Crime in Staffordshire: statistics, rates and trends

69,115 crimes were recorded in Staffordshire in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 29,546 reports (43% of the total).

Of the 21 counties covered by this site, Staffordshire has the 14th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Staffordshire was highest in the year to July 2023 (70,258 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (58,365). Over the whole period it fell 1%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Staffordshire over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it. The largest increases were in robbery (+39%) and bicycle theft (+24%).

The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-15%) and theft from the person (-15%).

Violence and sexual offences in Staffordshire

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Staffordshire recorded 29,546 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 42.7% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Staffordshire

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Staffordshire recorded 10,328 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 14.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Staffordshire

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Staffordshire recorded 5,601 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Staffordshire

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Staffordshire recorded 4,510 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Staffordshire

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Staffordshire recorded 4,321 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Staffordshire

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Staffordshire recorded 3,925 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Staffordshire

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Staffordshire recorded 3,032 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Staffordshire

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Staffordshire recorded 2,232 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Staffordshire

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Staffordshire recorded 2,011 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Staffordshire

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Staffordshire recorded 1,598 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Staffordshire

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Staffordshire recorded 691 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Staffordshire

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Staffordshire recorded 674 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 39% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Staffordshire

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Staffordshire recorded 505 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Staffordshire

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Staffordshire recorded 141 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the counties closest to Staffordshire, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Staffordshire.

8 areas within Staffordshire, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Newcastle-under-Lyme had the highest rate (88.4 per 1,000) and South Staffordshire the lowest (58.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Staffordshire over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.

Staffordshire has an estimated population of 907,153. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Staffordshire sits in decile 6.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Staffordshire. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.