Aberdeen has been ranked as the safest city in the UK by an international consulting firm.
Mercer, based in New York, surveyed 230 cities across the globe, ranking them on a range of factors, including internal stability, crime levels, the performance of local law enforcement, and the country’s relationship with other nations.
As part of their 18th annual quality of living survey, set up to advise multinational companies on the safest place to send their workers, the Granite City ranked joint 44th with other Scottish cities Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Aberdeen is deemed safer than other British cities like Birmingham (54th), Belfast (64th) and London (72nd).
Last night, a senior city policeman said that working more closely with partners such as door staff and health chiefs had yielded obvious dividends.
Chief inspector Kevin Wallace said: “I think this is great and shows that our message is getting out.
“But this isn’t just down to the police. It’s also a reflection on people taking more care of themselves and being more confident in reporting crime.
“We also have to thank our partners for the fantastic work they have done which has seen a decrease in the likes of anti-social behaviour.”
Aberdeen council leader Jenny Laing also hailed the results of the new survey.
She said: “This is great news that Aberdeen is not only the joint safest city to live in the UK, but has achieved such a high ranking world-wide for its quality of living.
“Aberdeen is a safe place to live and there are many other positives about living and working in the city.
“We have relatively low unemployment, fantastic leisure facilities including a beach and award-winning parks, amazing architecture and a fascinating history, and we’re world-leading for technology and education.
“I hope many more people come and discover for themselves how fantastic a city Aberdeen is to live or visit for a holiday.”