One of the UK’s most rapidly growing and expansive cities, and fast becoming a technological hub for Yorkshire and the North, Leeds has seen unparalleled evolution in recent years. With a population of over half a million people and plans in the works to see that rise even further, it’s abundantly clear that the city has its doubtless draws.
However, while the flourishing prospects of Leeds are enticing for entrepreneurs and families alike, it’s the city’s equally expanding crime rate that sullies that reputation. But just where in the sprawling metropolis of Leeds is most affected by criminal behaviour?
With this article, Churchill Support Services will examine the most dangerous areas of Leeds and how they stack up when compared to the overall rate for the city. As one of the UK’s foremost providers of security solutions, this is an area we’re particularly passionate about, and we’ve long been firm believers that good crime prevention starts with good education.
We’ll look at what types of crime plague each area and the key statistics you’ll need to make an informed decision about your future home or business.
Officially classified as one of just 11 “Core Cities” UK-wide, Leeds has long since cemented its place as a major player in the UK’s economy. An exceptionally diverse landscape of cutting-edge technology, coupled with the heritage that Yorkshire is famed for, the city creates the storybook definition of an English city where architectural triumph meets a flourishing economy.
Of course, that’s not all Leeds offers. It’s a beacon for cultural enlightenment, too, ranging from the vibrant sporting scene of raucous football, championship rugby and country-leading cricket to a huge collection of prized paintings, artwork and sculpture in the city’s myriad galleries and institutions.
While these edifying factors paint a picture that’s all positive, there’s the distinct, disturbing rumbling of a soaring crime rate. The city saw an alarming 135.7 crimes per 1,000 residents over the course of the last 12 months, or 111,619 separate instances of criminal activity.
Leeds’ main issue lies in the climbing figures in violent crime (41,385 incidents), which is more than 30% higher than the next highest in the county (Bradford, with 29,873 incidents) and makes up more than a third of all total violent crime offences across the whole of West Yorkshire.
The city also faces an uphill battle in combatting its worrying figures across public order offences (9,590 incidents), antisocial behaviour (8,902 incidents) and criminal damage (8,027 incidents), all of which have seen a rise over the previous year’s figures.
The city also saw a huge surge in shoplifting, with 10,564 incidents in the last year alone, mirroring many of the country’s widespread issues with retail crime.
Of course, these stats are all symptomatic of the city as a whole and don’t necessarily represent the issues that every area of the city will face. Let’s look in more depth at the most dangerous areas of Leeds and how their crime rates and issues compare with the city as a whole.
We’d like to draw your attention to some of the higher figures on this list before diving in. While we’ve strived to give a fair overview of the most dangerous areas of Leeds, crime statistics do include tourists and visitors to the city, meaning that rates in places with a low population but a high footfall (like the City Centre, around Elland Road, or towards Bramham Park) can be skewed.
We’ve taken all of Leeds’ districts and wards and broken them down by their overall crime rate, their major issues, and the statistics that are no doubt pressure points for residents and businesses alike.
Encompassing the town of Morley, as well as the western reaches of Tingley village, it’s Morley South’s sense of culture and heritage that makes it an attractive prospect, especially so in the neoclassical architecture of its Grade-1 listed town hall. However, with a crime rate that’s above the city-wide average at 160.8 crimes per 1,000 residents, there are negatives to consider.
The town’s main issues lie in soaring figures across both violent crime (1,099 incidents) and shoplifting (403 incidents), with violent offences making up more than 38% of the region’s total crimes. Plus, the rising rate of public order offences (275 incidents) is equally concerning for residents and businesses alike.
Towards the outer circle of the Leeds city area lies Pudsey, one of the city’s most well-known and well-respected boroughs. Lending its name to the iconic bear of the same name, Pudsey is a seamless blend of Yorkshire tradition and that metropolitan atmosphere Leeds has in abundance. It’s also one of the city’s more dangerous areas, with an overall crime rate of 163.1 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Diving deeper into that headline statistic only reveals more causes for concern in the Pudsey area. That ranges from a startling level of violent crime (1,175 offences) that accounts for around 38% of all crime in the area to equally concerning figures in both shoplifting (432 offences) and antisocial behaviour (316 offences).
A grouping of two of Leeds’ main suburbs, the council ward of Cross Gates and Whinmoor has transformed its image in recent years, metamorphosising from a quaint Victorian settlement into a vibrant commuter hub for the city centre. However, with that change comes a much-inflated crime rate of 165.9 crimes per 1,000 residents.
That’s worrying for several reasons, not least the substantial figures in both violent crime (1,273 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (302 incidents). Perhaps equally alarming for businesses, though, is the region’s climbing rates of shoplifting (300 incidents) – up by 16% compared with last year.
So named for its listed building that dates back to the Jacobean era, the district of Temple Newsam offers much more beyond its clear sense of heritage and has fast become a residential hub for the city. However, despite its clear and present sense of history, the region faces daunting odds with its crime rate of 192.6 crimes per 1,000 residents.
The main issue for Temple Newsam, and one that’s similarly prevalent city-wide, is the rising rate of violent crime (1,011 incidents). Sadly, though, this isn’t the full extent of Temple Newsam’s issues – high rates across shoplifting (407 incidents), antisocial behaviour (400 offences) and public order offences (261 incidents) further compound the region’s problem with criminal activity.
Historically a richly industrial town and one with deep and visible connections to religion in the spires of its abbey and churches, Kirkstall has seen numerous upgrades in recent years to become a modern and convenient centre for its residents. That modernity comes at a price, though, with the area seeing a crime rate of 213.4 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Kirkstall’s predominant issue lies in the high rate of violent crime (1,061 incidents), which accounts for 31% of all crime in the region. Of course, that’s not the only issue facing Kirkstall residents – there are also soaring numbers in shoplifting (669 incidents), public order offences (299 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (235 incidents).
Home to one of Leeds’ many self-sufficient economies, the ward of Bramley and Stanningley encompasses everything from local and artisan businesses to high street mainstays and supermarkets. Despite these home comforts, though, the region’s crime statistics undercut that retail paradise, sitting at a concerning 215.5 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Violent crime (1,546 incidents) is the most prevalent issue in the area, making up just under 42% of the total crimes in the ward and placing it firmly among the most dangerous areas in Leeds. That’s in addition to soaring figures across both antisocial behaviour (325 incidents) and public order offences (240 incidents).
Predominantly residential in its scope, the ward of Farnley and Wortley hosts high-rise flats and tightly compacted cul-de-sacs, as well as treasured local gems in its quaint shops and homegrown businesses. It sadly also plays host to a growing crime rate of 223.7 crimes per 1,000 residents, which has seen a substantial increase in recent years.
The region’s biggest concern for both homeowners and businesses alike is the rising number of violent crimes (1,786 incidents), which accounts for almost 44% of all crime in the Farnley & Wortley area. Plus, with rising figures across both criminal damage (395 offences) and public order offences (365 incidents), public safety is in jeopardy.
Named after the park at the centre of this Leeds council ward, Middleton Park juxtaposes 470 acres of rolling hills and scenic vistas against the built-up backdrop of residential areas like Belle Isle, as well as a thriving local economy. However, undercutting that idyllic scenery is a crime rate that belies its surroundings, sitting at 243.5 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Middleton Park’s main issue lies in an alarming rate of violent crime (2,219 offences), as well as substantial figures across antisocial behaviour (518 offences) and criminal damage (440 offences), both of which have seen an increase over previous years’ numbers.
Perhaps most known as the home of Leeds United football club, the area of Beeston and Holbeck attracts much more than just a sporting crowd thanks to its busy industrial areas, as well as its abundant opportunities for residents and businesses alike. This diversity comes at a cost, though, with the area seeing a concerning crime rate of 254.1 crimes per 1,000 residents.
For residents of Beeston & Holbeck, the main concern is a high rate of violent crime (1,776 incidents), but with a large proportion of businesses choosing to take root in both Beeston and Holbeck, soaring figures in criminal damage (395 offences), drug crime (338 incidents) and robbery (84 offences) are also similarly worrying.
A grouping of two residential areas that have their roots firmly planted in Leeds’ illustrious industrial past, both Burmantofts and Richmond Hill paint an ideal picture for a young family or budding entrepreneur. However, with one of the highest crime rates across Leeds at 282.1 crimes per 1,000 residents, it’s not all positivity for the region.
The ward’s most pressing problems stem from the worryingly high figures across violent crime (2,275 incidents) and public order offences (406 incidents), although the ward’s shocking rates of criminal damage (400 incidents) and burglary (336 incidents, or around 6 per week) are equally alarming.
Historically a centre for milling, as well as a major contributor towards the city’s expanding economy in the 18th and 19th centuries, Armley has since taken a less economically important role in Leeds. Now home to towering tower blocks and Victorian terraced housing, it’s this dense population that sees Armley experience a soaring crime rate of 284.3 crimes per 1,000 residents.
The main problems for the ward lie in substantial rates of violent crime (2,018 incidents) and criminal damage (418 incidents), both of which pose a notable risk to both businesses and residents alike. The same is true of the ward’s rates of both public order offences (333 incidents) and shoplifting (323 incidents), which are among the highest we’ve seen across the city.
Home to a significant portion of Leeds’ council housing and some of its more underprivileged areas, the ward of Killingbeck and Seacroft has seen minimal funding in recent years despite its expanding population. That combination has doubtless contributed towards its soaring crime rate of 298.5 crimes per 1,000 residents or more than one offence for every four residents.
Violent crimes (2,195 offences) are the main problem facing the ward, as is the case with much of the city area. However, equally worrying are the high numbers across both shoplifting (693 offences) and criminal damage (448 offences), as well as figures in burglary (357 incidents) that are among the highest Leeds-wide.
Covering both the inner-city area of Harehills as well as the suburb of Gipton, this council ward is one of Leeds’ most populous, with an estimated 30,879 people living in and around the streets, flats and housing schemes of the region. That close-quarters living, unfortunately, has led to an inflated crime rate of 333.4 crimes per 1,000 residents.
In terms of prevalence, the main problem for Gipton and Harehills is violent crimes (2,497 incidents), which make up an estimated 42% of all crime in the area. That comes in addition to concerning numbers across public order offences (518 incidents), criminal damage (474 incidents) and antisocial behaviour (401 incidents), as well as a rate of drug crime (341 incidents) that equates to almost one offence every day.
The ward that encompasses a good portion of Leeds’ city centre, the beating heart of England’s 4th largest city, Hunslet and Riverside, takes in many of the things that make the city a pivotal part of its county and the country. From its prestigious college of art to the range of retail spaces and vibrant nightlife, it’s unfortunate that the area sees the second-highest crime rate city-wide – 521.2 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Violent crime (3,038 offences) is the city’s most prominent crime, and that’s equally true for the centre, too, with violent offences making up almost a third of the total crime in the Hunslet area. There’s also a significant amount of concern for the rising numbers we’ve seen in shoplifting (917 offences), public order crimes (804 offences) and drug crimes (330 offences), including both possession and supply.
Incorporating much of the northern half of Leeds’ city centre, Little London was originally intended to be a microcosmic view of the capital, with architecture, businesses and retailers reminiscent of its namesake. It’s fast become one of the city’s biggest student hubs, which has quickly seen the crime rate balloon, with Little London and Woodhouse now the most dangerous area of Leeds with a crime rate of 817.3 crimes per 1,000 residents.
Not only is that headline statistic a huge concern in and of itself, but the issues only deepen when we look more in-depth. The major issue reflects Leeds overall, with violent crimes (3,790 offences) taking the lion’s share. That’s not followed far behind by the city’s most concentrated levels of shoplifting (2,594 offences), public order crimes (1,283 offences) and burglary (609 offences).
In the interest of providing a completely objective and unbiased overview of crime in Leeds, we’ve sourced our data from the official, open-source police reports available on the UK Police Data website. These are broken down by police forces, and Leeds falls under the jurisdiction of West Yorkshire Police.
We’ll then display this data as a ratio of crimes per 1,000 residents living in each region over the last 12 months available through the Police Data repository (between December 2023 and November 2024). This ratio allows us to account for different variables, such as area size and changing boundaries.
We’ve used the local council wards to split down the wider Leeds area and better provide you with a comprehensive understanding of how crime is more prevalent across certain areas than others. These were last updated in 2023, and we’ve used the most up-to-date boundaries to ensure clarity.
