By Alexander Smail
Copyright dailyrecord
When deciding where to live, everybody will have their own priorities. While easy access to green space and parks will be the most important factor to consider for some, for others it will be amenities and shopping opportunities. However, many Scots would agree that few things are as important as safety. Fortunately, Scotland’s villages, towns, and cities are generally very safe places to live. If you prioritise safety above all else, though, it can be difficult to know where in Scotland to settle down. Fortunately, a recent study revealed the cities in the country that are the safest to stay in or travel to. As reported by the Daily Record , the “safest cities” in Scotland were named earlier this year by Reolink . Five cities across the country were ranked by their ‘safety index’ score, which “shows the consistency of local police in managing crimes and maintaining peace within the city”. READ MORE: The ‘old world’ Scottish island where you can book autumn getaway for almost half price READ MORE: Scottish town crowned among best in world ‘to see autumn colours’ beating Italy Coming in at number one on the experts’ list was Edinburgh . The Scottish capital earned a high safety index score of 68.98. Reolink also found that 82 per cent of people living in Edinburgh feel safe. According to the experts, “continuous patrolling has been done in heavy traffic areas” of the city. On the other hand, Edinburgh was found to have a ‘crime index’ of just 30.99. According to the experts, theft, dishonesty, and house break-ins are among the most common offences reported in the Scottish capital. Reolink stated: “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 described Edinburgh as being “significantly safer” than Glasgow. The experts stated that Scotland’s largest city “has higher violent crime rates, which makes it less safe than Edinburgh”. Following behind in second place on Reolink’s list of the safest cities in Scotland was Aberdeen. The Granite City was found to have the “lowest violent crime rate and high safety standards”, with its safety index score being 63.20. Meanwhile, Inverness was named as the third-safest city in the country. According to Reolink, the Scottish Highlands city has a safety index score of 62.13. Rounding out the top five on the list were Glasgow and Dundee. The former was found to have a safety index score of 54.56, while Dundee’s safety index score was named as 51.40. Outside of Scotland’s cities, Reolink stated that Orkney and Shetland are considered among of the safest areas in the country. According to the experts, the archipelagos have low crime rates compared to other areas within Scotland. Reolink added: “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.” More information can be found on the Reolink website .
