London is car crime capital

Hackney, Clapham and Leyton named and shamed

1 November 2007 12:17 GMT / By Jonathan Goddard

Three London districts have topped a poll that names and shames the worst areas in the country for car crime.

The highest percentage of car crime was recorded in Hackney, followed by fellow London districts Clapham and Leyton, according to insurers Admiral. Highbury also scraped into the top ten.

Car crime rates were lowest in Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, followed by Worthing in Sussex, Irvine and Ayr in Ayrshire.

"We expect car crime to be higher in inner city areas, but it's surprising to see that 40 per cent of the top ten are in one city, even if it is London", said an Admiral spokesperson.

Overall, however, vehicle theft has fallen 2% this year, according to Home Office figures, and car crime insurance claims have also fallen.

The top ten areas with the highest percentage of car crime are:

1. E9 Hackney, London
2. SW4 Clapham, London
3. E10 Leyton, London
4. BS8 Clifton, Bristol
5. LS6 Headingley, Leeds
6. EH8 Southside, Edinburgh
7. NE2 Jesmond, Newcastle
8. L9 Walton, Liverpool
9. M24 Middleton, Manchester
10. N5 Highbury, London

The safest ten areas are:

1. AB43 Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire
2. BN13 Worthing, Sussex
3. KA11 Irvine, Ayrshire
4. KA8 Ayr, Ayrshire
5. PO8 Waterlooville, Hampshire
6. AB51 Inverurie, Aberdeenshire
7. IV2 Inverness
8. CB11 Saffron Walden, Essex
9. SP10 Andover, Hampshire
10. SN25 Swindon, Wiltshire