Crime in Bradford: statistics, rates and trends

52,909 crimes were recorded in Bradford in the 12 months to July 2026, 153.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 22,404 reports (42% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Bradford has the 58th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Bradford was highest in the year to July 2018 (60,895 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (52,909). Over the whole period it fell 13%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bradford 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, criminal damage and arson, public order.

The largest increases were in bicycle theft (+28%) and vehicle crime (+27%). The largest falls were in public order (-12%) and theft from the person (-11%).

Violence and sexual offences in Bradford

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bradford recorded 22,404 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (64.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 42.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Bradford

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bradford recorded 4,678 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Bradford

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bradford recorded 4,208 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Bradford

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bradford recorded 4,010 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Bradford

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bradford recorded 3,424 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Bradford

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bradford recorded 3,305 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Bradford

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bradford recorded 2,735 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Bradford

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bradford recorded 2,402 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Bradford

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bradford recorded 2,220 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Bradford

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bradford recorded 1,754 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Bradford

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Bradford recorded 681 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Bradford

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Bradford recorded 427 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Bradford

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bradford recorded 411 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Bradford

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Bradford recorded 250 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 28% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

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

17 areas within Bradford, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. City had the highest rate (383.0 per 1,000) and Idle and Thackley the lowest (99.7). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Bradford over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bradford 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.

Bradford has an estimated population of 345,598. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bradford sits in decile 2.2, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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

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