Crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw: statistics, rates and trends
1,523 crimes were recorded in Birstall and Birkenshaw in the 12 months to July 2026, 84.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw at a glance
- Crime trends in Birstall and Birkenshaw
- Types of crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw
- Birstall and Birkenshaw compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw
- What happened after crimes were reported in Birstall and Birkenshaw
- Population and deprivation in Birstall and Birkenshaw
- Questions about crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw
- About this data
1,523 crimes were recorded in Birstall and Birkenshaw in the 12 months to July 2026, 84.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 583 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Birstall and Birkenshaw has the 1,660th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Birstall and Birkenshaw | Kirklees | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,523 | 44,097 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 84.8 | 98.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 17,956 | 447,847 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw was highest in the year to July 2019 (2,541 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,523). Over the whole period it fell 30%, 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 | 1,523 | 84.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,664 | 92.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,783 | 99.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,114 | 117.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,046 | 113.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,062 | 114.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,338 | 130.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,541 | 141.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,189 | 121.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 135 |
| June 2026 | 154 |
| May 2026 | 155 |
| April 2026 | 141 |
| March 2026 | 123 |
| February 2026 | 115 |
| January 2026 | 97 |
| December 2025 | 93 |
| November 2025 | 121 |
| October 2025 | 120 |
| September 2025 | 118 |
| August 2025 | 151 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Birstall and Birkenshaw 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 burglary, other crime.
The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+50%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-47%) and public order (-26%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 583 | 32.5 | 0.95 | -17% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 234 | 13.0 | 0.85 | +50% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 117 | 6.5 | 0.96 | +2% |
| Public order | 111 | 6.2 | 0.93 | -26% |
| Vehicle crime | 110 | 6.1 | 1.24 | +5% |
| Other theft | 104 | 5.8 | 0.91 | -4% |
| Burglary | 88 | 4.9 | 1.39 | -23% |
| Other crime | 73 | 4.1 | 1.93 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 39 | 2.2 | 0.26 | -47% |
| Drugs | 35 | 1.9 | 0.60 | +3% |
| Robbery | 12 | 0.7 | 0.49 | -29% |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.3 | 0.41 | -14% |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.3 | 0.20 | +100% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.3 | 0.29 | -44% |
Violence and sexual offences in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 583 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 38.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 234 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 15.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 117 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 up 2% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 111 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 down 26% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 110 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 47% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 12 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 down 29% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Birstall and Birkenshaw 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 up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Birstall and Birkenshaw
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Birstall and Birkenshaw, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Birstall and Birkenshaw.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Birstall and Birkenshaw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liversedge and Gomersal | 1,953 | 98.4 | +16% |
| Batley West | 2,855 | 128.8 | +52% |
| Heckmondwike | 1,794 | 95.5 | +13% |
| Cleckheaton | 1,947 | 111.5 | +31% |
| Batley East | 1,416 | 89.2 | +5% |
| Dewsbury West | 2,791 | 121.8 | +44% |
| Dewsbury East | 3,495 | 160.4 | +89% |
| Mirfield | 1,673 | 82.9 | -2% |
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 Birstall and Birkenshaw over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near White Horse Close | 65 |
| On or near Lowood Lane | 56 |
| On or near Aldersyde | 31 |
| On or near Briarmains Road | 30 |
| On or near Corfe Close | 28 |
| On or near Parking Area | 26 |
| On or near Selene Close | 26 |
| On or near Supermarket | 25 |
| On or near John Street | 24 |
| On or near Priestley Square | 24 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Birstall and Birkenshaw 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 | 496 | 32.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 434 | 28.5% |
| Not recorded | 234 | 15.4% |
| Under investigation | 158 | 10.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 61 | 4.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 42 | 2.8% |
| Local resolution | 31 | 2.0% |
| Court result unavailable | 21 | 1.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 20 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 16 | 1.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 0.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
Birstall and Birkenshaw has an estimated population of 17,956. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Birstall and Birkenshaw sits in decile 6.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Birstall and Birkenshaw |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.9% |
| Social rented homes | 14.8% |
| Private rented homes | 15.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 10.8% |
Is Birstall and Birkenshaw a safe place to live?
Birstall and Birkenshaw recorded 84.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Birstall and Birkenshaw?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 583 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (234).
Is crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw going up or down?
Recorded crime in Birstall and Birkenshaw was down 8% on the year before: 1,523 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,664 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Birstall and Birkenshaw?
Birstall and Birkenshaw 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 Birstall and Birkenshaw. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.