Crime in Batley: statistics, rates and trends

4,826 crimes were recorded in Batley in the 12 months to July 2026, 113.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 7% on the year before.

4,826 crimes were recorded in Batley in the 12 months to July 2026, 113.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than 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 1,944 reports (40% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Batley has the 231st highest crime rate.

MeasureBatleyKirkleesEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to July 20264,82644,0975,665,700
Crimes per 1,000 residents113.298.596.4
Change on previous 12 months+7%-2%-1%
Population42,616447,84758,797,018

Recorded crime in Batley was highest in the year to July 2019 (6,644 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (4,510). Over the whole period it fell 19%, 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.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to July 20264,826113.296.4
Year to July 20254,510105.897.1
Year to July 20245,016117.797.7
Year to July 20235,762135.25.2
Year to July 20225,553130.3101.3
Year to July 20215,401126.7102.1
Year to July 20205,749134.9101.9
Year to July 20196,644155.9101.5
Year to July 20185,986140.5100.6

Month by month

MonthCrimes
July 2026473
June 2026443
May 2026498
April 2026450
March 2026351
February 2026305
January 2026337
December 2025348
November 2025375
October 2025414
September 2025421
August 2025411

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Batley 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, other crime.

The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+63%) and robbery (+19%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-16%).

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000Index (E&W = 1.00)Change on year
Violence and sexual offences1,94445.61.33+2%
Anti-social behaviour66215.51.01+63%
Public order3849.01.36-8%
Shoplifting3798.91.07+17%
Criminal damage and arson3578.41.24+7%
Other theft2515.90.92-2%
Vehicle crime2465.81.17-16%
Burglary1804.21.19+8%
Other crime1694.01.88+3%
Drugs1413.31.01+8%
Possession of weapons400.90.97+14%
Robbery380.90.66+19%
Theft from the person230.50.32+44%
Bicycle theft120.30.34-25%

Violence and sexual offences in Batley

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Batley recorded 1,944 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (45.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 40.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Batley

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Batley recorded 662 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 63% on the year before. It made up 13.7% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Batley

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Batley recorded 384 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Batley

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Batley recorded 379 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Batley

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Batley recorded 357 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Batley

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Batley recorded 251 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Batley

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Batley recorded 246 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Batley

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Batley recorded 180 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Batley

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Batley recorded 169 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Batley

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Batley recorded 141 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Batley

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Batley recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Batley

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Batley recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Batley

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Batley recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Batley

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Batley recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Batley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Batley.

TownCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Batley
Heckmondwike1,14396.1-15%
Dewsbury8,318127.0+12%
Gomersal and Birkenshaw1,19374.0-35%
Liversedge1,674102.9-9%
Morley (Leeds)4,481134.6+19%
Gildersome59294.6-16%
East Ardsley1,16280.5-29%
Cleckheaton1,501121.4+7%

2 areas within Batley, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Batley West had the highest rate (128.8 per 1,000) and Batley East the lowest (89.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

AreaTypePopulationCrimesPer 1,000
Batley WestNeighbourhood22,1632,855128.8
Batley EastNeighbourhood15,8791,41689.2

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Batley over the 12 months to July 2026.

LocationCrimes
On or near Supermarket432
On or near Upper Blakeridge Lane124
On or near Parking Area110
On or near Sports/Recreation Area89
On or near Petrol Station67
On or near White Horse Close65
On or near Lowood Lane56
On or near Bridge Street49
On or near Hyrst Walk43
On or near York Grove40

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Batley 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.

OutcomeCrimesShare
Unable to prosecute suspect1,57032.5%
Investigation complete; no suspect identified1,26926.3%
Not recorded66213.7%
Under investigation54911.4%
Awaiting court outcome1873.9%
Status update unavailable1813.8%
Court result unavailable1382.9%
Local resolution1002.1%
Further action is not in the public interest621.3%
Offender given a caution561.2%
Action to be taken by another organisation260.5%
Further investigation is not in the public interest120.2%

Batley has an estimated population of 42,616. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Batley sits in decile 3.1, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

MeasureBatley
Aged 0 to 1522.0%
Aged 16 to 6463.6%
Aged 65 and over14.3%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage59.5%
Social rented homes20.1%
Private rented homes20.0%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)3.1
Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas20.7%

Is Batley a safe place to live?

Batley recorded 113.2 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 Batley?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,944 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (662).

Is crime in Batley going up or down?

Recorded crime in Batley was up 7% on the year before: 4,826 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 4,510 in the previous 12 months.

Which police force covers Batley?

Batley is policed by West Yorkshire. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.

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 Batley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.

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