Crime in Matlock: statistics, rates and trends
1,009 crimes were recorded in Matlock in the 12 months to August 2026, 90.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (392), anti-social behaviour (182) and public order (105) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 469th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Matlock | Derbyshire Dales | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,009 | 4,012 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 90.2 | 55.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | 0% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 11,186 | 71,757 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Matlock peaked in the year to August 2023 (1,186 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (799). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 26%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,009 | 90.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,009 | 90.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,085 | 97.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,186 | 106.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,100 | 98.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,070 | 95.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,153 | 103.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 952 | 85.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 799 | 71.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 91 |
| July 2026 | 91 |
| June 2026 | 103 |
| May 2026 | 85 |
| April 2026 | 70 |
| March 2026 | 79 |
| February 2026 | 67 |
| January 2026 | 78 |
| December 2025 | 80 |
| November 2025 | 78 |
| October 2025 | 97 |
| September 2025 | 90 |
Compared with England and Wales, Matlock recorded notably more public order (41% above the national rate) and drugs (34% above the national rate), and notably less other theft (31% below).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 392 | 35.0 | 34.2 | +7% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 182 | 16.3 | 15.4 | -15% |
| Public order | 105 | 9.4 | 6.7 | +9% |
| Shoplifting | 98 | 8.8 | 8.5 | +2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 63 | 5.6 | 6.7 | -15% |
| Other theft | 50 | 4.5 | 6.4 | +2% |
| Drugs | 49 | 4.4 | 3.3 | +11% |
| Vehicle crime | 16 | 1.4 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 15 | 1.3 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 14 | 1.3 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 12 | 1.1 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.6 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Matlock; the highest is Chesterfield (135.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Wingerworth (37.5).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Matlock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clay Cross | 847 | 133.1 | +48% |
| Wingerworth | 315 | 37.5 | -58% |
| Alfreton | 1,195 | 126.4 | +40% |
| North Wingfield and Holmewood | 1,087 | 101.5 | +13% |
| Chesterfield | 10,309 | 135.1 | +50% |
| Belper | 1,058 | 53.4 | -41% |
| Somercotes and Swanwick | 1,630 | 100.5 | +11% |
| Ripley (Amber Valley) | 2,177 | 116.2 | +29% |
Of the 2 areas within Matlock, Matlock West had the highest crime rate (108.7 per 1,000) and Matlock East & Tansley the lowest (75.4).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matlock West | Neighbourhood | 5,372 | 584 | 108.7 |
| Matlock East & Tansley | Neighbourhood | 5,663 | 427 | 75.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 46% of the crime recorded in Matlock over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Matlock” (91).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Matlock | 91 |
| On or near Bakewell Road | 59 |
| On or near Overdale | 59 |
| On or near Parking Area | 58 |
| On or near Nightclub | 47 |
| On or near Bus/Coach Station | 31 |
| On or near Fairholmes | 31 |
| On or near Lumsdale Crescent | 30 |
| On or near Lime Grove Walk | 28 |
| On or near Sherwood Road | 28 |
Of the 827 crimes in Matlock with a recorded outcome, 26% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 182 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 307 | 37.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 216 | 26.1% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 103 | 12.5% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 64 | 7.7% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 53 | 6.4% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 37 | 4.5% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 22 | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Matlock has an estimated population of 11,186 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (28%, against 19%), fewer students (4.2%, against 7.9%) and more retired residents (32%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Matlock average decile 6.5 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Matlock | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 52.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 31.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 37.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 19.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.5 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 13.8% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Matlock a safe place to live?
Matlock recorded 90.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 469th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were public order and drugs.
What is the most common crime in Matlock?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 392 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (182).
Is crime in Matlock going up or down?
Recorded crime in Matlock was almost unchanged on the year before: 1,009 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,009 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Matlock?
About 11,186 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 28% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Matlock?
Matlock is policed by Derbyshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.