Crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton: statistics, rates and trends
1,275 crimes were recorded in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton in the 12 months to August 2026, 70.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 17% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
- Questions about crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (557), anti-social behaviour (128) and criminal damage and arson (108) made up 62% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,217th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton | Wakefield | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,275 | 42,896 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 70.3 | 116.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -17% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 18,141 | 367,666 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton of any year here (1,275 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 18%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,275 | 70.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,531 | 84.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,693 | 93.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,708 | 94.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,586 | 87.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,349 | 74.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,531 | 84.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,588 | 87.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,554 | 85.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 100 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded notably more other crime (49% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (72% below) and anti-social behaviour (54% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 65 to 90 and drugs rose from 31 to 37, while shoplifting fell from 91 to 43 and anti-social behaviour fell from 209 to 128.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 557 | 30.7 | 34.2 | -18% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 128 | 7.1 | 15.4 | -39% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 108 | 6.0 | 6.7 | -19% |
| Other theft | 94 | 5.2 | 6.4 | +13% |
| Vehicle crime | 90 | 5.0 | 5.0 | +38% |
| Public order | 83 | 4.6 | 6.7 | -27% |
| Other crime | 57 | 3.1 | 2.1 | +16% |
| Burglary | 47 | 2.6 | 3.6 | -10% |
| Shoplifting | 43 | 2.4 | 8.5 | -53% |
| Drugs | 37 | 2.0 | 3.3 | +19% |
| Possession of weapons | 17 | 0.9 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton; the highest is Pontefract North (143.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Crofton, Ryhill and Walton (62.4).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemsworth | 2,013 | 116.7 | +66% |
| South Elmsall and South Kirkby | 2,248 | 115.7 | +65% |
| Pontefract South | 1,344 | 86.5 | +23% |
| Featherstone | 2,228 | 120.4 | +71% |
| Pontefract North | 2,894 | 143.1 | +104% |
| Crofton, Ryhill and Walton | 973 | 62.4 | -11% |
| Knottingley | 2,126 | 141.9 | +102% |
| Normanton | 1,864 | 101.1 | +44% |
The 10 locations below account for 24% of the crime recorded in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Cricketers Close” (42).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cricketers Close | 42 |
| On or near Supermarket | 37 |
| On or near Hutton Drive | 34 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 32 |
| On or near Parking Area | 32 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 30 |
| On or near Witmore Street | 30 |
| On or near Dorman Avenue | 26 |
| On or near Lamprey Gardens | 22 |
| On or near Pennine View | 22 |
Of the 1,147 crimes in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton with a recorded outcome, 32% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 128 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 443 | 38.6% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 362 | 31.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 134 | 11.7% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 75 | 6.5% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 43 | 3.7% | 5.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 26 | 2.3% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 25 | 2.2% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 17 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 11 | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton has an estimated population of 18,141 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%), fewer households without a car (15%, against 23%) and less private renting (14%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton average decile 5.5 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 28.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 14.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 13.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.5 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 7.7% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton a safe place to live?
Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton recorded 70.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,217th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime.
What is the most common crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 557 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (128).
Is crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton was down 17% on the year before: 1,275 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,531 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton?
About 18,141 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton?
Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton is policed by West Yorkshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.