Counties with the highest crime rates in Hungary

Hungarian National Police Headquarters’ data shows that the Midwestern region (Zala, Vas, Veszprém) is the most peaceful area in the country. It might be a shocking reveal, but more than 500 people above 60 committed crime during the past year in Northern Hungary. In the infamous Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, for instance, 300 elderly people were caught by the police, according to Magyar Idők. Transdanubia, however, seems to be ruled by tranquillity.

Of course the centre of the country, Pest County has the highest crime rates in Hungary with more than 19,000 registered cases. It is not surprising in a sense that one-eighth of the population lives in this region, 1,226,115 people to be exact. People from Budapest tend to drive drunk quite often, and they have unfavourable statistics concerning drug use and theft, as well.

On the other hand, the number of crime cases decreased by 47 percent in the past 7 years.

Northern Hungary has been one of the most critical regions for years. Though this area also shows significant improvement, the police are still busy with the local criminals, most notably with teenagers.

Almost 13,000 criminal acts were recorded in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, ranking the second after Pest County on the list of the most crime-infested territories. This county has a high number of drunk drivers, frauds, forgery and misuse of firearms. It is also right behind Pest County concerning drug use and distribution.

Crime life does not seem to be a career with retirement: more than 300 elderly people were arrested last year, mostly for theft, drunk driving and forgery of documents.

The younger generation also does its part in the job: Heves and Nógrád County had a bunch of teenagers caught for theft, truculence and drug use.

Tolna improved its statistics by 66% since 2010, its crime rate is still above average, just like in the case of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg and Bács-Kiskun. Older criminals do forgery, theft and drunk driving, while younger ones are mostly arrested for assault and truculence. More than 600 perpetrators under 18 were registered last year.

The Western side of the country shows a much more peaceful tendency.

The most pacific counties are Zala, Veszprém and Zala. Komárom-Esztergom is not far behind these three: only 3,000 cases were recorded last year. Besides the usual drunk driving, older perpetrators are often caught for causing environmental damage.

On the whole, Hungary’s crime rate has flaws to improve yet, but the current tendency is favourable.

Source: Magyar Idők