Crime in Northowram and Shelf: statistics, rates and trends
683 crimes were recorded in Northowram and Shelf in the 12 months to August 2026, 58.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 21% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Northowram and Shelf at a glance
- Crime trends in Northowram and Shelf
- Types of crime in Northowram and Shelf
- Northowram and Shelf compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Northowram and Shelf
- What happened after crimes were reported in Northowram and Shelf
- Demographics of Northowram and Shelf
- Questions about crime in Northowram and Shelf
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (242), burglary (73) and vehicle crime (68) made up 56% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,681st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Northowram and Shelf | Calderdale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 683 | 24,413 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.3 | 115.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -21% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 11,717 | 210,929 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Northowram and Shelf of any year here (683 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 31%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 683 | 58.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 864 | 73.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 825 | 70.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 945 | 80.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 876 | 74.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 786 | 67.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 883 | 75.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,004 | 85.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 996 | 85.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 67 |
| July 2026 | 57 |
| June 2026 | 41 |
| May 2026 | 63 |
| April 2026 | 41 |
| March 2026 | 49 |
| February 2026 | 33 |
| January 2026 | 55 |
| December 2025 | 81 |
| November 2025 | 74 |
| October 2025 | 58 |
| September 2025 | 64 |
Compared with England and Wales, Northowram and Shelf recorded notably more burglary (75% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (71% below) and shoplifting (62% below). On the year before, burglary rose from 60 to 73, while anti-social behaviour fell from 94 to 53 and public order fell from 66 to 38.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 242 | 20.7 | 34.2 | -18% |
| Burglary | 73 | 6.2 | 3.6 | +22% |
| Vehicle crime | 68 | 5.8 | 5.0 | -15% |
| Other theft | 57 | 4.9 | 6.4 | -35% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 53 | 4.5 | 15.4 | -44% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 52 | 4.4 | 6.7 | -19% |
| Public order | 38 | 3.2 | 6.7 | -42% |
| Shoplifting | 38 | 3.2 | 8.5 | -10% |
| Other crime | 30 | 2.6 | 2.1 | -12% |
| Bicycle theft | 12 | 1.0 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Drugs | 9 | 0.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods has a higher crime rate than Northowram and Shelf.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Northowram and Shelf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hipperholme and Lightcliffe | 730 | 62.2 | +7% |
| Town | 4,075 | 304.3 | +422% |
| Ovenden | 1,964 | 144.5 | +148% |
| Park | 2,569 | 146.1 | +151% |
| Skircoat | 1,698 | 121.2 | +108% |
| Illingworth and Mixenden | 1,568 | 131.8 | +126% |
| Warley | 1,515 | 111.8 | +92% |
| Brighouse | 1,656 | 147.5 | +153% |
The 10 locations below account for 27% of the crime recorded in Northowram and Shelf over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Godley Road” (30).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Godley Road | 30 |
| On or near Parking Area | 25 |
| On or near Sandforth Avenue | 20 |
| On or near Carr House Lane | 19 |
| On or near Bradford Old Road | 16 |
| On or near Cypress Court | 16 |
| On or near Old Godley Lane | 16 |
| On or near Belcross Drive | 15 |
| On or near Queens Mead | 15 |
| On or near Glencoe | 14 |
Of the 630 crimes in Northowram and Shelf with a recorded outcome, 40% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 53 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 249 | 39.5% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 215 | 34.1% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 64 | 10.2% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 43 | 6.8% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 17 | 2.7% | 5.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 15 | 2.4% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 10 | 1.6% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.8% | 0.6% |
Northowram and Shelf has an estimated population of 11,717 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (5.9%, against 17.1%), fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%) and more retired residents (29%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Northowram and Shelf average decile 7.1 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Northowram and Shelf | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 78.2% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 5.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Northowram and Shelf a safe place to live?
Northowram and Shelf recorded 58.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,681st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were burglary.
What is the most common crime in Northowram and Shelf?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 242 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by burglary (73).
Is crime in Northowram and Shelf going up or down?
Recorded crime in Northowram and Shelf was down 21% on the year before: 683 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 864 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Northowram and Shelf?
About 11,717 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Northowram and Shelf?
Northowram and Shelf 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.