Crime in the Staffordshire Police area: statistics, rates and trends
106,686 crimes were recorded in the Staffordshire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 90.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the Staffordshire Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the Staffordshire Police area
- Types of crime in the Staffordshire Police area
- The Staffordshire Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the Staffordshire Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the Staffordshire Police area
- Population and deprivation in the Staffordshire Police area
- Questions about crime in the Staffordshire Police area
- About this data
106,686 crimes were recorded in the Staffordshire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 90.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 43,442 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the Staffordshire Police area has the 21st highest crime rate.
| Measure | the Staffordshire Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 106,686 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 90.6 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +7% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 1,177,578 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the Staffordshire Police area was highest in the year to July 2018 (111,009 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (91,073). Over the whole period it fell 4%, 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 | 106,686 | 90.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 99,967 | 84.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 98,959 | 84.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 109,041 | 92.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 104,092 | 88.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 91,073 | 77.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 96,906 | 82.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 106,583 | 90.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 111,009 | 94.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 10,545 |
| June 2026 | 10,005 |
| May 2026 | 9,337 |
| April 2026 | 8,959 |
| March 2026 | 9,263 |
| February 2026 | 7,973 |
| January 2026 | 8,177 |
| December 2025 | 8,546 |
| November 2025 | 7,832 |
| October 2025 | 8,596 |
| September 2025 | 8,695 |
| August 2025 | 8,758 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the Staffordshire Police area 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. The largest increases were in robbery (+33%) and bicycle theft (+27%).
The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-11%) and theft from the person (-11%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 43,442 | 36.9 | 1.08 | +8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 16,989 | 14.4 | 0.94 | +19% |
| Public order | 8,810 | 7.5 | 1.13 | +6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 7,496 | 6.4 | 0.94 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 6,749 | 5.7 | 0.69 | -10% |
| Other theft | 6,146 | 5.2 | 0.82 | +4% |
| Vehicle crime | 4,441 | 3.8 | 0.77 | -11% |
| Burglary | 3,678 | 3.1 | 0.88 | +1% |
| Drugs | 3,088 | 2.6 | 0.80 | +15% |
| Other crime | 2,396 | 2.0 | 0.96 | +8% |
| Robbery | 1,212 | 1.0 | 0.76 | +33% |
| Possession of weapons | 1,181 | 1.0 | 1.03 | +7% |
| Bicycle theft | 813 | 0.7 | 0.84 | +27% |
| Theft from the person | 245 | 0.2 | 0.12 | -11% |
Violence and sexual offences in the Staffordshire Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 43,442 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (36.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 40.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the Staffordshire Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 16,989 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 15.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the Staffordshire Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 8,810 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the Staffordshire Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 7,496 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the Staffordshire Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 6,749 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the Staffordshire Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 6,146 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the Staffordshire Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 4,441 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the Staffordshire Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 3,678 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the Staffordshire Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 3,088 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 up 15% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the Staffordshire Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 2,396 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the Staffordshire Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 1,212 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the Staffordshire Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 1,181 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the Staffordshire Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 813 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the Staffordshire Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The Staffordshire Police area recorded 245 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the Staffordshire Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the Staffordshire Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the Staffordshire Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands | 322,332 | 106.1 | +17% |
| Derbyshire | 102,878 | 93.8 | +4% |
| West Mercia | 96,563 | 72.0 | -21% |
| Cheshire | 83,531 | 73.3 | -19% |
| Leicestershire | 100,423 | 85.4 | -6% |
| Nottinghamshire | 124,757 | 105.0 | +16% |
| Warwickshire | 51,918 | 82.1 | -9% |
| South Yorkshire | 165,328 | 115.6 | +28% |
9 areas within the Staffordshire Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Stoke-on-Trent had the highest rate (138.9 per 1,000) and South Staffordshire the lowest (58.1). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stoke-on-Trent | District | 270,425 | 37,571 | 138.9 |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | District | 127,727 | 11,290 | 88.4 |
| Cannock Chase | District | 104,088 | 8,921 | 85.7 |
| Tamworth | District | 81,117 | 6,572 | 81.0 |
| Stafford | District | 141,556 | 11,355 | 80.2 |
| East Staffordshire | District | 129,659 | 10,240 | 79.0 |
| Lichfield | District | 111,932 | 7,576 | 67.7 |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | District | 96,651 | 6,517 | 67.4 |
| South Staffordshire | District | 114,423 | 6,644 | 58.1 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the Staffordshire Police area 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 | 36,187 | 33.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 24,159 | 22.6% |
| Not recorded | 16,989 | 15.9% |
| Under investigation | 12,412 | 11.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 4,241 | 4.0% |
| Local resolution | 4,136 | 3.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 3,877 | 3.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 2,219 | 2.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1,743 | 1.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 311 | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 194 | 0.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 169 | 0.2% |
The Staffordshire Police area has an estimated population of 1,177,578. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the Staffordshire Police area sits in decile 5.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the Staffordshire Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 68.0% |
| Social rented homes | 16.0% |
| Private rented homes | 15.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.7 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 8.9% |
Is the Staffordshire Police area a safe place to live?
The Staffordshire Police area recorded 90.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 the Staffordshire Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 43,442 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (16,989).
Is crime in the Staffordshire Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the Staffordshire Police area was up 7% on the year before: 106,686 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 99,967 in the previous 12 months.
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 the Staffordshire Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.