Bath is considered a safe destination for tourists and visitors, achieving a safety score of 75 out of 100. Whilst the city's overall crime rate of 112.2 per 1,000 residents is higher than the national average of 91.6, this figure includes crimes that rarely affect tourists directly. The crime statistics show a recent decline of 4.3% year-over-year, suggesting improving safety conditions. For context, Bath's population of 96,241 swells considerably with millions of annual visitors, which naturally impacts crime statistics in busy tourist areas.
The most common crimes affecting visitors are property-related offences. Shoplifting accounts for 16.0 incidents per 1,000 people (14% of all crime), whilst other theft, including pickpocketing and bag snatching, occurs at a rate of 8.9 per 1,000 (8% of crime). Anti-social behaviour, which includes rowdy conduct and public nuisance, stands at 16.4 per 1,000 (15% of crime) and is most prevalent in the evening around popular nightlife areas. Violence and sexual offences occur at 38.5 per 1,000, but these primarily involve individuals known to each other rather than random attacks on tourists.
Most visitor-related incidents occur in crowded locations such as the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, and Pulteney Bridge, where opportunistic thieves target distracted tourists. The Shopping Quarter and SouthGate shopping centre see elevated shoplifting activity, though this rarely impacts visitors directly. Evening hours bring increased anti-social behaviour, particularly around pubs and clubs in the Kingsmead Square and Saw Close areas, though this typically consists of noise and rowdy behaviour rather than threatening conduct.