18. July 2006 First ranking of urban areas by crime rate finds huge variations in levels of crime Better information and stronger accountability will improve police performance A new report today reveals huge variations in urban crime rates across the country with Nottingham, the highest crime urban area, recording four times the number of selected crimes per 1,000 population as the safest towns such as Southend and Poole. The report, Urban Crime Rankings , by the independent think tank Reform , uses new data obtained from police forces by Freedom of Information requests on seven offences: murder, rape, assault, burglary, robbery, vehicle crime and gun crime. It argues that more intelligible statistics and new models of accountability will increase local pressure for better police performance in high crime cities and towns.