Crime rates in these European cities are skyrocketing, and the reasons are NOT what you think they are.
In fact, these cities may look beautiful, BUT imagine strolling through these historic streets, just to realize you’re not safe.
I’ve spent days analyzing crime statistics and asking locals and residents with plenty of experience about their realities just to bring you the hard facts on these places. Today, you discover which European cities had the most alarming rise in crime recently.
We are in for some polemic, and the first city probably will bring a few protests in the comment section.
Dangerous Cities in Europe with Rising Crime Rates
Berlin, Germany
The German capital is known for its endless techno parties, architectural eyesores, and ugly modernist buildings (by the way, check later this video about the most beautiful and the ugliest European capitals) and lack of a high-level football club.
But on top of all that, Berlin recently saw a drastic increase in crime.
- Violent Crime: According to data from the Berlin Police Department and the Bundeskriminalamt (BKA), violent crime increased by 8% in a single year.
- Homicides: The German Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) reported a 15% increase in homicide rates in Berlin from 2021 to 2023.
- Sexual Crimes: Sexual crimes have also seen a rise, with cases of sexual assault increasing by 12% over two years.
- Robberies: According to Berlin’s local news reports, robberies in 2022 also rose by 10%, with public places becoming hotspots for these crimes.
- School Violence: Even schools are having a spike in violence—not just minor incidents, but serious violence. Violent incidents in schools surged from 1,133 cases in 2021 to 2,344 in 2022, and 2,737 in 2023, a 141% increase in only two years. Knives are also being used more frequently inside schools, according to local police.
- Car Theft: Another type of crime that exploded in Berlin is car theft. Currently, on average, 21 cars are stolen in Berlin EVERY SINGLE DAY.
- High-Crime Neighborhoods: Neighborhoods like Neukölln and Kreuzberg and similar areas report higher instances of gang violence, drug trafficking, and assaults.
- Gang-Related Violence: Berlin’s rising crime rates are partly due to gang-related violence. Organized criminal groups, many of which have international ties, play a major role in the city’s criminal landscape. These groups are involved in various illegal activities, including drug trafficking, extortion, and violent confrontations with rival gangs. Rival groups in Neukölln and Kreuzberg compete over control of drug sales and other illicit trades.
Birmingham, England
Since we are talking about gang-related crime, let’s talk about the UK, more specifically about Birmingham.
Birmingham is the second-largest city in the United Kingdom, located in the West Midlands. It has a population of over 1.1 million, making it one of the country’s most densely populated urban centers.
Known historically as an industrial powerhouse, Birmingham has grown into a very diverse metropolitan hub. However, recent years have seen an unsettling rise in violent crime.
- Violent Crime: According to the latest data from West Midlands Police, violent crime in Birmingham increased by nearly 13% from 2021 to 2023. Assault cases were at the forefront, with serious violent offenses up by 15% in 2022 alone.
- Knife Crime: Knife crime in Birmingham has become a prominent concern. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported a 10% increase in knife-related offenses from 2021 to 2022.
- Overall Crime Rate: Birmingham’s overall crime rate in 2023 was 137 crimes per 1,000 people, which is 16% higher than the West Midlands’ average of 118 per 1,000 daytime population—already a high number by itself.
- Sexual Crimes: Sexual crimes have also spiked in Birmingham, increasing by around 14% in 2022.
- High-Crime Areas:
- Aston: High levels of violent crime, especially assault and knife crime. Gang activity and local disputes are common, with many attacks linked to organized criminal activity.
- Newtown: Significant challenges with gang violence and drug trafficking. Assault and robbery are frequent, often related to territorial disputes between local gangs.
- Ladywood: High rates of robbery and assault.
Coventry, England
The next city is just 40 minutes away from Birmingham—Coventry. This is a historic city in the West Midlands of England with a population of approximately 345,000 residents.
- Overall Crime Rate: In 2022, Coventry’s total recorded crime rate was 122 per 1,000 residents, compared to 93 for England overall.
- Common Crimes: The most common crimes in Coventry are violence and sexual offenses, with 16,323 offenses during 2023.
- Violent Districts: One of the most violent districts in the city is Hillfields, an area with significant gang-related activities, leading to increased incidents of assaults and homicides.
- Crime Types: The increase in incidents of knife crime, assault, and drug-related offenses has made certain areas of Coventry particularly vulnerable.
London, England
Since we are talking about knife crimes, the next city is known for stabbing crimes, and it is much larger than Coventry—London.
The capital of the United Kingdom has experienced a notable increase in violent crime over recent years.
- Overall Crime Rate Increase: In the year ending March 2023, the Metropolitan Police Service recorded 938,020 offenses, up from 743,728 in 2015/16—a 26% increase.
- Knife Crime: Between July 2022 and June 2023, there were 13,503 knife-related incidents, marking a 21% rise compared to the previous 12-month period.
- Homicides: Homicide rates have also escalated. In 2023, London recorded 103 homicides, with stabbings accounting for over 60% of these cases.
- High-Crime Boroughs:
- Croydon: Reported the highest number of killings in 2023, with a significant portion linked to knife crime.
- Newham: Known for gang-related activities.
- Lambeth: Increased instances of robbery and assault.
Gang-related incidents have become more frequent in London – and severe, with members increasingly using knives as their weapon of choice.
El Prat de Llobregat, Spain
After three cities from the UK in a row, the next place with skyrocketing violence is in a much different country and is a much less famous city—El Prat de Llobregat, Spain.
El Prat de Llobregat is located in the Barcelona metropolitan area, in Catalonia, Spain. With a population of around 65,000, it’s a relatively small but densely populated area. El Prat is best known for hosting Barcelona’s primary airport, Barcelona–El Prat Airport, one of the busiest airports in Europe. However, it has experienced a significant rise in crime rates over recent years, including violent crimes, thefts, and drug-related activities.
- Crime Increase: In the first half of 2023, El Prat de Llobregat recorded a 13.9% increase in conventional criminality compared to the same period in 2022.
- Total Crime Numbers: The total number of reported crimes reached 4,184, with a notable rise in thefts, which accounted for 2,330 incidents.
- Spillover from Barcelona: Being adjacent to Barcelona, a major urban center with its own crime challenges, El Prat experiences spillover effects. Criminal activities, including drug trafficking and theft, often extend into neighboring municipalities, exacerbating local crime rates.
- High-Crime Districts: Certain districts within El Prat de Llobregat have been particularly impacted by the surge in criminal activities, like Sant Cosme, a neighborhood that has witnessed increased violent incidents and gained a reputation as a high-crime area.
Stockholm, Sweden
Now it is time for the last of the six cities with skyrocketing crime rates in Europe. This city is probably the one that you and everyone else expected to see in this ranking—because despite being a rich city in a wealthy country, there are even grenade attacks there!
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, has undergone a noteworthy rise in violent criminality in recent years. This surge includes shootings, stabbings, and even bombings.
- Nationwide Violence: The increase in violence is not only in Stockholm but across major Swedish cities, from Malmo to Gothenburg.
- Shooting Incidents: In 2023, Sweden recorded 55 fatal shootings out of 363 incidents, a huge contrast to the combined six deadly incidents in Denmark, Finland, and Norway.
- Crime Exposure: The Swedish Crime Survey 2023 indicates a shocking rise in exposure to crime, with 20.3% of respondents reporting that they were victims of crime—one in every five people.
- Comparative Crime Rates:
- Rape Crimes (per 100,000): Stockholm, Sweden 6.9; Paris, France 2.1; Berlin, Germany 1.4; Rome, Italy 1.2; Warsaw, Poland 0.9.
- Burglaries (per 100,000): Stockholm 539.9; Paris 396.7; Berlin 341.8; Rome 250.0; Warsaw 210.0.
- Assaults (per 100,000): Stockholm 3,107.3; Paris 2,694.0; Berlin 2,332.5; Rome 2,020.0; Warsaw 1,600.0.
- Car Theft (per 100,000): Stockholm 1,080.0; Paris 740.0; Berlin 620.0; Rome 480.0; Warsaw 360.0.
These numbers highlight how Stockholm’s situation is particularly severe when compared to other European capitals.
- Immigration and Integration Challenges: One reason for such numbers is Sweden’s immigration and integration challenges. The influx of immigrants over the past two decades has led to issues in integration, resulting in socioeconomic disparities and the formation of parallel societies.
- High-Crime Areas:
- Rinkeby-Kista: This area has seen significant gang-related activities, with increased incidents of shootings and bombings. The diverse demographic composition and socio-economic challenges have contributed to its vulnerability.
- Södertälje: Has major issues related to organized crime and associated violence.
- Husby: This district has reported increased instances of robbery and assault.
One of the most feared gangs, The Death Patrol, is responsible for numerous violent incidents and even extends its activities to other European countries, such as Denmark.
Curiously enough, as violent as it is, Stockholm is also among the fastest-growing European cities. Even more curiously, all the fastest-growing European cities are located in 2 countries. I investigated this phenomenon and the surprising conclusions you can find in this video here.
Which other city do you think should be mentioned? Tell us here!
Here are the videos we mentioned in this episode: The Ugliest and The Most Aesthetic European Capitals / Is London Safe? Here is What the Media Isn’t Telling You / The 5 Fastest Growing Cities in Europe (Odd Similarities!)
Levi Borba is the founder of expatriateconsultancy.com, creator of the channel The Expat, and best-selling author. You can find him on X here.
