Crime in Altofts and Whitwood: statistics, rates and trends
1,483 crimes were recorded in Altofts and Whitwood in the 12 months to August 2026, 79.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Altofts and Whitwood at a glance
- Crime trends in Altofts and Whitwood
- Types of crime in Altofts and Whitwood
- Altofts and Whitwood compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Altofts and Whitwood
- What happened after crimes were reported in Altofts and Whitwood
- Demographics of Altofts and Whitwood
- Questions about crime in Altofts and Whitwood
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (640), anti-social behaviour (152) and criminal damage and arson (132) made up 62% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,848th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Altofts and Whitwood | Wakefield | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,483 | 42,896 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 79.9 | 116.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 18,569 | 367,666 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Altofts and Whitwood of any year here (1,483 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it was almost unchanged, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,483 | 79.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,534 | 82.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,491 | 80.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,595 | 85.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,613 | 86.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,602 | 86.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,564 | 84.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,529 | 82.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,491 | 80.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 143 |
| July 2026 | 140 |
| June 2026 | 156 |
| May 2026 | 140 |
| April 2026 | 111 |
| March 2026 | 147 |
| February 2026 | 98 |
| January 2026 | 103 |
| December 2025 | 115 |
| November 2025 | 99 |
| October 2025 | 112 |
| September 2025 | 119 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (52% below) and drugs (51% below) were well below it. On the year before, shoplifting rose from 43 to 75 and criminal damage and arson rose from 90 to 132, while vehicle crime fell from 142 to 111 and burglary fell from 67 to 55.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 640 | 34.5 | 34.2 | -14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 152 | 8.2 | 15.4 | +14% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 132 | 7.1 | 6.7 | +47% |
| Vehicle crime | 111 | 6.0 | 5.0 | -22% |
| Public order | 110 | 5.9 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Other theft | 88 | 4.7 | 6.4 | -6% |
| Shoplifting | 75 | 4.0 | 8.5 | +74% |
| Burglary | 55 | 3.0 | 3.6 | -18% |
| Other crime | 49 | 2.6 | 2.1 | +11% |
| Drugs | 30 | 1.6 | 3.3 | +7% |
| Robbery | 22 | 1.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Altofts and Whitwood; the highest is Wakefield East (229.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Stanley and Outwood East (76.8).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Altofts and Whitwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normanton | 1,864 | 101.1 | +27% |
| Castleford Central and Glasshoughton | 3,524 | 196.9 | +147% |
| Featherstone | 2,228 | 120.4 | +51% |
| Airedale and Ferry Fryston | 2,250 | 129.4 | +62% |
| Pontefract North | 2,894 | 143.1 | +79% |
| Stanley and Outwood East | 1,580 | 76.8 | -4% |
| Pontefract South | 1,344 | 86.5 | +8% |
| Wakefield East | 3,918 | 229.4 | +187% |
The 10 locations below account for 29% of the crime recorded in Altofts and Whitwood over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Shopping Area” (97).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 97 |
| On or near Gannet Close | 76 |
| On or near Bryan Close | 67 |
| On or near Epsom Close | 45 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 26 |
| On or near Albion Street | 25 |
| On or near Cutsyke Crest | 24 |
| On or near Maple Close | 24 |
| On or near Blenheim Way | 23 |
| On or near Montrose Gardens | 23 |
Of the 1,331 crimes in Altofts and Whitwood with a recorded outcome, 33% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 152 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 519 | 39.0% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 434 | 32.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 172 | 12.9% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 66 | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 49 | 3.7% | 4.7% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 21 | 1.6% | 0.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 20 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 19 | 1.4% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 13 | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 11 | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Altofts and Whitwood has an estimated population of 18,569 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.5%, against 7.9%), less private renting (13%, against 20%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (24%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Altofts and Whitwood average decile 5.4 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Altofts and Whitwood | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 24.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 22.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 20.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.4 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 9.7% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Altofts and Whitwood a safe place to live?
Altofts and Whitwood recorded 79.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,848th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Altofts and Whitwood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 640 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (152).
Is crime in Altofts and Whitwood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Altofts and Whitwood was down 3% on the year before: 1,483 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,534 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Altofts and Whitwood?
About 18,569 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 17% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Altofts and Whitwood?
Altofts and Whitwood 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.