Nottingham is one of the East Midlands' major cities, and its crime profile shifts sharply between districts. Nottingham city centre (NG1) sits in a completely different crime environment from West Bridgford (NG2) or the leafier suburbs to the west. Knowing where a postcode falls on that spectrum matters a great deal for homebuyers, renters, and the city's large student population.
This breakdown uses recent data from the official UK Police API, covering the postcode districts that fall within the Nottinghamshire Police force area.
Nottingham Crime at a Glance
Nottinghamshire Police covers Nottingham city and the wider county. Within the city, crime is concentrated in the centre and the inner-western districts, while suburbs like West Bridgford and Wollaton record consistently low counts.
| Postcode | Area | Character | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| NG1 | City centre | Dense commercial and nightlife core | Higher |
| NG7 | Radford / Lenton / Hyson Green | Inner-city and student area | Higher |
| NG3 | St Ann's / Mapperley / Sherwood | Mixed inner-city residential | Medium |
| NG2 | West Bridgford | Affluent residential across the river | Lower |
Source: data.police.uk. Risk level is relative within Nottinghamshire.
The Safest Parts of Nottingham
The most consistently low-crime postcodes around Nottingham sit just outside the city core. West Bridgford (NG2), across the Trent to the south, is the standout safer area. It is a prosperous, predominantly owner-occupied suburb with busy but well-managed high streets and strong community ties.
Wollaton, to the west, is another consistently low-crime residential area, helped by low-density housing and the green space around Wollaton Park. Mapperley Park, a conservation area in the north of the city, records similarly low counts.
West Bridgford in particular compares well with anywhere in the East Midlands. Its main risk category is opportunistic theft from vehicles and the occasional spillover from event days at the nearby stadiums, rather than the violence and public order issues seen in the centre.
Crime Hotspots in Nottingham
Nottingham city centre, particularly the NG1 postcode covering the retail core and main nightlife areas, records some of the highest crime counts in the city. This reflects the concentration of late-night venues, transport links, and a large transient population. Violence and sexual offences, public order, and theft from the person are all elevated here.
Radford and Hyson Green (NG7) have historically been among Nottingham's higher-crime inner-city postcodes. Deprivation levels are above the national average in parts of these districts, and vehicle crime and anti-social behaviour are notably elevated. The same district contains Lenton and Dunkirk, the heart of the student housing area, where burglary spikes during term time.
St Ann's, in the NG3 district, also warrants attention, with elevated rates of violence and anti-social behaviour in parts, though it sits alongside the much quieter Mapperley and Sherwood.
What Crime Types Dominate in Nottingham?
Across Nottinghamshire, violence and sexual offences consistently tops the crime category table. In the city centre, theft from the person and public order are significantly elevated compared to suburban districts. Burglary is a particular concern in the student belt around Lenton during term time.
Anti-social behaviour is notably higher in the central and inner-western districts, while suburbs like West Bridgford and Wollaton see far lower counts.
Comparing Nottingham to the National Average
Nottingham city sits above the national average for several crime categories, which is partly a quirk of its tightly drawn city boundaries — the affluent suburbs that would lower the average in other cities sit in separate council areas here. The contrast between districts is the real story.
The safest suburbs compare very well with equivalent areas elsewhere. West Bridgford, Wollaton, and Mapperley Park have crime profiles broadly similar to prosperous residential areas across the Midlands.
How to Check Your Nottingham Postcode
District-level data gives you the broad picture. In Nottingham, where the difference between neighbouring streets can be significant, ward-level data tells a more useful story. A CrimeSafe report gives you 24 months of trend data, a ward-level breakdown, outcome rates, and a safety score for any Nottingham postcode.