Crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton: statistics, rates and trends
1,290 crimes were recorded in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton in the 12 months to July 2026, 71.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton at a glance
- Crime trends in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
- Types of crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
- Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
- What happened after crimes were reported in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
- Population and deprivation in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
- Questions about crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
- About this data
1,290 crimes were recorded in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton in the 12 months to July 2026, 71.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 573 reports (44% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton has the 2,181st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton | Wakefield | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,290 | 43,130 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 71.1 | 117.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 18,141 | 367,666 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton was highest in the year to July 2024 (1,716 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,290). Over the whole period it fell 16%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 1,290 | 71.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,527 | 84.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,716 | 94.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,712 | 94.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,564 | 86.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,352 | 74.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,554 | 85.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,606 | 88.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,537 | 84.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 119 |
| June 2026 | 132 |
| May 2026 | 108 |
| April 2026 | 105 |
| March 2026 | 118 |
| February 2026 | 82 |
| January 2026 | 78 |
| December 2025 | 102 |
| November 2025 | 101 |
| October 2025 | 117 |
| September 2025 | 113 |
| August 2025 | 115 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton 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. Rates were well above the national level for other crime.
The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+22%) and drugs (+16%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-52%) and public order (-43%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 573 | 31.6 | 0.92 | -14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 143 | 7.9 | 0.51 | -30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 118 | 6.5 | 0.96 | -5% |
| Other theft | 88 | 4.9 | 0.76 | +4% |
| Vehicle crime | 83 | 4.6 | 0.93 | +22% |
| Public order | 74 | 4.1 | 0.61 | -43% |
| Other crime | 53 | 2.9 | 1.38 | +10% |
| Burglary | 47 | 2.6 | 0.73 | -18% |
| Shoplifting | 46 | 2.5 | 0.31 | -52% |
| Drugs | 36 | 2.0 | 0.61 | +16% |
| Possession of weapons | 14 | 0.8 | 0.79 | +40% |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.3 | 0.24 | -45% |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.3 | 0.20 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.2 | 0.20 | +50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 573 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (31.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 44.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 143 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 11.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 118 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 53 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 52% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 14 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 40% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemsworth | 2,058 | 119.3 | +68% |
| South Elmsall and South Kirkby | 2,293 | 118.0 | +66% |
| Pontefract South | 1,354 | 87.1 | +22% |
| Featherstone | 2,288 | 123.6 | +74% |
| Pontefract North | 2,887 | 142.7 | +101% |
| Crofton, Ryhill and Walton | 984 | 63.1 | -11% |
| Knottingley | 2,175 | 145.2 | +104% |
| Normanton | 1,880 | 102.0 | +43% |
Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 43 |
| On or near Cricketers Close | 42 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 35 |
| On or near Hutton Drive | 34 |
| On or near Witmore Street | 34 |
| On or near Parking Area | 33 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 32 |
| On or near Dorman Avenue | 24 |
| On or near Lamprey Gardens | 24 |
| On or near Pennine View | 22 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 456 | 35.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 363 | 28.1% |
| Not recorded | 143 | 11.1% |
| Under investigation | 129 | 10.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 64 | 5.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 44 | 3.4% |
| Local resolution | 26 | 2.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 25 | 1.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 16 | 1.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 11 | 0.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.2% |
Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton has an estimated population of 18,141. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton sits in decile 5.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.3% |
| Social rented homes | 13.7% |
| Private rented homes | 14.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.5 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 7.7% |
Is Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton a safe place to live?
Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 71.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 573 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (143).
Is crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton was down 16% on the year before: 1,290 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,527 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton?
Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton is policed by West Yorkshire. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.