Students at Bradford University face living in one of the most burgled areas of the country, a new survey has claimed.

The study by the Complete University Guide for students says there were 1.17 burglaries per 1,000 residents within a three-mile radius of the university’s main campus between June 2011 and May 2012 – the third highest figure in the table which excludes London universities.

Detective Chief Inspector Mark McManus, of Bradford South Police, accepted the figure was “quite high” compared to other universities in the country, but he stressed that offences in the Bradford South division had fallen by 30 per cent in a year, with 765 fewer victims than the previous year.

He said: “We are making serious inroads and in April and May the number of burglaries in the Bradford South division has fallen by 15 per cent year-on-year.

“However we will not rest on our laurels and are determined to reduce burglary further. We do not want to put people off coming to Bradford.”

The Complete University Guide says its figures – compiled from Home Office police data – will help potential applicants “assess the risks of individual institutions”.

It places Bradford at an overall 60th out of 83 universities across the UK, excluding London, for crime figures for burglary, robbery and violent crime – with 0.09 robberies and 0.87 violent crimes per 1,000 households within three miles of the university in the 12-month period.

DCI McManus added: “Our local Neighbourhood Policing Team works closely with Bradford University, particularly around Fresher’s Week, to offer crime prevention advice and guidance to students.

“Together we try to make student accommodation as secure as possible and implement an array of proactive measures to apprehend burglars, which has contributed to the significant reduction in this type of crime.”

According to the study, Leeds University and Leeds Metropolitan University had the highest number of burglaries outside London, with 1.41 and 1.29 per 1,000 residents respectively. London universities are included in a separate league table.

Paul Young, deputy security manager at Bradford University, said it is part of the Student Safety Group along with Bradford College, the local NPT, Student Unions and other partners in the city.

He added: “Over the past few years a number of joint initiatives have been set up including the introduction of the Safe Spot Scheme. We’re always working with our students’ union and have put in place schemes in order for our students to feel safe on campus.”

Dr Bernard Kingston, the guide’s founder, said it used police crime statistics for crimes affecting all victims in council wards within three miles of a university’s main campus because no specific statistics for crimes against students were available.

Witnesses or anyone with information about burglaries should contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.