Major UK city named 'safest' to live in Scotland beating rival

When choosing where to live, everyone will have their own preferences. Whilst easy access to green spaces and parks might be the top priority for some, others will focus on amenities and shopping facilities.

Nevertheless, many Scots would agree that few things matter as much as safety. Thankfully, Scotland's villages, towns, and cities are typically very secure places to call home.

If you place safety above everything else, though, it can be challenging to know where in Scotland to put down roots. Luckily, a recent study has revealed the cities in the country that are the safest to reside in or visit.

OPINION

As reported by the Daily Record, the "safest cities" in Scotland were identified earlier this year by Reolink. Five cities across the nation were ranked by their 'safety index' score, which "shows the consistency of local police in managing crimes and maintaining peace within the city".

Topping the experts' list was Edinburgh. The Scottish capital achieved a high safety index score of 68.98. Reolink also discovered that 82 per cent of people living in Edinburgh feel secure. According to the experts, "continuous patrolling has been done in heavy traffic areas" of the city. Meanwhile, Edinburgh was found to have a 'crime index' of just 30.99.

Also, theft, dishonesty, and house break-ins are amongst the most common offences reported in the Scottish capital. Reolink declared: "Edinburgh is ranked as the safest city in Scotland. It has a safety index of 68.98 according to Numbeo, with the lowest crime index of 30.99. It usually reports cases of theft, dishonesty, house break-ins, and offences."

"According to the reports, over 82 per cent of the residents feel safe living there. It's a student-friendly city where continuous patrolling has been done in heavy traffic areas."

Reolink also branded Edinburgh as being "significantly safer" than Glasgow. The specialists revealed that Scotland's biggest city "has higher violent crime rates, which makes it less safe than Edinburgh".

Trailing in second spot on Reolink's ranking of Scotland's most secure cities was Aberdeen. The Granite City was discovered to possess the "lowest violent crime rate and high safety standards", achieving a safety index rating of 63.20.

Meanwhile, Inverness claimed third position as the nation's safest city. Based on Reolink's findings, the Scottish Highlands city boasts a safety index rating of 62.13.

Completing the top five on the ranking were Glasgow and Dundee. The former achieved a safety index rating of 54.56, whilst Dundee's safety index rating stood at 51.40.

Beyond Scotland's cities, Reolink revealed that Orkney and Shetland rank amongst the nation's most secure regions. The specialists noted that the archipelagos maintain lower crime figures when measured against other Scottish locations.

Reolink stated: "Safety ranks as one of the major concerns for people visiting and living in Scotland. It is necessary to inquire about the safety of everywhere you stay or travel."