Crime in Sowerby & Topcliffe: statistics, rates and trends
432 crimes were recorded in Sowerby & Topcliffe in the 12 months to August 2026, 49.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Sowerby & Topcliffe at a glance
- Crime trends in Sowerby & Topcliffe
- Types of crime in Sowerby & Topcliffe
- Sowerby & Topcliffe compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Sowerby & Topcliffe
- What happened after crimes were reported in Sowerby & Topcliffe
- Demographics of Sowerby & Topcliffe
- Questions about crime in Sowerby & Topcliffe
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (196), anti-social behaviour (93) and criminal damage and arson (32) made up 74% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,064th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Sowerby & Topcliffe | North Yorkshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 432 | 41,610 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 49.0 | 65.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | 0% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 8,810 | 635,270 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Sowerby & Topcliffe peaked in the year to August 2019 (464 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (374). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 7%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 432 | 49.0 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 433 | 49.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 451 | 51.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 432 | 49.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 374 | 42.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 439 | 49.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 427 | 48.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 464 | 52.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 402 | 45.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 29 |
| July 2026 | 42 |
| June 2026 | 28 |
| May 2026 | 26 |
| April 2026 | 38 |
| March 2026 | 34 |
| February 2026 | 47 |
| January 2026 | 46 |
| December 2025 | 28 |
| November 2025 | 40 |
| October 2025 | 39 |
| September 2025 | 35 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (68% below) and other theft (60% below) were well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 162 to 196, while criminal damage and arson fell from 52 to 32 and shoplifting fell from 32 to 24.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 196 | 22.2 | 34.2 | +21% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 93 | 10.6 | 15.4 | +3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 32 | 3.6 | 6.7 | -38% |
| Public order | 24 | 2.7 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 24 | 2.7 | 8.5 | -25% |
| Other theft | 23 | 2.6 | 6.4 | -18% |
| Drugs | 9 | 1.0 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 8 | 0.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Burglary | 7 | 0.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 7 | 0.8 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Sowerby & Topcliffe; the highest is Ripon Minster & Moorside (78.8 per 1,000) and the lowest Hillside & Raskelf (26.4).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sowerby & Topcliffe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thirsk | 460 | 70.9 | +45% |
| Hillside & Raskelf | 153 | 26.4 | -46% |
| Wathvale & Bishop Monkton | 278 | 29.6 | -40% |
| Ripon Ure Bank & Spa | 339 | 40.2 | -18% |
| Romanby | 219 | 34.1 | -31% |
| Ripon Minster & Moorside | 695 | 78.8 | +61% |
| Bedale | 231 | 45.5 | -7% |
| Easingwold | 339 | 57.5 | +17% |
The 10 locations below account for 50% of the crime recorded in Sowerby & Topcliffe over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Oak Drive” (49).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Oak Drive | 49 |
| On or near Supermarket | 34 |
| On or near Parking Area | 32 |
| On or near School Garth | 18 |
| On or near Chapel Street | 16 |
| On or near | 15 |
| On or near Topcliffe Road | 14 |
| On or near Primrose Drive | 13 |
| On or near Westgate | 13 |
| On or near Back Lane | 10 |
Of the 339 crimes in Sowerby & Topcliffe with a recorded outcome, 18% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 93 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 147 | 43.4% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 61 | 18.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 45 | 13.3% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 31 | 9.1% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 13 | 3.8% | 0.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 12 | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 12 | 3.5% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 11 | 3.2% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.6% | 0.3% |
Sowerby & Topcliffe has an estimated population of 8,810 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (3.8%, against 7.9%), fewer households without a car (12%, against 23%) and less social housing (12%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Sowerby & Topcliffe average decile 7.4 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Sowerby & Topcliffe | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 34.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 12.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.4 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Sowerby & Topcliffe a safe place to live?
Sowerby & Topcliffe recorded 49.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,064th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Sowerby & Topcliffe?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 196 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (93).
Is crime in Sowerby & Topcliffe going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sowerby & Topcliffe was almost unchanged on the year before: 432 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 433 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Sowerby & Topcliffe?
About 8,810 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Sowerby & Topcliffe?
Sowerby & Topcliffe is policed by North Yorkshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.