Crime in Northowram and Shelf: statistics, rates and trends
682 crimes were recorded in Northowram and Shelf in the 12 months to July 2026, 58.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 22% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Northowram and Shelf
- Questions about crime in Northowram and Shelf
- About this data
682 crimes were recorded in Northowram and Shelf in the 12 months to July 2026, 58.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 22% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 244 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Northowram and Shelf has the 2,674th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Northowram and Shelf | Calderdale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 682 | 24,636 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.2 | 116.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -22% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 11,717 | 210,929 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Northowram and Shelf was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,023 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (682). Over the whole period it fell 31%, 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 | 682 | 58.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 876 | 74.8 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 831 | 70.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 921 | 78.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 893 | 76.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 796 | 67.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 868 | 74.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,023 | 87.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 985 | 84.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 66 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Northowram and Shelf 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.
The largest falls were in drugs (-57%) and anti-social behaviour (-40%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 244 | 20.8 | 0.61 | -18% |
| Burglary | 66 | 5.6 | 1.59 | -1% |
| Other theft | 62 | 5.3 | 0.83 | -27% |
| Vehicle crime | 62 | 5.3 | 1.07 | -31% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 55 | 4.7 | 0.31 | -40% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 50 | 4.3 | 0.63 | -25% |
| Shoplifting | 43 | 3.7 | 0.44 | +5% |
| Public order | 42 | 3.6 | 0.54 | -34% |
| Other crime | 28 | 2.4 | 1.13 | -24% |
| Bicycle theft | 11 | 0.9 | 1.14 | +1000% |
| Drugs | 10 | 0.9 | 0.26 | -57% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.4 | 0.32 | -17% |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.3 | 0.26 | +50% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.05 | -80% |
Violence and sexual offences in Northowram and Shelf
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Northowram and Shelf recorded 244 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 35.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Northowram and Shelf
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Northowram and Shelf recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Northowram and Shelf
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Northowram and Shelf recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Northowram and Shelf
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Northowram and Shelf recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Northowram and Shelf
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Northowram and Shelf recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Northowram and Shelf
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Northowram and Shelf recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Northowram and Shelf
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Northowram and Shelf recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Northowram and Shelf
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Northowram and Shelf recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Northowram and Shelf
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Northowram and Shelf recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Northowram and Shelf
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Northowram and Shelf recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 1000% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Northowram and Shelf
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Northowram and Shelf recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 57% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Northowram and Shelf
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Northowram and Shelf recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Northowram and Shelf
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Northowram and Shelf recorded 3 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 up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Northowram and Shelf
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Northowram and Shelf recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 80% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Northowram and Shelf, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Northowram and Shelf.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Northowram and Shelf |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hipperholme and Lightcliffe | 747 | 63.7 | +9% |
| Town | 4,074 | 304.2 | +423% |
| Ovenden | 2,013 | 148.1 | +154% |
| Park | 2,549 | 145.0 | +149% |
| Skircoat | 1,724 | 123.1 | +111% |
| Illingworth and Mixenden | 1,590 | 133.6 | +130% |
| Warley | 1,501 | 110.8 | +90% |
| Brighouse | 1,654 | 147.3 | +153% |
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 Northowram and Shelf over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Godley Road | 29 |
| On or near Parking Area | 22 |
| On or near Carr House Lane | 19 |
| On or near Old Godley Lane | 18 |
| On or near Belcross Drive | 17 |
| On or near Sandforth Avenue | 17 |
| On or near Cypress Court | 16 |
| On or near Pollard Street North | 16 |
| On or near Queens Mead | 15 |
| On or near Spring Terrace | 15 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Northowram and Shelf 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 246 | 36.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 217 | 31.8% |
| Under investigation | 61 | 8.9% |
| Not recorded | 55 | 8.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 42 | 6.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 15 | 2.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 13 | 1.9% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 1.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 0.7% |
Northowram and Shelf has an estimated population of 11,717. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Northowram and Shelf sits in decile 7.1, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Northowram and Shelf |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 78.2% |
| Social rented homes | 5.9% |
| Private rented homes | 15.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.1 |
Is Northowram and Shelf a safe place to live?
Northowram and Shelf recorded 58.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than 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 Northowram and Shelf?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 244 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by burglary (66).
Is crime in Northowram and Shelf going up or down?
Recorded crime in Northowram and Shelf was down 22% on the year before: 682 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 876 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Northowram and Shelf?
Northowram and Shelf 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 Northowram and Shelf. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.