Crime in Kirkstall: statistics, rates and trends
2,765 crimes were recorded in Kirkstall in the 12 months to August 2026, 131.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 11% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Kirkstall at a glance
- Crime trends in Kirkstall
- Types of crime in Kirkstall
- Kirkstall compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Kirkstall
- What happened after crimes were reported in Kirkstall
- Demographics of Kirkstall
- Questions about crime in Kirkstall
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (932), shoplifting (352) and anti-social behaviour (260) made up 56% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 662nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Kirkstall | Leeds | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,765 | 105,688 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 131.0 | 125.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -11% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 21,104 | 845,189 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Kirkstall of any year here (2,765 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 12%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,765 | 131.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 3,116 | 147.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 3,398 | 161.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,945 | 139.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 3,074 | 145.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 3,039 | 144.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 3,047 | 144.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 3,067 | 145.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 3,136 | 148.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 212 |
| July 2026 | 251 |
| June 2026 | 248 |
| May 2026 | 287 |
| April 2026 | 249 |
| March 2026 | 236 |
| February 2026 | 228 |
| January 2026 | 241 |
| December 2025 | 195 |
| November 2025 | 195 |
| October 2025 | 224 |
| September 2025 | 199 |
Compared with England and Wales, Kirkstall recorded notably more bicycle theft (2.5 times the national rate), vehicle crime (2.3 times the national rate) and robbery (2.2 times the national rate). On the year before, possession of weapons rose from 20 to 34 and other crime rose from 68 to 91, while shoplifting fell from 547 to 352 and public order fell from 255 to 190.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 932 | 44.2 | 34.2 | -15% |
| Shoplifting | 352 | 16.7 | 8.5 | -36% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 260 | 12.3 | 15.4 | +24% |
| Vehicle crime | 243 | 11.5 | 5.0 | +6% |
| Public order | 190 | 9.0 | 6.7 | -25% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 171 | 8.1 | 6.7 | -9% |
| Other theft | 153 | 7.2 | 6.4 | -17% |
| Burglary | 151 | 7.2 | 3.6 | +10% |
| Other crime | 91 | 4.3 | 2.1 | +34% |
| Drugs | 64 | 3.0 | 3.3 | +16% |
| Robbery | 64 | 3.0 | 1.4 | +5% |
| Bicycle theft | 43 | 2.0 | 0.8 | -20% |
| Possession of weapons | 34 | 1.6 | 1.0 | +70% |
| Theft from the person | 17 | 0.8 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Kirkstall; the highest is Little London & Woodhouse (351.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Moortown (59.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Kirkstall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weetwood | 1,870 | 79.4 | -39% |
| Headingley & Hyde Park | 2,893 | 87.1 | -33% |
| Armley | 4,849 | 194.1 | +48% |
| Bramley & Stanningley | 2,954 | 113.9 | -13% |
| Little London & Woodhouse | 12,817 | 351.4 | +168% |
| Horsforth | 1,620 | 64.9 | -50% |
| Farnley & Wortley | 4,065 | 145.4 | +11% |
| Moortown | 1,277 | 59.0 | -55% |
The 10 locations below account for 32% of the crime recorded in Kirkstall over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (305).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 305 |
| On or near Cross Evanston Avenue | 136 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 104 |
| On or near Savins Mill Way | 61 |
| On or near Clayton Grange | 57 |
| On or near Back Greenhow Walk | 54 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 48 |
| On or near Spen Bank | 47 |
| On or near Oldfarm Parade | 42 |
| On or near Queenswood Green | 39 |
Of the 2,505 crimes in Kirkstall with a recorded outcome, 43% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 260 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,086 | 43.4% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 761 | 30.4% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 275 | 11.0% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 146 | 5.8% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 97 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 42 | 1.7% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 32 | 1.3% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 30 | 1.2% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 14 | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 3 | 0.1% | 0.0% |
Kirkstall has an estimated population of 21,104 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (14.8%, against 7.9%), more social housing (28%, against 17%) and more households without a car (37%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Kirkstall average decile 3.6 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Kirkstall | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 5.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 12.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 14.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 42.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 36.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 41.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 28.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 30.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.6 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 16.2% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Kirkstall a safe place to live?
Kirkstall recorded 131.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 662nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were bicycle theft and vehicle crime.
What is the most common crime in Kirkstall?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 932 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (352).
Is crime in Kirkstall going up or down?
Recorded crime in Kirkstall was down 11% on the year before: 2,765 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 3,116 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Kirkstall?
About 21,104 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 11% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Kirkstall?
Kirkstall 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.