Crime in Royston: statistics, rates and trends
1,120 crimes were recorded in Royston in the 12 months to August 2026, 95.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (416), anti-social behaviour (272) and criminal damage and arson (105) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,360th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Royston | Barnsley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,120 | 27,081 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 95.2 | 107.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -9% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 11,765 | 251,770 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Royston of any year here (1,120 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 3%, in line with England and Wales.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,120 | 95.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,228 | 104.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,304 | 110.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,237 | 105.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,187 | 100.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,154 | 98.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,125 | 95.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,152 | 97.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,149 | 97.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 89 |
| July 2026 | 90 |
| June 2026 | 124 |
| May 2026 | 118 |
| April 2026 | 92 |
| March 2026 | 106 |
| February 2026 | 90 |
| January 2026 | 87 |
| December 2025 | 79 |
| November 2025 | 65 |
| October 2025 | 83 |
| September 2025 | 97 |
Compared with England and Wales, Royston recorded notably more other crime (2.0 times the national rate), anti-social behaviour (50% above the national rate) and criminal damage and arson (32% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (55% below) and burglary (38% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 193 to 272, while burglary fell from 62 to 26 and shoplifting fell from 84 to 45.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 416 | 35.4 | 34.2 | -10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 272 | 23.1 | 15.4 | +41% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 105 | 8.9 | 6.7 | -8% |
| Public order | 77 | 6.5 | 6.7 | -21% |
| Other theft | 52 | 4.4 | 6.4 | +11% |
| Other crime | 49 | 4.2 | 2.1 | -2% |
| Shoplifting | 45 | 3.8 | 8.5 | -46% |
| Vehicle crime | 40 | 3.4 | 5.0 | -38% |
| Burglary | 26 | 2.2 | 3.6 | -58% |
| Drugs | 18 | 1.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 11 | 0.9 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Royston; the highest is Central, Barnsley (165.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Darton East (54.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Royston |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Helens | 1,808 | 154.4 | +62% |
| Monk Bretton | 1,503 | 120.3 | +26% |
| Cudworth | 1,088 | 91.2 | -4% |
| Darton East | 630 | 54.0 | -43% |
| Old Town | 1,390 | 118.8 | +25% |
| Central | 1,984 | 165.6 | +74% |
| Darton West | 785 | 75.3 | -21% |
| North East | 1,528 | 104.1 | +9% |
The 10 locations below account for 34% of the crime recorded in Royston over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “B6428” (57).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near B6428 | 57 |
| On or near Supermarket | 51 |
| On or near Park View | 50 |
| On or near Midland Road | 40 |
| On or near Cronkhill Lane | 37 |
| On or near Strawberry Gardens | 37 |
| On or near Winmarith Court | 33 |
| On or near Field View | 32 |
| On or near Parking Area | 23 |
| On or near Dove Hill | 22 |
Of the 848 crimes in Royston with a recorded outcome, 23% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 7.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 272 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 404 | 47.6% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 193 | 22.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 78 | 9.2% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 61 | 7.2% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 32 | 3.8% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 26 | 3.1% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 18 | 2.1% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 17 | 2.0% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 11 | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
Royston has an estimated population of 11,765 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.9%, against 7.9%), less private renting (13%, against 20%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (22%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Royston average decile 3.9 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Royston | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.4% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 24.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 19.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.9 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 26.5% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Royston a safe place to live?
Royston recorded 95.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,360th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Royston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 416 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (272).
Is crime in Royston going up or down?
Recorded crime in Royston was down 9% on the year before: 1,120 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,228 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Royston?
About 11,765 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 20% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Royston?
Royston is policed by South Yorkshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.