Somerset has one of the lowest crime rates in England and Wales, new figures reveal.

According to data from the year ending September 2024, the county recorded 45,875 non-fraud crimes, giving it a crime rate of 79.5 offences per 1,000 people – the equivalent of one in every 13 residents experiencing a crime.

That puts Somerset 135th out of all community safety partnership areas across the country, far below urban centres like Westminster, which topped the table with 434 crimes per 1,000 people – nearly one for every two residents.

Outside of London, the areas with the highest crime rates were Middlesbrough, Manchester, Blackpool and Hartlepool.

A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: "Somerset continues to be a relatively safe place to live and work. While any level of crime is a concern, the figures reflect the ongoing efforts of our officers and staff, alongside local communities, to prevent crime and keep people safe. We're not complacent – we know there's always more to do, and we remain focused on tackling key issues such as rural crime, antisocial behaviour and theft."

The data includes crimes recorded by all 43 domestic police forces in England and Wales and excludes fraud.

Crime rates are calculated to allow fair comparisons between areas of different population sizes.

The figures also show crime hotspots are often linked to population density and tourism, with Westminster's high numbers driven in part by significant visitor footfall and levels of theft.