Crime in Ossett: statistics, rates and trends
1,556 crimes were recorded in Ossett in the 12 months to August 2026, 73.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (643), anti-social behaviour (209) and public order (118) made up 62% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 714th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Ossett | Wakefield | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,556 | 42,896 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 73.8 | 116.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 21,089 | 367,666 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Ossett of any year here (1,556 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 15%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,556 | 73.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,625 | 77.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,773 | 84.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,093 | 99.2 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,033 | 96.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,887 | 89.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,808 | 85.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,825 | 86.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,836 | 87.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 120 |
| July 2026 | 125 |
| June 2026 | 122 |
| May 2026 | 155 |
| April 2026 | 143 |
| March 2026 | 127 |
| February 2026 | 118 |
| January 2026 | 129 |
| December 2025 | 111 |
| November 2025 | 129 |
| October 2025 | 134 |
| September 2025 | 143 |
Compared with England and Wales, Ossett recorded notably more other crime (28% above the national rate), and notably less drugs (64% below) and shoplifting (59% below). On the year before, burglary rose from 67 to 93 and other crime rose from 46 to 57, while shoplifting fell from 99 to 73 and drugs fell from 31 to 25.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 643 | 30.5 | 34.2 | -9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 209 | 9.9 | 15.4 | +2% |
| Public order | 118 | 5.6 | 6.7 | -17% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 110 | 5.2 | 6.7 | +17% |
| Other theft | 100 | 4.7 | 6.4 | -17% |
| Burglary | 93 | 4.4 | 3.6 | +39% |
| Vehicle crime | 92 | 4.4 | 5.0 | +19% |
| Shoplifting | 73 | 3.5 | 8.5 | -26% |
| Other crime | 57 | 2.7 | 2.1 | +24% |
| Drugs | 25 | 1.2 | 3.3 | -19% |
| Robbery | 12 | 0.6 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 11 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Ossett; the highest is Wakefield (148.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Crigglestone and Durkar (61.1).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ossett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horbury | 783 | 84.5 | +15% |
| Dewsbury | 8,191 | 125.1 | +70% |
| Wakefield | 14,395 | 148.2 | +101% |
| East Ardsley | 1,125 | 77.9 | +6% |
| Crigglestone and Durkar | 320 | 61.1 | -17% |
| Batley | 4,884 | 114.6 | +55% |
| Heckmondwike | 1,134 | 95.4 | +29% |
| Morley (Leeds) | 4,442 | 133.4 | +81% |
Ossett is the one area listed within Ossett, with 78.9 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ossett | Neighbourhood | 16,549 | 1,305 | 78.9 |
The 10 locations below account for 21% of the crime recorded in Ossett over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Union Street” (93).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Union Street | 93 |
| On or near Runtlings Lane | 55 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 28 |
| On or near Pildacre Croft | 25 |
| On or near Intake Lane | 22 |
| On or near Cross Keys | 21 |
| On or near Netherly Brow | 20 |
| On or near Westwood Road | 20 |
| On or near Naylor Street | 18 |
| On or near Prospect Road | 18 |
Of the 1,347 crimes in Ossett with a recorded outcome, 33% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 209 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 518 | 38.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 444 | 33.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 119 | 8.8% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 82 | 6.1% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 70 | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 46 | 3.4% | 0.3% |
| Local resolution | 24 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 22 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 14 | 1.0% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.1% | 0.6% |
Ossett has an estimated population of 21,089 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.8%, against 7.9%), less private renting (14%, against 20%) and more retired residents (27%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Ossett average decile 5.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Ossett | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 25.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 20.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Ossett a safe place to live?
Ossett recorded 73.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 714th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime.
What is the most common crime in Ossett?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 643 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (209).
Is crime in Ossett going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ossett was down 4% on the year before: 1,556 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,625 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Ossett?
About 21,089 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Ossett?
Ossett is policed by West Yorkshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.