New Delhi, Aug 11 — Is Europe safer than America? “Each side of the Atlantic thinks the other is lawless,” a recent report notes while attempting to answer the question through a novel study by criminologists associated with University College London (UCL). They compared crime statistics across 20 rich‑world cities.
The dataset was curated by Matt Ashby, Associate Professor of Crime Science at UCL’s Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science, along with colleagues. Ashby’s expertise lies in crime science, criminology and policing, with a focus on data‑driven approaches to crime reduction. His work spans the UK, US and Europe, particularly in forecasting crime patterns, evaluating police data usage and addressing organised crime concerns.
The team selected 20 cities with populations of at least 2.5 million that publish annual crime statistics. Boundaries were adjusted to ensure similar population densities; for example, Paris included the whole Île‑de‑France region. Definitions were harmonised so categories of crime were broadly comparable to Britain’s.
Murder, or homicide, was used as a cross‑border measure. Chicago, with a population of 2.74 million, was found to be the “most deadly city” with 587 homicides in 2024, a rate of 22 per 100,000 residents, 2.7 times that of Los Angeles. Meanwhile, the average rate among 10 European cities was 1.7 per 100,000.
Other categories showed less clear divides. Personal robberies with force occurred about as often in both regions, with London and Paris recording more than 300 per 100,000 annually. Vehicle thefts were common in Chicago and Los Angeles, while New York fared better than most European cities. Domestic burglaries were more frequent in Europe.
The Economist report noted that Europe’s social‑safety net may reduce incentives to steal, while America’s robust policing and higher incarceration rates could balance crime levels. Ashby described the statistics as the “least‑worst attempt” to make data comparable, enabling policymakers to ask detailed questions about trends.
Crime reporting differences remain a challenge. Official figures for rape in England and Wales have doubled in the past decade, but confidential surveys suggest cases have held steady, indicating improved reporting. Business robberies in London may have risen due to easier reporting mechanisms.
The Economist concluded that trends on both sides of the Atlantic provide reasons for optimism. Murder rates in London and New York are at record lows, while personal robbery in Paris has halved over the past decade. Overall, cities in both Europe and America are safer, friendlier and more vibrant than a generation ago.