Analysis by risk management software provider Protecht has ranked UK cities by corporate offence rates, reviewing over 36,000 fines from 2020 to 2024 via the Good Jobs First Violation Tracker and adjusting for local business populations.
Nottingham emerged as a notable hotspot, with 5.80 fines per 1,000 businesses. The city recorded 61 total offences over five years, costing local companies £6.3 million, placing it second for offence rate and seventh for total fines nationally. Belfast recorded the highest rate at 7.29 fines per 1,000 businesses, with Southampton, Lincoln, Glasgow, Preston, Oxford, Newport, Manchester, and Newcastle also in the top ten.
At the opposite end, Winchester had the lowest rate at 0.35 fines per 1,000 businesses, with just three offences totalling £61,000. Chichester, Wrexham, Salford, St Albans, Stirling, Brighton and Hove, Southend-on-Sea, Sunderland, and Lichfield also ranked among the best-performing cities.
The study underscores the uneven regulatory landscape across the UK. Nottingham’s high penalties highlight governance and compliance pressures in mid-sized business hubs, emphasising the financial and reputational risks of corporate mismanagement.
