Erewash has emerged as one of the most fearful areas in Derbyshire when it comes to crime and antisocial behaviour – despite police data showing the borough isn’t the most dangerous.
The new Listening To You 2023/24 report, published by the Office of the Derbyshire Police and Crime Commissioner, paints a stark picture of how residents in Ilkeston, Long Eaton and surrounding communities feel about safety on their streets.
Across Derbyshire, 3,589 people took part in the survey – including 354 from Erewash. Their responses reveal a borough that feels increasingly uneasy, with fear of crime levels higher than anywhere else in the county.
Half of Ilkeston Residents Feel Unsafe After Dark
Just 42 % of Erewash residents said they feel safe walking alone in their area after dark – the second-lowest score in the county, well below the Derbyshire average of 50 %.
Even in daylight, confidence is shaky: only 84 % said they feel safe during the day, compared with over 94 % in rural areas like the Derbyshire Dales.
Top Fears: Violence, Robbery and ASB
Erewash ranked highest or near-highest in almost every major category of worry:
- Robbery: 48 % worried – highest in Derbyshire
- Physical attack by a stranger: 51 % worried – highest in Derbyshire
- Sexual assault: 33 % worried – among the highest
- Hate crime (race, religion, sexuality or disability): 28 % worried – significantly above average
- Anti Social Behaviour: a staggering 69 % of residents said they’re worried – compared with 55 % county-wide
That fear appears to be rooted in what people see every day. Nearly half of Erewash respondents say they regularly witness speeding cars, revving engines or “boy racers”, while one in four report street drinking, drug use, or vandalism on a weekly basis.
Fear Outstripping Reality
Ironically, Derbyshire’s recorded crime rate sits below the national average. Yet the perception in Erewash suggests people feel far less safe than statistics imply.
That disconnect is worrying in itself.
“People aren’t imagining it,” said one Ilkeston resident when shown the figures. “You can feel it when you walk through town in the day and at night – it’s not about numbers, it’s about atmosphere.”
Community campaigners say the results point to a visible breakdown in order – more noise, nuisance driving, drug litter, and empty shopfronts – all feeding a sense that public space is being left to decline.
‘We Need to See the Police’
The report also found that public confidence in local policing is tied directly to visibility. Those who saw updates about what police were doing were 1½ times more likely to rate them as doing a good job.
Yet many in Erewash say they rarely see an officer on patrol.
“If people never see a bobby on the beat, they assume no-one’s dealing with it,” said another resident. “It’s not just about catching criminals – it’s about showing up.”
What Next?
The Police and Crime Commissioner’s office says it uses the survey to guide local policing priorities. But the message from Erewash seems clear:
Residents aren’t just concerned about crime – they’re losing faith that anyone’s tackling it.
Whether that perception reflects reality or not, it’s perception that shapes behaviour – and these figures show a community on edge.
Key Facts – Erewash (Ilkeston & Long Eaton area):
- 13 % say they were victims of crime in past year
- 42 % feel safe walking alone after dark
- 69 % worried about antisocial behaviour
- Highest fear levels in Derbyshire for robbery and violent attack
One Comment
Perceived or otherwise Ilkeston has always been a neglected Hinterland of Erewash.
Two stabbings and an arson attack on a neglected large building ,only very recently,,and what do you hear in general public comments, ” it’s Ilkeston, it’s the norm , what do you expect”
Drive into our town down Chalons Way and the environment ‘sets the tone ‘ of the town. You’ll see almost 20 missing or damaged roadside wall panels,damaged walls and brickwork, graffiti, neglected roadsides in the guise if ‘rewilding’, untidy roadside industrial sites just prior to Tesco island, along with untidy and unkempt looking traffic island itself. None of this impresses any visitor to the town. Then you hit Bath Street and it’s dilapidated feel, across the Marketplace, there’s been enough comments made about that area, then onto South Street and the eyesore of the dilapidated and neglected Ritz cinema building. The last goes on !
I am not anti Illeston, in fact to the contrary, it’s potentially a great town, I have a thriving little business on South Street, but it is a constant battle to get things done to improve the town’s overall environment.
The Authorities across the town have sight but no vision! We don’t even have an Erewash Plan!
It us all so frustrating!