It may have been ranked within the top five most dangerous areas in Nottinghamshire, according to official figures, by People in Bulwell have praised the area. Many people we spoke to say they have lived there all their lives and have no plans to move anytime soon.
The official data showed Nottingham City Centre and Trent Bridge had the highest crime rate in Nottinghamshire during the 12 month period ending January 2022. The data shows how many crimes have been reported in each area across the city and county, including how many of these were for anti-social behaviour, theft and criminal damage and other offences.
Bulwell North had the fourth highest ranking in the county, and second within the city boundaries - with Mansfield Town Centre & Broomhill and Worksop Cheapside ranked in second and third position.
But people in Bulwell have defended the area, with some people saying that over the years it’s gone downhill but that has nothing to do with crime.
Read more: Calls for 'dangerous' speeding next to Bulwell school to be stopped
Katie Whitehall, a 24-years-old health care assistant who has lived in Bulwell all her life, praised the area and said: “I love Bulwell, it gets looked down on sometimes and I have no idea if that’s to do with crime but I’d live here forever. I have memories of playing out in Ashton Park and my mum never had any concerns about my safety. I have no kids but when I do, I’d definitely raise them here. Bad stuff happens in all different places. Dangerous isn’t how I’d describe Bulwell.”
Amongst the safest areas in Nottingham include: Tollerton, Keyworth North and Willoughby in Rushcliffe.
Barrie Tideswell, 85, who went to the Highbury School which was demolished in 2013 and has lived in the area all his life and is saddened to see many places that have disappeared over the years but feels safe in the area. He said: “The area isn’t bad, I’ve lived here all my life. I don’t know why people chose to stay in the area; the Bulls’ dead. We used to have a whole market but now, there’s only four stores, the market use to be full and there were more people.”
Barrie however enjoys going out in the area, he enjoys going to the Coffee ‘N’ Cream cafe which is located on Commercial Road in Bulwell. He spoke more about what the area used to be like. He added: “Bulwell use to be a place where a lot of people worked, I’ve seen the good and the bad. The area had a showcase, there was The Olympia where B&M now is too.” If Barrie wasn’t to live in Bulwell, he said that Wollaton would be his ideal place to move to.
Douglas Simmons, aged 74-years-old is retired, has always lived in Bulwell. He attended the Highbury Secondary School in Bulwell which is no longer there. He told Nottinghamshire Live “It can be a bit rough but I’ve spent all my life here. The area is fairly compact and the area is good. “There’s been a few stabbings in the area but not lately and there’s quite a few drug dealers too.
“I go to Heron a lot but the area could do with one or two more shops.” When asked if Douglas would live in another area of Nottingham he went on to say: “If I could move I’d still leave here, just a different part, maybe somewhere along St Alban’s area.”
David Dennis, an 83-year-old retired taxi driver who has lived in Bulwell for over 20 years, said he doesn’t think the area is dangerous. He said: “I live here, I like it here and I’m local. “[Bulwell] Is my city centre, I used to work around the area, I was a taxi driver so I’ve seen a lot of changes because of the lockdown but I don’t think the area is dangerous. I’ve always felt safe.”
