Is leeds as bad as they say?

Hi, im just wondering is leeds as bad as they say?

Really paranoid because apparently burgularys in leeds are the norm, and apparently its more uncommon to NOT get burgled than to actually get burgled.

It may just be paranoid because of newspaper stories, but i do see police vans up the road from me all the time, just parked there as if they are investigating somebody.

Whenever i see a group of youngish (in 20s) males, who clearly arent students walk past, they always look like the dodgy type - baseball caps, trackys and looking right and left - shifty eye type

Ive never been anywhere in my life i have felt so paranoid and unsafe - not unsafe of gettin mugged or stabbed, but i mean unsafe that we could get burgled

Being from Leeds, albeit not the student areas such as Headingley/Burley Park etc. It's really not unsafe at all, there are obviously going to be burglaries etc in student areas because it's a mix of laptops, smartphones, consoles etc and a lack of security due to students having laissez faire attitude to security in general. If you take precautions such as remembering to lock your door and shut windows etc then you'll have no issues. Leeds is the best city there is!

When I lived in Headingley, there were a couple of burglaries on my street but they were walk-ins. I didn't hear of any break-ins, but I don't pretend to be very well informed about the area at the time! If you're nervous, live closer to the city center and like someone else said, stay away from the surrounding areas. I'm living in Clarence Dock now, it's lovely and feels so safe. I also lived in IQ which was student accomodation which was about a 5 minute walk from the Uni, which wasn't bad and had great security.

If you're worried about security in general, look for a place in a big building with fob entry on the gates and doors. I feel much safer in places like this!

Hi, im just wondering is leeds as bad as they say?

Really paranoid because apparently burgularys in leeds are the norm, and apparently its more uncommon to NOT get burgled than to actually get burgled.

It may just be paranoid because of newspaper stories, but i do see police vans up the road from me all the time, just parked there as if they are investigating somebody.

Whenever i see a group of youngish (in 20s) males, who clearly arent students walk past, they always look like the dodgy type - baseball caps, trackys and looking right and left - shifty eye type

Ive never been anywhere in my life i have felt so paranoid and unsafe - not unsafe of gettin mugged or stabbed, but i mean unsafe that we could get burgled

I am so sorry to hear that...

For me I am looking for a place to live for the next academic year and I have decided to move closer to campus. I really don't want to live in Hyde Park anymore.

So I found this trend and kind of got "scared", meaning is it really as bad as the say?? Sadly I won't be able to visit the city anytime soon, but do you think is so bad in crime? Or is it like any other city?

I live right next to campus and actually it has a much higher crime rate than Hyde Park. Not that I've had any issues living there but if you are seriously that concerned about 'unsavoury types' you will find it far worse than Hyde Park. Just to warn you. There is a very deprived area just down the road with a lot of 'yoofs'.

Try near Burley Park station and around the mosque, I was there last year and found it really safe.

I think you are referring to Little London...? I'm very much aware of how dodgy that area is because I lived at Montague Burton in my foundation year.

I just want to remain close to the university.

No not little London. I mean down towards little London between cardigan road and belle vue road. Little London's not actually as bad lol. To moan about the crime in Hyde park and move to Kirkstall makes no sense, the crime rate is worse here!!!

Lol, I won't be living in Kirkstall.

I just want to remain within walking distance of the university but a lot of the walking distance areas seem quite 'rough', but I think that is because these areas are full of students - students are easier to target.

I currently live in east London and I feel all so safe any time in the day or night. I have been out on the streets, coming home from work etc. as late as mid night or even after that and have never seen any thing that would make me feel un safe. My assumption was that Leeds is as safe as this as the online statistic websites rate it safer than London so I am a bit surprised with the severity reflected by some of the posts above.

Whereabouts in east London? I'm moving from Leeds to Lewisham on Saturday and have heard bad things...

Pepper spray is illegal in the UK, if police finds it on you - criminal record

I think Leeds itself is quite safe. It's the surrounding areas that give it a bad name like Bradford etc which is very rough