Wanstead the worst in London?

There was at least one cross tweet about the Wanstead Guardian billboard (pictured) last week, and no doubt some degree of eyeball rolling by Wanstead loyalists.

There are probably relatively few people who feel that Wanstead is the worst place in London for burglaries. The new police crime maps do indicate, however, that in January Wanstead ward was one of a number contributing to a high burglary rate in Redbridge – marked in red on the map below. Snaresbrook did not, however, and it’s worth noting that while any burglary is a pain in the neck, the actual numbers are as follows: 28 burglaries in Wanstead ward in January 2011, compared to 20 in December. Snaresbrook had 7 and 11.

It’s always good too to keep an eye on the bigger picture, not just on burglary. Snaresbrook has the lowest overall crime rate of any ward in Redbridge (4.24); Wanstead is higher (8.69) but by no means the worst in Redbridge – there are seven worse. And in the context of neighbouring boroughs, thing become even clearer.

[table id=15 /]

More on Wanstead crime; burglaries (bad), murders (good)

The real street-level detail of crime in Wanstead in December 2010 is now available from the new Police Crime Maps. The overview for Snaresbrook and Wanstead wards are as follows:

The detailed map shows that burglaries took place on or near Hermitage Walk, Hollybush Hill, Wanstead High Street (2), Wellesley Road, Grove Park (2), Nutter Lane, Leicester Road, Elmcroft Avenue, Elmcroft Close, Limes Avenue, Rodney Road, Colvin Gardens, Blake Hall Road, St Mary’s Avenue, Colebrooke Drive, Redbridge Lane West, Overton Drive, Blake Hall Crescent (2), Park Road, Albury Mews, Dover Road, Clavering Road, Merlin Road and Church Avenue.

When the maps are working fully, it will be easy to compare one neighbourhood with another – and it’s a fair bet that compared to Ilford, Leytonstone and Walthamstow, Wanstead will come out well.  So, ever on the lookout for ways to be of public service, Wansteadium here offers a Nick Ross “don’t have nightmares” thought; the map below comes from Murder Maps, a remarkable site which claims to have plotted all murders in London since the days of Jack the Ripper. Despite all the unfortunate murders indicated on the map, not one of them happened in Wanstead.

Sleep well.