A new crime severity map has highlighted the areas in Somerset most impacted by serious crime. Unlike traditional crime rates that simply count incidents, crime severity scores evaluate both the volume and seriousness of offences, giving greater weight to violent crimes such as murder and sexual assault over minor offenses like theft.
Bristol stands out with one of the highest crime severity scores in the country, registering 24.9. This places it 13th among over 300 community safety partnership areas across England and Wales, largely due to its high rates of violent and sexual crimes.
Within the Avon and Somerset police force area, Somerset itself follows with a score of 16.0, heavily influenced by serious violent and sexual offences. Bath emerges as the safest locality in the region, with a significantly lower score of 14.1.
READ MORE: Fire Service Launches In-Depth Review of Electric Vehicle Battery Fires
The average crime severity score across the Avon and Somerset area is 18.4, surpassing the national average for England and Wales.
Crime severity scores provide a more nuanced picture of crime impact by factoring in the gravity of offenses and the level of punishment they attract, unlike straightforward crime counts. This method highlights the true harm caused by crimes within communities.
Since their introduction in 2003, these scores have fluctuated, dropping from an initial 15.9 to a low of 9.3 in 2013 before gradually rising again, with a peak of 16.4 in 2023 and a current standing at 16.3.
Use our interactive map to see how your area compares in terms of crime severity and understand the real impact of local crime.