Crime in the West Yorkshire Police area: statistics, rates and trends
291,429 crimes were recorded in the West Yorkshire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 119.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the West Yorkshire Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the West Yorkshire Police area
- Types of crime in the West Yorkshire Police area
- The West Yorkshire Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the West Yorkshire Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the West Yorkshire Police area
- Population and deprivation in the West Yorkshire Police area
- Questions about crime in the West Yorkshire Police area
- About this data
291,429 crimes were recorded in the West Yorkshire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 119.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 118,441 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the West Yorkshire Police area has the 5th highest crime rate.
| Measure | the West Yorkshire Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 291,429 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 119.7 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 2,435,236 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the West Yorkshire Police area was highest in the year to July 2023 (337,267 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (291,429). Over the whole period it fell 10%, 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 | 291,429 | 119.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 303,661 | 124.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 308,940 | 126.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 337,267 | 138.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 334,025 | 137.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 309,855 | 127.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 314,608 | 129.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 332,800 | 136.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 325,317 | 133.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 26,391 |
| June 2026 | 25,558 |
| May 2026 | 25,987 |
| April 2026 | 24,145 |
| March 2026 | 24,106 |
| February 2026 | 20,877 |
| January 2026 | 22,189 |
| December 2025 | 22,302 |
| November 2025 | 23,413 |
| October 2025 | 25,300 |
| September 2025 | 24,897 |
| August 2025 | 26,264 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the West Yorkshire 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. Rates were well above the national level for violence and sexual offences, public order, criminal damage and arson.
The largest increases were in drugs (+14%) and robbery (+12%). The largest falls were in public order (-13%) and theft from the person (-13%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 118,441 | 48.6 | 1.42 | -7% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 28,946 | 11.9 | 0.77 | +5% |
| Public order | 22,764 | 9.3 | 1.41 | -13% |
| Shoplifting | 21,343 | 8.8 | 1.06 | -3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 21,144 | 8.7 | 1.28 | +0% |
| Other theft | 18,519 | 7.6 | 1.19 | -5% |
| Vehicle crime | 15,756 | 6.5 | 1.31 | -1% |
| Burglary | 14,003 | 5.8 | 1.63 | -6% |
| Drugs | 10,917 | 4.5 | 1.37 | +14% |
| Other crime | 9,408 | 3.9 | 1.83 | +3% |
| Robbery | 3,860 | 1.6 | 1.17 | +12% |
| Possession of weapons | 2,548 | 1.0 | 1.08 | +2% |
| Theft from the person | 2,158 | 0.9 | 0.52 | -13% |
| Bicycle theft | 1,622 | 0.7 | 0.81 | +3% |
Violence and sexual offences in the West Yorkshire Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 118,441 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (48.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 40.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the West Yorkshire Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 28,946 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the West Yorkshire Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 22,764 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the West Yorkshire Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 21,343 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the West Yorkshire Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 21,144 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the West Yorkshire Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 18,519 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the West Yorkshire Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 15,756 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the West Yorkshire Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 14,003 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the West Yorkshire Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 10,917 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the West Yorkshire Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 9,408 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the West Yorkshire Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 3,860 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the West Yorkshire Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 2,548 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 2% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the West Yorkshire Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 2,158 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the West Yorkshire Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 1,622 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 3% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the West Yorkshire Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the West Yorkshire Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the West Yorkshire Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Yorkshire | 165,328 | 115.6 | -3% |
| North Yorkshire | 59,780 | 70.8 | -41% |
| Lancashire | 165,932 | 103.6 | -13% |
| Derbyshire | 102,878 | 93.8 | -22% |
| Cheshire | 83,531 | 73.3 | -39% |
| Humberside | 98,156 | 102.0 | -15% |
| Nottinghamshire | 124,757 | 105.0 | -12% |
| Merseyside | 152,961 | 103.7 | -13% |
5 areas within the West Yorkshire Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bradford had the highest rate (129.8 per 1,000) and Kirklees the lowest (98.5). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford | District | 563,605 | 73,156 | 129.8 |
| Leeds | District | 845,189 | 106,410 | 125.9 |
| Wakefield | District | 367,666 | 43,130 | 117.3 |
| Calderdale | District | 210,929 | 24,636 | 116.8 |
| Kirklees | District | 447,847 | 44,097 | 98.5 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the West Yorkshire 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 91,424 | 31.4% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 91,229 | 31.3% |
| Under investigation | 30,666 | 10.5% |
| Not recorded | 28,946 | 9.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 15,288 | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 11,090 | 3.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 6,760 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 6,659 | 2.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3,563 | 1.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2,395 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 2,197 | 0.8% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 802 | 0.3% |
The West Yorkshire Police area has an estimated population of 2,435,236. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the West Yorkshire Police area sits in decile 4.6, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the West Yorkshire Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.7% |
| Social rented homes | 17.8% |
| Private rented homes | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.6 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 22.4% |
Is the West Yorkshire Police area a safe place to live?
The West Yorkshire Police area recorded 119.7 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 the West Yorkshire Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 118,441 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (28,946).
Is crime in the West Yorkshire Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the West Yorkshire Police area was down 4% on the year before: 291,429 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 303,661 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 West Yorkshire Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.