Violence has fallen by 11% in the UK over the past decade, with regions across England becoming more peaceful, a report suggests.
According to the first UK Peace Index (UKPI) from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), 80% of 343 evaluated local authority areas saw at least a 10% improvement in peace over the past ten years which remains the fastest decline in violence of any country in Europe.
Lewisham is the least peaceful local authority area in England and Wales, the report finds, with Lambeth, Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets also being ranked in the bottom five regions.
Glasgow was identified as the UK’s least peaceful urban area with a murder rate double the national average, while London – which has seen every borough become more peaceful over the last ten years – was the second most violent.
Broadland is the UK’s most peaceful local authority, alongside Three Rivers, South Cambridgeshire and East Dorset.
Improvements in income, access to employment, and protection from the worst effects of poverty were found to have a significant impact on reducing violence, while the study found a positive correlation between overcrowded housing and high levels of violence.
According to the results, the lack of peace in the UK has an annual economic impact of £124bn in indirect and direct costs and lost productivity.
Founder and executive chairman of IEP, Steve Killelea, said: ‘While the increased level of peace cannot be narrowed down to any single factor, the findings of the UKPI show that poverty and economic opportunity are significantly associated with peace as supported by other international studies including the U.S. Peace Index.
‘This suggests greater emphasis needs to be placed on programmes that tackle poverty and related issues such as access to education and economic opportunity.’
CEO of the Peace Alliance, the rev. Nims Obunge, said: ‘The findings of the UKPI are encouraging, but show there is still much that can be done to make the UK and London less violent, with less crime and more opportunity for our citizens. Putting a price tag on peace – or the lack of it –sends signals to policy makers on where efforts to tackle crime and violence should be focused.’