Crime in Ackworth Moor Top: statistics, rates and trends
389 crimes were recorded in Ackworth Moor Top in the 12 months to August 2026, 58.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 10% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Ackworth Moor Top at a glance
- Crime trends in Ackworth Moor Top
- Types of crime in Ackworth Moor Top
- Ackworth Moor Top compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Ackworth Moor Top
- Streets with the most crime in Ackworth Moor Top
- What happened after crimes were reported in Ackworth Moor Top
- Demographics of Ackworth Moor Top
- Questions about crime in Ackworth Moor Top
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (162), criminal damage and arson (40) and other theft (35) made up 61% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 989th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Ackworth Moor Top | Wakefield | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 389 | 42,896 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.4 | 116.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -10% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 6,656 | 367,666 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Ackworth Moor Top peaked in the year to August 2023 (471 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (342). 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 | 389 | 58.4 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 430 | 64.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 471 | 70.8 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 471 | 70.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 432 | 64.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 342 | 51.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 375 | 56.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 394 | 59.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 403 | 60.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 36 |
| July 2026 | 31 |
| June 2026 | 40 |
| May 2026 | 44 |
| April 2026 | 30 |
| March 2026 | 25 |
| February 2026 | 26 |
| January 2026 | 16 |
| December 2025 | 37 |
| November 2025 | 38 |
| October 2025 | 38 |
| September 2025 | 28 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (71% below) and violence and sexual offences (29% below) were well below it. On the year before, public order rose from 27 to 33 and criminal damage and arson rose from 33 to 40, while anti-social behaviour fell from 45 to 30 and violence and sexual offences fell from 206 to 162.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 162 | 24.3 | 34.2 | -21% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 40 | 6.0 | 6.7 | +21% |
| Other theft | 35 | 5.3 | 6.4 | +21% |
| Public order | 33 | 5.0 | 6.7 | +22% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 30 | 4.5 | 15.4 | -33% |
| Vehicle crime | 30 | 4.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 19 | 2.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 15 | 2.3 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Drugs | 11 | 1.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 10 | 1.5 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest towns has a higher crime rate than Ackworth Moor Top.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ackworth Moor Top |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemsworth | 1,355 | 136.4 | +133% |
| Featherstone (Wakefield) | 1,360 | 107.4 | +84% |
| Upton (Wakefield) | 527 | 81.3 | +39% |
| Crofton | 438 | 65.4 | +12% |
| South Kirkby | 1,156 | 127.8 | +119% |
| Pontefract | 4,107 | 120.2 | +106% |
| South Elmsall | 1,302 | 110.4 | +89% |
| Grimethorpe | 717 | 115.2 | +97% |
Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton is the one area listed within Ackworth Moor Top, with 70.3 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton | Neighbourhood | 18,141 | 1,275 | 70.3 |
The 10 locations below account for 43% of the crime recorded in Ackworth Moor Top over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Cricketers Close” (42).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cricketers Close | 42 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 30 |
| On or near Howard Drive | 19 |
| On or near Barnsley Road | 14 |
| On or near Lo Lane | 13 |
| On or near Bell Lane | 12 |
| On or near Chapel Garth | 11 |
| On or near Orchard Drive | 9 |
| On or near Cross Hands Lane | 8 |
| On or near Mount Pleasant | 8 |
Of the 359 crimes in Ackworth Moor Top with a recorded outcome, 34% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 30 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 134 | 37.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 123 | 34.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 43 | 12.0% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 19 | 5.3% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 14 | 3.9% | 5.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 11 | 3.1% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.4% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.6% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
Ackworth Moor Top has an estimated population of 6,656 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (12%, against 23%), fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%) and less social housing (11%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Ackworth Moor Top average decile 7.2 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Ackworth Moor Top | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 63.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 22.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 32.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 11.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 74.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Ackworth Moor Top a safe place to live?
Ackworth Moor Top recorded 58.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 989th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Ackworth Moor Top?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 162 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (40).
Is crime in Ackworth Moor Top going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ackworth Moor Top was down 10% on the year before: 389 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 430 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Ackworth Moor Top?
About 6,656 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 19% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Ackworth Moor Top?
Ackworth Moor Top is policed by West Yorkshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.