Crime in Leek: statistics, rates and trends
1,714 crimes were recorded in Leek in the 12 months to July 2026, 92.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before.
1,714 crimes were recorded in Leek in the 12 months to July 2026, 92.3 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 744 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Leek has the 451st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Leek | Staffordshire Moorlands | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,714 | 6,517 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 92.3 | 67.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 18,578 | 96,651 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Leek was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,928 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (1,523). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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 | 1,714 | 92.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,832 | 98.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,651 | 88.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,783 | 96.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,914 | 103.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,523 | 82.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,574 | 84.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,722 | 92.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,928 | 103.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 153 |
| June 2026 | 137 |
| May 2026 | 137 |
| April 2026 | 152 |
| March 2026 | 129 |
| February 2026 | 138 |
| January 2026 | 115 |
| December 2025 | 142 |
| November 2025 | 140 |
| October 2025 | 142 |
| September 2025 | 166 |
| August 2025 | 163 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Leek 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. The largest increases were in drugs (+72%) and burglary (+29%).
The largest falls were in shoplifting (-60%) and criminal damage and arson (-14%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 744 | 40.0 | 1.17 | -7% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 311 | 16.7 | 1.09 | +21% |
| Public order | 142 | 7.6 | 1.15 | +8% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 121 | 6.5 | 0.96 | -14% |
| Shoplifting | 105 | 5.7 | 0.68 | -60% |
| Other theft | 91 | 4.9 | 0.77 | -7% |
| Drugs | 50 | 2.7 | 0.82 | +72% |
| Burglary | 45 | 2.4 | 0.68 | +29% |
| Vehicle crime | 31 | 1.7 | 0.34 | +7% |
| Other crime | 27 | 1.5 | 0.69 | +17% |
| Possession of weapons | 20 | 1.1 | 1.11 | +54% |
| Robbery | 13 | 0.7 | 0.52 | +225% |
| Bicycle theft | 11 | 0.6 | 0.72 | +267% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.2 | 0.10 | -40% |
Violence and sexual offences in Leek
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Leek recorded 744 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (40.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 43.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Leek
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Leek recorded 311 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 18.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Leek
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Leek recorded 142 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Leek
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Leek recorded 121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Leek
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Leek recorded 105 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Leek
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Leek recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Leek
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Leek recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 72% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Leek
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Leek recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Leek
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Leek recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Leek
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Leek recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Leek
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Leek recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 54% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Leek
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Leek recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 225% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Leek
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Leek recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 267% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Leek
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Leek recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Leek, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Leek.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Leek |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biddulph | 1,288 | 78.3 | -15% |
| Werrington | 381 | 59.5 | -36% |
| Stoke-on-Trent | 37,321 | 138.9 | +51% |
| Cheadle (Staffordshire Moorlands) | 1,035 | 83.1 | -10% |
| Congleton | 2,329 | 70.1 | -24% |
| Kidsgrove | 1,377 | 88.4 | -4% |
| Blythe Bridge and Forsbrook | 530 | 76.8 | -17% |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | 8,214 | 103.5 | +12% |
4 areas within Leek, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Leek East had the highest rate (108.5 per 1,000) and Leek West the lowest (41.6). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leek East | Neighbourhood | 5,061 | 549 | 108.5 |
| Leek North | Neighbourhood | 5,437 | 522 | 96.0 |
| Leek South | Neighbourhood | 5,728 | 549 | 95.8 |
| Leek West | Neighbourhood | 4,541 | 189 | 41.6 |
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 Leek over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 121 |
| On or near Parking Area | 90 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 52 |
| On or near High Street | 43 |
| On or near Haywood Street | 41 |
| On or near Beresford Place | 39 |
| On or near Church Street | 28 |
| On or near The Doves | 28 |
| On or near Brough Close | 26 |
| On or near Talbot Street | 26 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Leek 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 | 605 | 35.3% |
| Not recorded | 311 | 18.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 284 | 16.6% |
| Under investigation | 187 | 10.9% |
| Local resolution | 96 | 5.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 93 | 5.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 54 | 3.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 45 | 2.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 22 | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
Leek has an estimated population of 18,578. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Leek sits in decile 5.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Leek |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.6% |
| Social rented homes | 15.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 |
Is Leek a safe place to live?
Leek recorded 92.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Leek?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 744 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (311).
Is crime in Leek going up or down?
Recorded crime in Leek was down 6% on the year before: 1,714 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,832 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Leek?
Leek is policed by Staffordshire. 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 Leek. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.