Crime in the South Yorkshire Police area: statistics, rates and trends
166,072 crimes were recorded in the South Yorkshire Police area in the 12 months to August 2026, 116.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in the South Yorkshire Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the South Yorkshire Police area
- Types of crime in the South Yorkshire Police area
- Home Office recorded crime in the South Yorkshire Police area
- The South Yorkshire Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the South Yorkshire Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the South Yorkshire Police area
- Demographics of the South Yorkshire Police area
- Questions about crime in the South Yorkshire Police area
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (57,422), anti-social behaviour (27,013) and shoplifting (15,927) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 7th of the 41 police force areas covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | the South Yorkshire Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 166,072 | 5,311,106 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 116.1 | 96.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | 0% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 1,430,623 | 54,941,057 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in the South Yorkshire Police area peaked in the year to August 2018 (186,099 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (164,270). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 11%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 166,072 | 116.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 166,055 | 116.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 169,945 | 118.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 178,553 | 124.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 175,890 | 122.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 164,270 | 114.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 170,059 | 118.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 172,505 | 120.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 186,099 | 130.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 14,960 |
| July 2026 | 14,940 |
| June 2026 | 14,657 |
| May 2026 | 14,854 |
| April 2026 | 13,999 |
| March 2026 | 14,662 |
| February 2026 | 11,928 |
| January 2026 | 12,540 |
| December 2025 | 12,712 |
| November 2025 | 13,238 |
| October 2025 | 14,155 |
| September 2025 | 13,427 |
Compared with England and Wales, the South Yorkshire Police area recorded notably more other crime (65% above the national rate), burglary (42% above the national rate) and criminal damage and arson (41% above the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (66% below) and bicycle theft (34% below). On the year before, robbery rose from 1,761 to 2,145 and shoplifting rose from 13,531 to 15,927, while theft from the person fell from 1,034 to 825 and drugs fell from 5,358 to 4,318.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 57,422 | 40.1 | 34.2 | +3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 27,013 | 18.9 | 15.4 | +3% |
| Shoplifting | 15,927 | 11.1 | 8.5 | +18% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 13,624 | 9.5 | 6.7 | 0% |
| Public order | 11,619 | 8.1 | 6.7 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 9,441 | 6.6 | 5.0 | -11% |
| Other theft | 8,932 | 6.2 | 6.4 | +1% |
| Burglary | 7,236 | 5.1 | 3.6 | -14% |
| Other crime | 4,995 | 3.5 | 2.1 | -13% |
| Drugs | 4,318 | 3.0 | 3.3 | -19% |
| Robbery | 2,145 | 1.5 | 1.4 | +22% |
| Possession of weapons | 1,799 | 1.3 | 1.0 | -9% |
| Theft from the person | 825 | 0.6 | 1.7 | -20% |
| Bicycle theft | 776 | 0.5 | 0.8 | -4% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
145,338 crimes, excluding fraud, were recorded by the police in the South Yorkshire Police area in the year ending March 2026, according to the Home Office's police recorded crime statistics. That is 101.6 per 1,000 residents, higher than the England and Wales rate of 83.2. The total was down 3% on the year ending March 2025 (149,363), against a fall of 2% across England and Wales. Among the 43 territorial police force areas of England and Wales, the South Yorkshire Police area had the 5th highest rate (the street-level ranking above is among the 41 force areas with street-level pages on this site, over the 12 months to August 2026).
Offences recorded in the South Yorkshire Police area, the year ending March 2026
The largest category was violence without injury, with 19,993 offences (14% of the total). Relative to England and Wales, rates were highest for miscellaneous crimes against society (1.8 times the national rate), arson (1.7 times the national rate) and residential burglary (1.7 times the national rate). Rates were lowest relative to the national rate for theft from the person (0.38 times) and bicycle theft (0.70 times).
The largest falls were in residential burglary (−21%) and theft from the person (−14%). Robbery of business property and shoplifting are not compared with the year ending March 2025: from April 2025 the Home Office Counting Rules were clarified so that a theft from a shop in which violence is used or threatened against staff or anyone else is recorded as robbery of business property rather than shoplifting (ONS).
| Offence | Offences | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence without injury | 19,993 | 14.0 | 13.2 | 1.06 | +1% |
| Stalking and harassment | 19,321 | 13.5 | 10.1 | 1.34 | +10% |
| Violence with injury | 14,704 | 10.3 | 8.1 | 1.26 | −3% |
| Shoplifting | 14,084 | 9.8 | 8.1 | 1.21 | – |
| Criminal damage | 13,268 | 9.3 | 6.8 | 1.36 | −4% |
| Public order offences | 12,670 | 8.9 | 7.0 | 1.27 | −7% |
| Vehicle offences | 10,528 | 7.4 | 5.0 | 1.46 | −8% |
| Other theft offences | 9,088 | 6.4 | 6.5 | 0.97 | −7% |
| Residential burglary | 5,913 | 4.1 | 2.5 | 1.66 | −21% |
| Miscellaneous crimes against society | 5,364 | 3.7 | 2.1 | 1.79 | −0% |
| Other sexual offences | 3,864 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 1.19 | +6% |
| Possession of drugs | 3,209 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 0.90 | +8% |
| Trafficking of drugs | 2,385 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.41 | −12% |
| Possession of weapons | 2,073 | 1.4 | 1.00 | 1.46 | −2% |
| Non-residential burglary | 1,999 | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.25 | −14% |
| Rape | 1,841 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.07 | +3% |
| Robbery of personal property | 1,374 | 0.96 | 0.91 | 1.05 | −11% |
| Theft from the person | 970 | 0.68 | 1.8 | 0.38 | −14% |
| Arson | 931 | 0.65 | 0.38 | 1.71 | −4% |
| Robbery of business property | 882 | 0.62 | 0.47 | 1.30 | – |
| Bicycle theft | 853 | 0.60 | 0.85 | 0.70 | −1% |
| Death or serious injury caused by unlawful driving | 16 | 0.01 | 0.03 | 0.32 | −24% |
| Homicide | 8 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.70 | −20% |
Recorded crime in the South Yorkshire Police area since the year ending March 2013
The chart shows police recorded crime per 1,000 residents in each year ending March from 2013 to 2026. The South Yorkshire Police area's rate was above the England and Wales rate in every one of those 14 years. Changes in how forces record crime move these figures as well as changes in crime (methodology).
| Year ending March | Offences | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 145,338 | 101.6 | 83.2 |
| 2025 | 149,363 | 104.4 | 84.5 |
| 2024 | 154,820 | 108.2 | 86.2 |
| 2023 | 160,487 | 112.2 | 89.2 |
| 2022 | 148,587 | 103.9 | 85.4 |
| 2021 | 130,597 | 91.3 | 74.1 |
| 2020 | 148,715 | 104.0 | 84.7 |
| 2019 | 145,688 | 101.8 | 84.1 |
| 2018 | 142,277 | 99.5 | 78.2 |
| 2017 | 121,495 | 84.9 | 69.1 |
| 2016 | 102,111 | 71.4 | 62.3 |
| 2015 | 93,466 | 65.3 | 57.1 |
| 2014 | 91,682 | 64.1 | 55.9 |
| 2013 | 92,628 | 64.7 | 56.7 |
Districts in the South Yorkshire Police area, the year ending March 2026
Of the 4 districts in the South Yorkshire Police area with a figure for the year ending March 2026, Doncaster had the highest rate (117.3 per 1,000) and Rotherham the lowest (93.1). 1.2% of the crimes recorded in the area that year were not assigned to a district, so the district figures add up to less than the force total.
| District | Offences | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doncaster | 37,494 | 117.3 | 1.41 |
| Sheffield | 56,459 | 96.9 | 1.16 |
| Barnsley | 23,936 | 95.1 | 1.14 |
| Rotherham | 25,747 | 93.1 | 1.12 |
Source: Home Office police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables (released 23 July 2026), gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0. Financial years, excluding fraud; how they differ from the street-level figures: methodology.
1 of the 8 nearest police force areas have a higher crime rate than the South Yorkshire Police area; the highest is the West Yorkshire Police area (118.9 per 1,000) and the lowest the North Yorkshire Police area (72.3).
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the South Yorkshire Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Yorkshire | 289,490 | 118.9 | +2% |
| Derbyshire | 103,143 | 94.1 | -19% |
| Nottinghamshire | 125,603 | 105.7 | -9% |
| North Yorkshire | 61,097 | 72.3 | -38% |
| Humberside | 98,416 | 102.2 | -12% |
| Staffordshire | 107,433 | 91.2 | -21% |
| Lincolnshire | 72,613 | 92.0 | -21% |
| Cheshire | 83,476 | 73.2 | -37% |
Of the 4 areas within the South Yorkshire Police area, Doncaster had the highest crime rate (131.8 per 1,000) and Barnsley the lowest (107.6).
Of the 139,059 crimes in the South Yorkshire Police area with a recorded outcome, 34% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 27,013 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 59,038 | 42.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 47,172 | 33.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 10,475 | 7.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7,108 | 5.1% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 4,938 | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 3,866 | 2.8% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 3,691 | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 865 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 810 | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 543 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 460 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 39 | 0.0% | 0.0% |
The South Yorkshire Police area has an estimated population of 1,430,623 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with no qualifications (22%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up the South Yorkshire Police area average decile 4.3 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | the South Yorkshire Police area | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 8.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 22.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 25.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.5% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.3 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 22.5% | 10.1% (England) |
Is the South Yorkshire Police area a safe place to live?
The South Yorkshire Police area recorded 116.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 7th of the 41 police force areas on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and burglary.
What is the most common crime in the South Yorkshire Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 57,422 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (27,013).
Is crime in the South Yorkshire Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the South Yorkshire Police area was almost unchanged on the year before: 166,072 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 166,055 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of the South Yorkshire Police area?
About 1,430,623 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 19% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
How many crimes did the police record in the South Yorkshire Police area in the year ending March 2026?
145,338 crimes, excluding fraud, in the Home Office's police recorded crime statistics: 101.6 per 1,000 residents, against 83.2 across England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025 the figure was 149,363.
Which offences are more common in the South Yorkshire Police area than across England and Wales?
Relative to the national rate, the most over-represented categories in the year ending March 2026 were miscellaneous crimes against society (5,364 offences, 1.8 times the England and Wales rate), arson (931 offences, 1.7 times the England and Wales rate) and residential burglary (5,913 offences, 1.7 times the England and Wales rate).
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.