Crime in Knottingley: statistics, rates and trends
1,499 crimes were recorded in Knottingley in the 12 months to July 2026, 166.6 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 17% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Knottingley at a glance
- Crime trends in Knottingley
- Types of crime in Knottingley
- Knottingley compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Knottingley
- Streets with the most crime in Knottingley
- What happened after crimes were reported in Knottingley
- Population and deprivation in Knottingley
- Questions about crime in Knottingley
- About this data
1,499 crimes were recorded in Knottingley in the 12 months to July 2026, 166.6 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 17% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 580 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Knottingley has the 34th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Knottingley | Wakefield | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,499 | 43,130 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 166.6 | 117.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -17% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 8,996 | 367,666 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Knottingley was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,833 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (1,452). Over the whole period it fell 17%, 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 | 1,499 | 166.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,812 | 201.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,452 | 161.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,804 | 200.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,833 | 203.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,553 | 172.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,620 | 180.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,733 | 192.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,801 | 200.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 140 |
| June 2026 | 151 |
| May 2026 | 159 |
| April 2026 | 98 |
| March 2026 | 91 |
| February 2026 | 107 |
| January 2026 | 115 |
| December 2025 | 123 |
| November 2025 | 95 |
| October 2025 | 131 |
| September 2025 | 118 |
| August 2025 | 171 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Knottingley 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, shoplifting.
The largest increases were in other crime (+60%) and criminal damage and arson (+15%). The largest falls were in burglary (-42%) and shoplifting (-34%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 580 | 64.5 | 1.88 | -15% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 163 | 18.1 | 1.18 | -33% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 147 | 16.3 | 2.41 | +15% |
| Shoplifting | 145 | 16.1 | 1.95 | -34% |
| Vehicle crime | 127 | 14.1 | 2.87 | -14% |
| Other theft | 103 | 11.4 | 1.79 | -6% |
| Public order | 89 | 9.9 | 1.49 | -25% |
| Other crime | 56 | 6.2 | 2.95 | +60% |
| Burglary | 38 | 4.2 | 1.19 | -42% |
| Drugs | 23 | 2.6 | 0.78 | -23% |
| Possession of weapons | 11 | 1.2 | 1.26 | +38% |
| Robbery | 7 | 0.8 | 0.58 | -30% |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.7 | 0.39 | -33% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.4 | 0.54 | -33% |
Violence and sexual offences in Knottingley
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Knottingley recorded 580 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (64.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 38.7% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Knottingley
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Knottingley recorded 163 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 10.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Knottingley
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Knottingley recorded 147 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 9.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Knottingley
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Knottingley recorded 145 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 9.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Knottingley
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Knottingley recorded 127 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Knottingley
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Knottingley recorded 103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Knottingley
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Knottingley recorded 89 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Knottingley
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Knottingley recorded 56 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Knottingley
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Knottingley recorded 38 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 down 42% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Knottingley
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Knottingley recorded 23 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 down 23% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Knottingley
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Knottingley recorded 11 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 up 38% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Knottingley
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Knottingley recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Knottingley
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Knottingley recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Knottingley
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Knottingley recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Knottingley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Knottingley.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Knottingley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pontefract | 4,120 | 120.6 | -28% |
| Castleford | 6,842 | 146.8 | -12% |
| Featherstone (Wakefield) | 1,405 | 110.9 | -33% |
| Ackworth Moor Top | 387 | 58.1 | -65% |
| Allerton Bywater | 718 | 89.2 | -46% |
| Sherburn in Elmet | 507 | 54.8 | -67% |
| Upton (Wakefield) | 529 | 81.6 | -51% |
| Kippax | 587 | 57.9 | -65% |
1 areas within Knottingley, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Knottingley had the highest rate (145.2 per 1,000) and Knottingley the lowest (145.2). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Knottingley | Neighbourhood | 14,983 | 2,175 | 145.2 |
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 Knottingley over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 119 |
| On or near Cattlelaith Lane | 110 |
| On or near Ennerdale Drive | 75 |
| On or near Sycamore Close | 41 |
| On or near Lowswater Road | 38 |
| On or near Morley Avenue | 38 |
| On or near Bridge Lane | 37 |
| On or near Redwood Way | 36 |
| On or near Garsdale Walk | 35 |
| On or near Racca Green | 34 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Knottingley 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 | 497 | 33.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 494 | 33.0% |
| Not recorded | 163 | 10.9% |
| Under investigation | 119 | 7.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 62 | 4.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 53 | 3.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 28 | 1.9% |
| Local resolution | 26 | 1.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 20 | 1.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 19 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.3% |
Knottingley has an estimated population of 8,996. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Knottingley sits in decile 2.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Knottingley |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 22.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 54.4% |
| Social rented homes | 31.4% |
| Private rented homes | 14.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 19.3% |
Is Knottingley a safe place to live?
Knottingley recorded 166.6 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 Knottingley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 580 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (163).
Is crime in Knottingley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Knottingley was down 17% on the year before: 1,499 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,812 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Knottingley?
Knottingley 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 Knottingley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.