The University of Chester has retained its position as the North West’s safest city-based institution for the third consecutive year.

Freshers arriving in the city to begin their degree next week will be pleased to hear the university has been named the safest city-based institution and second safest place to study overall in the region again for the third time.

The Complete University Guide put together a set of rankings based on official police data and crimes most relevant to students, which included burglary, robbery and violence and sexual crimes, over almost 130 universities.

The figures themselves are for all victims, however, not just students.

University Proctor Mel Williams said: “For the sake of all local communities, including students, we are extremely pleased that Chester has kept its ranking as the safest university city in the North West, particularly as the guide’s organisers have calculated the results differently this year.

“There is a well-established and effective working relationship between the University, Chester Students’ Union, Cheshire Police and other agencies, which helps to promote student safety.

“Chester is a wonderful place to live, work and study, and the fact that it is also such a safe city is a very strong message to give to our incoming students, some of whom will be leaving home for the first time.

“It should also be very reassuring for their families.”

This year the methodology was revised so comparisons with earlier years were not significant.

Areas within three miles of the designated main campus were not considered this year, but instead, they were derived from the term-time addresses given by students themselves.

Per 1,000 residents in Chester last year, 5.67 were recorded as victims of burglary, 0.34 for robbery and 23.96 for violent and sexual offence.

With a total of 29.98, the city was placed as the safest city-based university in the North West.

Freshers week will begin on Sunday, September 25.