Park your car in Swindon (From This Is Wiltshire)

Park your car in Swindon

9:37am Monday 17th December 2007 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
•  

SWINDON is the safest place in the UK to park your car a national survey has revealed.

The latest figures published by Endsleigh Insurance Services use policy and claims data over a three year period up until the start of 2007.

The report shows that Swindon has 42.9 per cent less car crime than the national average.

On the other end of the scale Hull sees 43.9 per cent more car theft than the countrywide average.

Stuart Wartalski, from Endsleigh, said: "This is great news for Swindon and a clear demonstration that local council and police initiatives, such as the Swindon Community Safety Partnership, are proving effective at driving down car crime."

In spite of car crime rising in parts of the country, the good news is that the UK as a whole has seen a drop of more than 10 per cent in motor theft over the last three years.

Mr Wartalski added: "The fact remains, however, that some towns and cities represent a greater risk for motorists than others. Equally, no motorist can afford to be complacent - wherever they might live."

Norwich is the second safest location for car owners with 42.3 per cent less car crime than the national average with Dundee a close third with -38.9 per cent.

Last month Wiltshire police told residents to lock up their cars following a spate of thefts in Walcot and Wood Street.

Officers warned that opportunist thieves will smash into cars to see if bags left inside contain valuables and said that hi-tech equipment, such as mobile phones, iPods and satellite navigation systems, should also be taken by drivers when they leave the car.

The Endsleigh report also names the UK's top ten towns and cities for motor accidents.

The top three for risk of accidents are Slough, Ilford and Birmingham.

The safest for accidents are Belfast, Swansea and Aberdeen.

Swindon did not feature on either list.