Crime in Old Town, Barnsley: statistics, rates and trends
1,419 crimes were recorded in Old Town, Barnsley in the 12 months to July 2026, 121.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Old Town, Barnsley at a glance
- Crime trends in Old Town, Barnsley
- Types of crime in Old Town, Barnsley
- Old Town, Barnsley compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Old Town, Barnsley
- What happened after crimes were reported in Old Town, Barnsley
- Population and deprivation in Old Town, Barnsley
- Questions about crime in Old Town, Barnsley
- About this data
1,419 crimes were recorded in Old Town, Barnsley in the 12 months to July 2026, 121.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 16% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 506 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Old Town, Barnsley has the 816th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Old Town, Barnsley | Barnsley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,419 | 26,917 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 121.3 | 106.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -16% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 11,702 | 251,770 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Old Town, Barnsley was highest in the year to July 2018 (2,076 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,419). Over the whole period it fell 32%, 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 | 1,419 | 121.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,698 | 145.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,744 | 149.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,990 | 170.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,858 | 158.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,660 | 141.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,696 | 144.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,822 | 155.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,076 | 177.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 126 |
| June 2026 | 129 |
| May 2026 | 127 |
| April 2026 | 101 |
| March 2026 | 99 |
| February 2026 | 102 |
| January 2026 | 83 |
| December 2025 | 98 |
| November 2025 | 134 |
| October 2025 | 151 |
| September 2025 | 115 |
| August 2025 | 154 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Old Town, Barnsley 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 violence and sexual offences, public order, criminal damage and arson. The largest falls were in shoplifting (-48%) and burglary (-31%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 506 | 43.2 | 1.26 | -10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 208 | 17.8 | 1.16 | -5% |
| Public order | 138 | 11.8 | 1.77 | -21% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 120 | 10.3 | 1.51 | -8% |
| Shoplifting | 91 | 7.8 | 0.94 | -48% |
| Other theft | 90 | 7.7 | 1.20 | -11% |
| Vehicle crime | 77 | 6.6 | 1.34 | -9% |
| Burglary | 63 | 5.4 | 1.52 | -31% |
| Other crime | 41 | 3.5 | 1.66 | -31% |
| Drugs | 30 | 2.6 | 0.78 | -25% |
| Robbery | 27 | 2.3 | 1.71 | +8% |
| Possession of weapons | 20 | 1.7 | 1.76 | -9% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.3 | 0.42 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.3 | 0.20 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Old Town, Barnsley
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 506 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (43.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 35.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Old Town, Barnsley
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 208 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 14.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Old Town, Barnsley
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Old Town, Barnsley
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 120 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Old Town, Barnsley
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 48% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Old Town, Barnsley
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 90 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Old Town, Barnsley
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Old Town, Barnsley
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 63 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Old Town, Barnsley
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Old Town, Barnsley
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Old Town, Barnsley
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Old Town, Barnsley
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Old Town, Barnsley
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 4 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Old Town, Barnsley
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Old Town, Barnsley recorded 4 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 down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Old Town, Barnsley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Old Town, Barnsley.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Old Town, Barnsley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingstone | 2,920 | 271.5 | +124% |
| Central | 1,932 | 161.3 | +33% |
| St Helens | 1,814 | 154.9 | +28% |
| Dodworth | 746 | 67.3 | -44% |
| Darton West | 770 | 73.9 | -39% |
| Monk Bretton | 1,548 | 123.9 | +2% |
| Darton East | 639 | 54.8 | -55% |
| Worsbrough | 1,154 | 119.4 | -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 Old Town, Barnsley over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hospital | 151 |
| On or near Supermarket | 98 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 50 |
| On or near Selby Road | 43 |
| On or near Quarry Street | 40 |
| On or near Peel Place | 39 |
| On or near Bellmer Close | 34 |
| On or near Smithies Lane | 29 |
| On or near Stainton Close | 27 |
| On or near Windham Close | 24 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Old Town, Barnsley 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 | 578 | 40.7% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 333 | 23.5% |
| Not recorded | 208 | 14.7% |
| Under investigation | 106 | 7.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 60 | 4.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 50 | 3.5% |
| Local resolution | 32 | 2.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 26 | 1.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 15 | 1.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 0.2% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Old Town, Barnsley has an estimated population of 11,702. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Old Town, Barnsley sits in decile 4.2, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Old Town, Barnsley |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.0% |
| Social rented homes | 16.7% |
| Private rented homes | 20.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.2 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 14.7% |
Is Old Town, Barnsley a safe place to live?
Old Town, Barnsley recorded 121.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 Old Town, Barnsley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 506 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (208).
Is crime in Old Town, Barnsley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Old Town, Barnsley was down 16% on the year before: 1,419 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,698 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Old Town, Barnsley?
Old Town, Barnsley is policed by South 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 Old Town, Barnsley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.