There’s much to consider when you’re weighing up an area to settle down in. Whether it’s a rural village or a lively city centre, there’s one thing in common between all of the places you could choose, and that’s crime statistics.
While they’re a great equaliser, and often contribute massively towards deciding where to set up your business or lay down roots, there’s often a lot of misinformation and complication when you’re trying to discover the crime rate for your chosen area.
That’s where Churchill Support Services comes in. With our most recent article on crime, we’ll be looking at Yorkshire, and how the diverse and undulating landscape has a similarly fluctuating crime rate.
We’ll break down crime statistics for the region as a whole, as well as examine some of the key cities and towns in the county and how they stack up against the overall crime rate for both Yorkshire, and the UK as a whole.
As the UK’s foremost provider of exceptional quality security services, we’re passionate about ensuring safety and security across every aspect of people’s lives, and that starts with clarity and education.
We’ll be using data from local police forces, as well as independent sources to ensure the integrity and objectivity of the statistics we provide you with. This is then shown as a ratio of crimes per 1,000 people living in that area.
Displaying the statistics in this way allows us to give you a clear indication of what crime is like in that area, while still taking into account the size of that region and population figures. We’ll look at all the major cities and towns across Yorkshire, and what the most common types of crime are in each.
A verdant and luscious stretch of the English countryside, Yorkshire juxtaposes modernity and city living with its eponymous rolling dales and moors, melding together huge swathes of countryside and chocolate box villages with sprawling conurbations and metropolises.
It’s got its fair share of culture and heritage, too. One of the most instantly recognisable English accents, birthed from the region’s celebrated history with linguistics, is a key feature, but the cobbled and labyrinthine streets of York and Harrogate conjure a more concrete sense of the county’s illustrious past.
Sadly though, Yorkshire’s storied saga is undercut significantly by the all-too-modern title of England and Wales’s highest overall rate of crime. The county sees a rate of 112.5 crimes per 1000 residents, which is more than 5 points higher than the next closest (North West England).
There’s naturally significant issues within that, but the most pressing are the county’s rate of violent crime (247,700 offences) and theft (164,797 offences), which together make up more than half of the county’s total recorded crime stats of 616,570 offences.
Of course, that’s not to say that everywhere in Yorkshire will follow a similar pattern of criminal behaviour. Let’s break down some of the more popular towns and cities across the county, and how their individual rates stack up against Yorkshire as a whole.
South Yorkshire’s premier market town, resting in the shade of the Pennines, Barnsley is perhaps best know for its thriving economy, as well as its interconnected network of trains and buses that means it’s ideal for commuters to the cities of Leeds and Sheffield. Not quite as ideal, however, is the town’s soaring crime rate of 126.4 crimes per 1000 residents.
As part of that rate, we find that much of it is made up by violent crime (5036 incidents), antisocial behaviour (1849 incidents) and public order offences (1551 incidents), but a rate of shoplifting (861 incidents) that’s more than 35% above the rate for South Yorkshire is also alarming.
Synonymous with Yorkshire’s extensive history, the town and parish of Beverley dates back as far as the 7th Century, with hints towards its Viking and Norman heritage on display in its architecture and religious buildings. It may not be a surprise, then, that the town’s crime rate falls well below the countywide average at 97.2 crimes per 1000 residents.
Of course, there’s still areas of concern in that ratio. The town faces an uphill struggle with its rates of violent crime (589 offences) and antisocial behaviour (568 offences), and especially so with its rate of shoplifting (326 offences) that’s more than double its region’s average.
One of Yorkshire’s most instantly recognisable cities, Bradford is a multi-faceted and multicultural hub for its county. It’s a thriving market city, and blends green spaces with period architecture and modern convenience seamlessly. Unfortunately though, behind its welcoming exterior lurks a colossal crime rate of 159.3 crimes per 1000 residents.
Violent crime (26,866 incidents) is the most prevalent issue in the city, but there’s also substantial concern for Bradford security due to the high numbers in public order offences (7769 incidents), criminal damage (5636 incidents) , and antisocial behaviour (5379 incidents).
One of Yorkshire’s many seaside resorts, Bridlington draws the crowds year-round with its resplendent promenade, as well as its mix of sandy and shale beaches. It’s this popularity, however, that contributes towards its rising crime rate of 107.3 crimes per 1000 residents.
Within that, there’s substantial figures across three key crime categories – violent crime (1786 incidents), public order offences (535 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (504 incidents), but a rate of drug crime (63 incidents) that’s 55% above the regional average is also a cause for security concern in Bridlington.
A town deeply grounded in its religious history and iconography, Brighouse offers a more quaint snapshot of Yorkshire life, and is flanked on all sides by verdant fields and agricultural enterprises. It’s this more sedate pace that means Brighouse has a comparatively lower crime rate – 88.7 crimes per 1000 residents.
Of course, that’s not to say the town is completely safe. High figures across violent crime (1368 incidents) and public order offences (431 incidents) are the main concerns, and offer a strong reason to invest in Brighouse security services.
Perched on Yorkshire’s eastern coastline, the seaside town of Cleethorpes offers scenic views across the Humber estuary and out over the North Sea, as well as a thriving local economy that’s a metropolis all its own. Unfortunately though, that idyllic setting is undercut slightly by the town’s crime rate of 102.5 crimes per 1000 residents.
While slightly lower than its county’s overall rate, it does share similarities with Yorkshire’s overall crime rate. The town experiences significant issues with violent crime (1679 offences), antisocial behaviour (513 offences), and criminal damage (500 offences).
With a history as one of the more populous towns in Yorkshire, Dewsbury has since stagnated in terms of population, but still remains a prosperous and burgeoning market town. However, what hasn’t remained stationary is the town’s crime rate, which has climbed year-on-year to its current rate of 138.7 crimes per 1000 residents.
Digging deeper into this statistic, we find that there’s expectedly high rates across violent crime (4494 incidents) and public order offences (1420 incidents), but there’s also warranted concern for a rate of weapon possession (96 incidents) that’s more than 30% higher than the regional average.
A sprawling city at the heart of the county, Doncaster has much to earn it its reputation as a hub of Yorkshire, ranging from a popular racecourse to bespoke architecture and a well-preserved minster. However, bubbling beneath that attractive exterior is a less-than-attractive rate of crime – 166.8 crimes per 1000 residents.
That rate is predominantly made up by a soaring rate of violent crime (7194 offences), which is around 36% of all crime in the city. This is closely followed by rapidly climbing figures in antisocial behaviour (2252 offences) and criminal damage (2093 offences), both of which prompt concerns for Doncaster security.
Synonymous with the fishing industry and seafood, Grimsby’s place as one of not only Yorkshire’s but the UK’s most prominent port towns has long been secured. It’s with that prominence, though, that a crime starts to become more prevalent, and with a rate of 145.5 crimes per 1000 residents, Grimsby has certainly experienced that.
There’s pressing issues with violent crime (5162 incidents), criminal damage (1855 incidents), and antisocial behaviour (1756 incidents), but the town’s rates of robbery (136 incidents) and bicycle theft (315 incidents) are equally worrying, with both being more than double the region’s average.
Now best known for its retail opportunities, the town of Halifax actually has an illustrious history that ranges from chocolate production to carpet manufacturing. However, that industrious past hasn’t held true in terms of its crime statistics, with the town seeing 169.5 crimes per 1000 residents.
There’s warranted concern for the rates of both violent crime (7753 incidents) and public order offences (2303 incidents), but Halifax’s soaring figures in drug offences (567 incidents) are also alarming, especially as they’re more than 70% above the average for West Yorkshire.
When many people think of Yorkshire, it’s Harrogate they imagine. Cobbled streets, boutique eateries and a strong sense of its heritage, the town is part of the quintessential experience of the county. And with a crime rate that’s much lower than the average at just 63.6 crimes per 1000 residents, its attraction are abundant.
However, there are still areas of concern for security in Harrogate. These mainly come from the town’s substantial figures in violent crime (2168 offences), antisocial behaviour (1679 offences), and criminal damage (550 offences).
A town best known for its huge involvement in various sport and cultural pursuits, Huddersfield offers far more for the interested traveller. Unfortunately, as part of those offerings comes a significant rate of crime – 114.5 crimes per 1000 residents.
Within that rate, we find substantial figures in violent crime (9502 incidents) and public order offences (2904 incidents), but a further point of concern for Huddersfield security is the town’s rate of weapon possession (246 incidents), which places it almost 30% higher than the region’s average.
One of the most historic cities across the whole of Yorkshire, Kingston-Upon-Hull is often just referred to as Hull. While its name is often abbreviated, it’s still exceptionally well-recognised for key contributions to the UK, such as its place as the City of Culture in 2017. What doesn’t get as much publication, though, is the city’s soaring crime rate – 132.2 crimes per 1000 residents.
Hull’s main issues stem from the rampant rates of violent crime (15,517 incidents), public order offences (4855 incidents), and antisocial behaviour (4835 incidents), all of which spark increased focus on security in Hull.
One of few towns UK-wide to have kept its sense of heritage since being extensively remodelled since the 1960s, Keighley holds onto its roots through pristine Victorian architecture well-preserved memorials. All too modern, however, is the town’s spiralling crime rate of 138.3 crimes per 1000 residents.
The main issues facing Keighley security are violent crime (4069 incidents) and public order offences (1176 incidents), but with a climbing rate of antisocial behaviour (781 incidents), it’s clear there needs to be further focus.
Yorkshire’s second largest city is arguably one of its more famed. Leeds plays host to one of the UK’s largest and most flourishing economies, as well as a robust and long-lasting cultural investment program that’s seen injections into the arts, culture and events for the city. Sadly though, Leeds’s crime rate undercuts that significantly, at a huge 172.4 crimes per 1000 residents.
Looking more closely, there’s worrying figures in multiple different types of crime. Violent crime (36,393 offences), criminal damage (7970 offences), and antisocial behaviour (7088 offences) are the most prevalent issues in the city.
One of Yorkshire’s more historic market towns, Pontefract’s history dates back as far as the Stone Age, and in that time has undergone multiple renaissances, from the inspiration for a Shakespearean castle, to a thriving modern town. Unfortunately, with those large-scale changes came an inflated crime rate which currently sits at 146.1 crimes per 1000 residents.
Violent crime (2099 incidents) and public order offences (665 incidents) are the most prevalent issues for the town, but it’s Pontefract’s rate of shoplifting (369 incidents) that’s arguably just as concerning, especially as it’s more than 60% higher than the regional average.
Named after the river that flows through the town’s centre, Rotherham is perhaps best known as a key player in the Industrial Revolution, where it functioned as a producer of steel, coal, glass and flour. Now a modern hub for Southern Yorkshire, Rotherham’s crime rate has stayed relatively consistent, hovering at 109.7 crimes per 1000 residents.
There are still causes for concern, however. Substantial rates across violent crime (5258 incidents), antisocial behaviour (1969 incidents) and public order offences (1655 incidents) are the most prevalent issues in the town.
Yorkshire’s most infamous seaside destination, it’s Scarborough’s amber coastlines and scenic walking routes that ensure its long-standing popularity with holidaymakers and homemakers alike. However, undercutting that status as a popular resort is a soaring crime rate of 153.2 crimes per 1000 residents.
The main issues for Scarborough security stem from the climbing rates of violent crime (3160 offences) and antisocial behaviour (2122 offences), but there’s equally warranted concern for the town’s rate of drug crime (261 offences) – a statistic that’s almost triple the regional average.
A former industrial town that’s since become a thriving retail hotspot for the northern reaches of Yorkshire, Scunthorpe still holds fast to its industrious roots thanks to its place as the UK’s largest producer of steel. In spite of that hard-working nature, however, Scunthorpe still sees a significant crime rate of 115.8 crime per 1000 residents.
There’s high numbers across violent crime (3882 incidents),antisocial behaviour (1586 incidents) and public order offences (1219 incidents), but with rising statistics across all types of crime in the town, focus on Scunthorpe security is still an absolute necessity.
Yorkshire’s largest city, Sheffield sprawls at the feet of the Pennines and offers a snapshot of what Yorkshire life is all about – a thoroughly modern metropolis with strong and assiduous roots, set alongside swathes of countryside and valleys, it encapsulates the county and its heritage. And with a comparatively calm crime rate of 102.7 crimes per 1000 residents, Sheffield presents a sensible choice for conscientious home and business owners.
Of course, that’s not to say the city is issue-free. High rates of violent crime (21,139 offences) and antisocial behaviour (9560 offences) are the city’s main problems, with substantial stats in key crime types like shoplifting (3737 offences) and vehicle crime (5102 offences) also causing Sheffield security concerns.
One of Yorkshire’s most recognisable cathedral cities, Wakefield has one of the more storied histories across the whole of the UK, with archaeological finds dating the city back as far as the Bronze Age. Looking to the present day, however, we find a crime rate that’s climbing significantly, and currently sits at 149.3 crimes per 1000 residents.
The main threats to Wakefield security come from high numbers in violent crime (7270 incidents), public order offences (2272 incidents) and shoplifting (1452 incidents), all of which are above the region’s average.
An old-world city that’s been thoroughly modernised, York couples cobblestone streets and timber-framed buildings with the convenience of retail opportunities and a vibrant nightlife. Plus, with a comparatively lower rate of crime that sits at 79.8 crimes per 1000 residents.
There’s still cause for concern for York residents, however. Violent crime (5741 offences) is the most prevalent crime, but substantial stats across both antisocial behaviour (4278 offences) and criminal damage (1393 offences) are also alarming for York security companies.
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