Keeping Safe
To compare the rate of crime in Belfast to the Northern Ireland national average is somewhat unfair, as it is by far the busiest area of the country; the majority of people living in Northern Ireland live or work in or around the Belfast area. However, if you compare the crime statistics to the English national average, you can see that the crime rate in Belfast is still quite high.
Total crimes reported in Belfast, per 1,000 population – 117.66
English national average – 77.2
This said, Since the Good Friday agreement of 1998 Belfast has become an increasingly safer city to live in, with crime levels in the city falling dramatically over the last ten years. Although there are still some troubles in certain areas, students should feel safe in the city, especially those areas frequented by students. As with any city, common sense can save students unnecessary trouble and risk. Measures such as locking doors and windows when leaving your house, walking home in groups after a night out and sticking to the main roads when walking in the city are good ways to stay safe in Belfast.
Although the majority of crimes committed in the city are property related, such as burglary and motor theft, there have been a number of violent crimes reported in recent years. Again, a majority of these crimes occur away from the student areas, but students are advised to respect the locals, and avoid arguments and other confrontations whenever possible.
Although it has had a history of sectarian violence, violent crime in Belfast has significantly decreased over the last ten years. However, there are some areas of the country, particularly in Belfast, where trouble still arises. Crimes related to sectarianism are referred to by the Northern Irish police as ‘conflict-related’, and though numbers have decreased, there are still some reported incidents. Many of these incidents refer to assaults or property damage, but some are much more serious. A total of eighty conflict-related deaths were reported between 1998 and 2007, which, whilst significantly less than the 596 recorded in the nine years previous, shows that there is still a problem.
Sectarian violence is a very sensitive subject in the city and should be approached with delicacy and respect. Discussing it with locals is generally not advised, as many families have lost relatives and friends due to the violence. In addition, avoid wearing clothes that could identify you as being from one community or another, such as Celtic F.C or Rangers F.C kits. Although this may seem a bit extreme, there have been reported instances of students, or others not raised in Belfast, being assaulted for wearing the wrong colours in the wrong areas.
This said however, Belfast is a relatively safe place to live, and students should feel safe in the city as long as they use common sense when out and about.
