I'm quite sure you all missed the winner (unless you've already heard the solution).

Well, I've just came upon the answer in the HVG (a Hungarian weekly newspaper). HVG published a crime rate toplist for Hungarian cities and towns based on the figures provided by the Hungarian Central Statistical Office.

Surprisingly the highest crime rate was found to be in Visegrád (a charming historical little town of 1711 inhabitants). The 410 crimes committed in 2004 give an average of 210 crimes per 1000 habitants. (Daniel, I hope you will provide us with some photos of this demonic sin-city )

The first 10 settlements of the toplist are as follows:

(Position. Town (# inhabitants) - Average crime/1000 inhabitants)
1. Visegrád (1,711) - 240
2. Tokaj (4,928) - 238
3. Siófok (23,718) - 121
4. Záhony (4,752) - 113
5. Baktalórántháza (4,332) - 106
6. Hajdúház (13,033) - 98
7. Balatonföldvár (2,093) - 91
8. Szentendre (23,554) - 82
9. Zalakaros (1,585) - 80
10. Budaörs (25,171) - 80
....
17. Budapest (1,705,309) - 68

And yes. Remarkable isn't it? Budapest is only the 17th, way behind many little (holiday) towns. Nice to know - especially since I happen to live in Budapest.

I'd be curious to learn the reason for high crime rate in these insignificant towns. Is it due to much tourism in those places? Visegrád is in the curb of the Danube and has a historical castle, Tokaj is know for its famous vine cellars, Siófok and Balatonföldvár are preferred holiday destinations at the Lake Balaton, Zalakaros is a popular resting place with its thermal baths, Szentendre lies next to Budapest and it is basically one big "Váci utca".

I'd love to hear your explanations.

Alice

I read in other newspapers that the mayor of Visegrad and Tokaj, both small villages with 'high' crime rates, argued against this publication. They are backed by the Police, because the official statistic of the Police (Egységes Rendőrségi és Ügyészségi Bűnügyi Statisztika - Unified Police and Prosecutor Office crime statistic) shows this number from different aspect.
Visegrad's and Tokaj's bad place is accounted for by 2 series of forgery and software piracy cases. These cases have no impact on the public security feeling.
Here are some figures from the police site
http://www.rendorseg.hu/sajto/sajtoszoba/orf_20051118_02.html?query=m%C3%A9rleg%20statisztika
Visegrad: thieving: 56, house-robbery: 27, violation of copyright laws: 277
Tokaj: thieving: 55, house-robbery: 16, forgery/violation of documentary laws: 1043

wow, i will advise Holywood these villages for shooting scenes for Sin-City 2

Mayors of the villages and Police officials said that the HVG ranking is one sided, unrelated to real security feeling of people. They hope that this publication will not hamper their turist industry.

btw. I got this week's HVG, but there is no sign of any article regarding their crime ranking.

Thanks for precising the facts TJ.

Meanwhile some photos of the sin-city:


The castle of Visegrád,


the village itself,

and the webcam at Visegrád: http://www.visegrad.hu/_nyito/indexcam.htm


By the way I just found an article (Hungarian) on Visegrád's homepage protesting against unrealistic crime statistics.

Alice

I don't have much photos about Visegrad
Just to point out that it was an important place in the 14th century :

A reconstitution of the congress of Visegrad in November 1335 with the kings of Hungary, Poland and Czech with a result of protecting them against the Austrian dukes with an expansion of the west oriented trades from Hungary across Moravia and Bohemia.
Another pic, just for fun :

They are kind, aren't they ?
That's all for tonight

Btw I voted for Miskolc
Such a name sounds like people there must have something to hide. That's why they are not high rated in the statistics
Where is Miskolc

Thanks for the photos Daniel.

Actually I would have voted for Miskolc too (right after Budapest that is). Miskolc is not a bad place, it's in the northern part of Hungary, in the "mountains". The environment is beautiful, Miskolc even has a university, still, I never much liked it as a town - far too many industries in too little space. It's a big city with Hungarian measures but you're all going to laugh when I tell you that Miskolc only has a population of 180.000 people.

But it's worth visiting the region. There is a very famous cave-bath in Miskolc and a splendid palace hotel in Lillafüred (just next to Miskolc). I know I have photos of it, just need to find them...

I would have to say that the eastern towns are far more exciting than anything in the west. I like the ruralness and the blissful ignorance of anything going on in the real world. The quaint insistence of the folk to dispense alcohol in your direction at all times of the day certainly gets my vote. I don't recall ever being sober on a visit eastwards, this suits me fine. I love the ruddy facedness of the locals, the healthy glow which denotes a hard day in the field, followed by a well rounded meal and a couple of belts of house palinka. I find there are no pretensions, no rude or hurrying people. What you see is what you get. In fact i am considering buying myself a tract of fertile land, erecting a cow shed and a small chicken coop, attiring myself in a pair of green dungaress and getting to work. The smell of clean air, the aimiable greetings of my fellow countrysiders would be reward itself. In the evenings i would repair to my local tavern where us men of the land would engage in ritual drinking and the singing of many a folk song. Idylic! I will start planning straight away. Maybe a trip to practika to see what line they do on cow sheds.

Hi D.P. sounds like the start of a commune? Were they as popular here, as in U.K./U.S.A.? Back to the land for you. Never figured you as a candidate for "The Good Life". As ever, as soon as we leave any large city and encounter the real people, you find that they smile more, stop at crossings and generally have a more laid back approach. But, can a person from the city really settle there? How long before you miss the convience things. Being able to get a taxi/a pizza/basic provisions when needed without having to travel from the warmth of your abode.

Fair point mate.

Curry, papers, skysports, tesco's.

Maybe your right. But i can dream. Always a city boy. God sounds like a Jam song. "See me boy about town".... With a lot of la la's form the boy Weller. Maybe a commune is not a bad idea though. Care to lend a hand? We can brew copius amounts of hooch. Perhaps Magyar would come along he sounds like a chap who knows his stuff. How are you at making gazebo's?

Watcha Geeza, am a dab hand with a hammer. Maybe we can get C.A. to join? Start our own training academy to use as a feeder line to Highbury/White.H.L etc... The Parker School of Sporting Excellence....has quite a ring to it. Grandad had his own still, the hooch suitation should be nem problemo. All we need is a rich backer and we are up and running. First signing to be your young Greavsie... Could never stand the Style Council but the Jam were cutting edge.

Yeh i always loved the Jam. Saturdays kids, Strange town. All great songs. I agree about the Style council. Anyway back to the commune. I'm ok for hammers but what are your welding skills like? The cow shed will need to be state of the art. I thought we could employ Julie in the abbotair section. Perhaps with a few young professionals to hold the cow down. CA would be perfect for the sheep shearing time of year. Possibly Susan could keep the tea flowing for us hardworking men folk. Sounds a bit amish all this. I really better get back to work now. Speak later on msn, give you a nudge.

the funny thing is that I've been living in Budapest for 5 years now and I've been robbed twice since september 2006, and never before. My friend has been robbed once and was once chased by a homeless and once by some gypies. I can't say it's just bad luck. I think that there is something very bad going on in Budapest and the police should start doing somethings about it.