisfaction with their neighbourhoods. Those who feel secure are also more likely to express satisfaction with where they live, while those who feel unsafe often report dissatisfaction [7]. However, this sense of safety isn't universal. For instance, only 63% of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds feel safe in their communities, compared to 80% of white residents. Similarly, only 62% of people in the most deprived areas report feeling safe, highlighting a stark contrast in perceptions of safety based on socio-economic factors [7].

Impact of Crime

Crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) significantly impact how safe people feel. Many residents report that ASB erodes trust within communities, leading to a reluctance to engage with local spaces and each other [3]. This erosion of trust can create a cycle where fear of crime leads to decreased community interaction, further diminishing feelings of safety. Interestingly, while crime rates have remained stable, perceptions of safety have not improved for everyone. A substantial number of people, particularly women and disabled individuals, report feeling unsafe in public spaces, especially after dark. For example, 68.2% of women feel unsafe walking alone at night, compared to just 88.8% of men who feel safe [11].

Community Engagement

Community initiatives and local governance play a crucial role in shaping safety perceptions. Residents who feel they have a voice in local decision-making are more likely to feel secure in their environments. Recent efforts to enhance community engagement and participation have shown promise, with an increase in the percentage of adults feeling they belong to their neighbourhoods [11]. Moreover, factors such as urban design and the presence of community activities can enhance feelings of safety. Well-lit streets, active public spaces, and community events foster a sense of belonging and security, encouraging residents to engage more with their surroundings [9].

See the live, up-to-date results

Search safety in United Kingdom — in the local language, summarised for you.

Run this search on LikeLoc →

How United Kingdom compares on safety

CountrySentimentAttitudeEmotion
United KingdomnegativeSkepticalConcern
AustralianegativeSkepticalConcern
BrazilnegativeNegativeFear
ChinapositivePositiveHope
FrancenegativeNegativeWorry
GeorgianegativeSkepticalConcern
GermanyneutralPositiveHope
GreecenegativeNegativeAnxiety
IndonesiapositivePositiveHope
ItalynegativeSkepticalConcern
JapannegativeNegativeAnxiety
MexiconegativeNegativeFear
NetherlandsnegativeNegativeFear
PolandnegativeSkepticalConcern
PortugalpositivePositiveHope
South KoreanegativeNegativeAnxiety
SpainpositivePositiveHope
ThailandnegativeSkepticalFear
TurkeynegativeNegativeFear
United Arab EmiratespositivePositiveHope
United StatesnegativeSkepticalAnxiety
VietnampositivePositiveHopeful

Selected local sources

  1. [1]Moving In with Confidence: How Our Welcome Journey Feels Like Home

    Families are encouraged to stay closely involved, particularly during the early days. Regular communication helps maintain continuity and ensures everyone feels informed, supported and confident in the care being provided. This compassionate approach helps residents feel safe, valued and understood

  2. [2]Staying Safe in the City: Simple Tips for Everyday Life - YPP

    Why this matters Feeling safe where you live changes everything. It means better sleep, less stress, and more freedom to enjoy your time at home and in the city. Our goal at YPP Lettings is to make sure every resident has that peace of mind from the moment they move in. YPP has 24hr security on call

  3. [3][PDF] neighbourhood effects on crime and anti-social behaviour

    symbolise — and by how visibly authorities respond. These incidents act as social signals, influencing how safe and cohesive a neighbourhood feels. Polling and engagement across England and Wales found that people often describe ASB as something that gradually chips away at their sense of safety. Som

  4. [4][PDF] “There goes the fear”: Feelings of safety at home and in the ...

    informed of things that might affect them, and takes their views on board in making decisions. Housing as a service, therefore, could be more important for safety than housing as a product. For regeneration, our findings support the call for more expenditure on social regeneration programmes (LGRC 2

  5. [5]What it's like to live in the world's safest countries for 2026 - BBC Travel

    Residents point to social cohesion and a willingness to compromise as key ingredients in Swiss life (Credit: Getty Images)") Residents point to social cohesion and a willingness to compromise as key ingredients in Swiss life (Credit: Getty Images) Rising from fifth place last year to third in 2026,

  6. [6]What makes people feel safe? | Lloyd's Register Foundation

    To better understand how overall safety perceptions relate to specific threats, the Poll asked respondents to identify the greatest risk to their safety in daily life. Among those who answered both that they felt less safe than five years previously and that they were not confident in their governme

  7. [7]Public polling on community safety - GOV.UK

    More than three-quarters of people (78%) feel safe in the area where they live (net: somewhat agree and strongly agree), compared with 11% who do not (net: somewhat disagree and strongly disagree). A range of factors influence how safe the public feel in their local area, with evident differences am

  8. [8]Community Safety Framework | Department of Justice

    11. Being safe and feeling safe is recognised as an important element of wellbeing that can provide the foundation for wider improvements in quality of life. People from all backgrounds and ages, influenced by a range of socio-economic factors, can behave in ways which lead to participation in anti-

  9. [9][PDF] The impact of nature-based solutions on perceptions of safety in ...

    reducing crime rates (Chiodi, 2016; Jacobs, 1961; Sweet & Escalante, 2010). These actions are also observed by bystanders, taken as a sign of security in an area, and reducing their fear of being a victim of crime. In what became known as the ‘Eyes on the Street’ theory, Jacobs proposed that the act

  10. [10][PDF] Building safer public spaces: exploring gender difference in the ...

    either 337 control or treatment (with or without the incorporation of a safety-enhancing urban 338 design or planning intervention, respectively), then rated them according to how safe 339 they would feel walking alone in the presented public space. As with any RCT, this 340 means that our results h

  11. [11]Beyond GDP insights, UK measures of National Well-being

    Perceptions of influence show a more encouraging shift. In April 2026, 63.8% of adults agreed they do not have any say in what the government does. This is an improvement compared with 69.2% in June 2025, which suggests fewer people feel disconnected from decision-making than in the previous year. A

  12. [12]Written-Questions-Answers-Statements-Daily-Report-Commons-2026-06-17.pdf

    Action 116 Biotechnology: New Businesses 117 Broadband: West Dorset 117 Chinook Helicopters: Accidents 118 Environment Protection: Research 118 Information Commissioner's Office 119 Information Commissioner's Office: Complaints 120 Innovation and Technology: Small Businesses 120 Internet: Children 1

  13. [13]Child Safety Week 2026 runs from Monday 01 to Sunday 07 June 2026 - BHSCP

    Search Language Please enable Cookies to use translation. 01273 290400 [email protected] Home » News » Child Safety Week 2026 runs from Monday 01 to Sunday 07 June 2026 # Child Safety Week 2026 runs from Monday 01 to Sunday 07 June 2026 Date: Monday, 01st Jun 2026 | Category: Uncategorized

  14. [14]NEWS: County-wide survey launched to understand public perceptions of air quality - Malvern Hills District Council

    The launch of the survey comes ahead of Clean Air Day on 18 June 2026, organised by Global Action Plan, the UK's largest public air pollution campaign. 10 JUNE 2026. [...] Matt Fung, Public Health Consultant, Worcestershire County Council, added:“While we live in a beautiful, predominantly rural are

  15. [15]Global trends in safety and risk | Lloyd's Register Foundation

    ## Coming soon On 23 June 2026 we will launch the first report from the fourth edition of the World Risk Poll, using data gathered throughout 2025. This report will explore how worry and experience of harm have changed since 2023, on safety issues ranging from harm from food and water and road crash

  16. [16]UK Measures of National Well-being Dashboard

    8 June 2026 ! Our data sources have different geographical coverage and data collection periods, so please make comparisons with caution. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic may have also affected data collection and statistics. Our data sources have different geographical coverage and data collecti

  17. [17]Major research project to identify shared vision for community cohesion — Nuffield Department of Population Health

    The study will examine: feelings of belonging at local and national levels; trust in institutions, services, and neighbours; perceptions of fairness, safety, and social support; attitudes toward social change and national identity; how media environments shape perceptions of cohesion; the local plac

  18. [18]2026 | National Water Safety Forum

    The full report can be accessed on the RoSPA website. Read the report Water Safety Scotland Examining water safety awareness and views in men over 50 Water Safety Scotland, through the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), hosted an online focus group in February, 2026, for men over

  19. [19]Five things we learnt from our polling on public perceptions during COVID-19 | The Health Foundation

    #### 2. Compared to before the COVID-19 outbreak, more people are finding everyday tasks harder rather than easier With over 40,000 deaths from COVID-19 in the UK, why are people so concerned about the impact of measures designed to protect them from the virus? The survey sheds light on a range of h

  20. [20]Perceptions of personal safety and experiences of harassment, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics

    Some 6 out of 10 people who reported feeling unsafe during the day, and 4 out of 10 who reported feeling unsafe after dark, had altered their behaviour, as a result, in the previous month. ### Statistician’s comment “This is the first time the ONS has asked people about feelings of personal safety w

  21. [21]How can national data support safer, stronger local communities? – Data Impact blog

    National survey data plays an important role in understanding these experiences. The Community Life Survey (CLS), available through the UK Data Service, is used throughout the Pride in Place Strategy report (PDF) to explore how people feel about their local areas and their ability to shape them. The

  22. [22][PDF] Citizens' positive safety perceptions in public spaces

    service factors. Journal of Community Psychology, 45(4), pp.543-563. AvniǦ Babad, D., 2011. Routine and feelings of safety, confidence, and wellǦ being. British journal of Psychology, 102(2), pp.223-244. Biocca, F., Harms, C., & Burgoon, J. (2003). Towards a more robust theory and measure of social

  23. [23]Protecting What Matters: Towards a more confident, cohesive, and ...

    These changes have not been felt evenly across communities. This applies to the impact of the asylum system as well as to economic migration. In March 2024, the distribution of asylum seekers was concentrated in London, the North West of England, and the West Midlands. Just ten local authorities hos

  24. [24]Online communities, safety & young people | Mental Health Foundation

    We found incredibly high levels of access to online communities. Most young people (98%) access at least one online community every day – with more than half doing so several times an hour (57%). Young people reported making valuable connections through online communities. Around three quarters (76%

  25. [25]The most important issues facing the country 2011-2026 - YouGov

    ## How much of a risk to their physical safety, if any, do you think MPs face? Updated on 16/06/2026 45% 29% 13% ## Where does political opinion stand ahead of the 2026 local and devolved elections? ## What do Britons think of Brexit, 10 years since the referendum? ## US vice president JD Vance has

  26. [26]Preventing and Countering Extremism in the UK 2026: Building Strong Communities and Tackling Disinformation - Government Events

    Government Events Home About Events Training In-house Training Sponsorship OnDemand Join Our Community 0330 058 4285 Employment & HR Local Government Police & Criminal Justice Health & Social Care Education Housing Voluntary Sector Digital & Communications Apprenticeships # Preventing and Countering

  27. [27]Government Reports Mixed Trends in England's Rough Sleeping

    ###### By Ann McGauran | 10 June 2026 The National Wealth Fund has significantly broadened its remit. Through its regional project accelerator programme, it aims to unlock more than £100bn of inv... ##### ROUGH SLEEPING #### MPs scold Home Office over lack of council involvement in asylum ###### By

  28. [28]Safety polls & surveys | YouGov

    ### Select a country undefined United Kingdomundefined United States Agencies Editorial & free dataAgencies researchExplore public opinion on advertising and more - get the latest polling insights and expert analysis on what people really thinkBusiness solutionsAgencies solutionsMarket research for

Frequently asked

What do locals in United Kingdom think about safety?

Understanding Safety in Everyday Life for Residents in the UK When it comes to feeling safe in everyday life, the experience varies widely across the UK. Many people express a sense of security in their local areas, but there are significant differences based on factors like socio-economic status, ethnicity, and community cohesion. Recent surveys indicate that 78% of residents feel safe in their local areas, with a notable correlation between feelings of safety and overall satisfaction with their neighbourhoods. Those who feel secure are also more likely to express satisfaction with where they live, while those who feel unsafe often report dissatisfaction. However, this sense of safety isn't universal. For instance, only 63% of individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds feel safe in their communities, compared to 80% of white residents. Similarly, only 62% of people in the most deprived areas report feeling safe, highlighting a stark contrast in perceptions of safety based on socio-economic factors. Crime and anti-social behaviour (ASB) significantly impact how safe people feel. Many residents report that ASB erodes trust within communities, leading to a reluctance to engage with local spaces and each other. This erosion of trust can create a cycle where fear of crime leads to decreased community interaction, further diminishing feelings of safety. Interestingly, while crime rates have remained stable, perceptions of safety have not improved for everyone. A substantial number of people, particularly women and disabled individuals, report feeling unsafe in public spaces, especially after dark. For example, 68.2% of women feel unsafe walking alone at night, compared to just 88.8% of men who feel safe. Community initiatives and local governance play a crucial role in shaping safety perceptions. Residents who feel they have a voice in local decision-making are more likely to feel secure in their environments. Recent efforts to enhance community engagement and participation have shown promise, with an increase in the percentage of adults feeling they belong to their neighbourhoods. Moreover, factors such as urban design and the presence of community activities can enhance feelings of safety. Well-lit streets, active public spaces, and community events foster a sense of belonging and security, encouraging residents to engage more with their surroundings. In summary, while many residents in the UK feel safe in their everyday lives, significant disparities exist based on socio-economic and demographic factors. The interplay between community engagement, local governance, and urban design is vital in shaping these perceptions of safety. As a citizen of the United Kingdom, I believe that our sense of safety is deeply tied to our communities and the connections we foster within them. It’s essential that we continue to work on building trust and engagement in our neighbourhoods, as feeling safe is not just about crime rates but about the relationships we have with each other and our environment.

Is this based on real local sources?

Yes. This summary is drawn from 28 local-language sources about safety in United Kingdom, gathered and summarised by LikeLoc. Run a live search to see the latest results and sources.

Methodology

Drawn from 28 local-language sources about safety in United Kingdom, searched and summarised via LikeLoc on 2026-06-23. All figures and quotes come directly from those local sources. Run the live search →