Goldsmiths in top 10 of London’s safest universities, crime study shows

New research shows that Goldsmiths, University of London is one of the safest higher education institutions in the capital.

A study examining crime rates in neighbourhoods which contain universities shows that Goldsmiths has the ninth lowest level of incidents in London. 

The Complete University Guide research looked at crimes of greatest relevance to students based on official police data for burglary, robbery and violence and sexual offences.

Within a three-mile area around Goldsmiths crime is ranked ninth lowest in London with 35.34 incidents per 1,000 people, according to the survey. 

After comparing incidents around 28 universities in the city, the research found that as you move towards central London, crime reached 47.65 incidents per 1,000 people. 

Just ten minutes to London Bridge by train, Goldsmiths is a single-campus university at the heart of New Cross.

Claire MacLean, Director of Students, Alumni and Library Services at Goldsmiths, said: 

“We are proud to be part of the thriving New Cross community. These figures confirm what we at Goldsmiths already know – that the streets around the university are among the safest in London for our students and staff.”

The researchers admitted that figures for central London universities may be higher due to factors like increased numbers of tourists and multiple transport hubs.

Dr Bernard Kingston, principal author of The Complete University Guide, said: “In London, the rate of violent crime and sexual offences at the top of the table is more than twice its rate at the bottom.

“We recognise that the concentration of crime hot spots such as mainline railway stations within the three mile radius, together with London’s position as a world magnet for tourism, makes comparisons between the inner London universities and the rest of the country problematic.

“But it remains an inescapable fact that these are the streets though which these universities’ students all travel, and where many of them live. They should be alert to the facts when making their decision on their study destination.”

While the offences are the three advisedly the most relevant to students, the figures relate to all victims, not just students. They are for the areas surrounding universities, not solely for university premises.