Crime in Scarborough: statistics, rates and trends

9,884 crimes were recorded in Scarborough in the 12 months to July 2026, 166.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 11% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,501 reports (35% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Scarborough has the 35th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Scarborough was highest in the year to July 2019 (11,400 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (8,915). Over the whole period it fell 7%, 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 Scarborough 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, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting.

The largest increases were in robbery (+55%) and drugs (+28%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-21%) and other crime (-14%).

Violence and sexual offences in Scarborough

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Scarborough recorded 3,501 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (58.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 35.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Scarborough

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Scarborough recorded 2,681 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (45.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 27.1% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Scarborough

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Scarborough recorded 1,036 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 10.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Scarborough

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Scarborough recorded 756 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Scarborough

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Scarborough recorded 529 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Scarborough

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Scarborough recorded 383 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Scarborough

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Scarborough recorded 357 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 28% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Scarborough

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Scarborough recorded 146 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Scarborough

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Scarborough recorded 135 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Scarborough

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Scarborough recorded 118 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Scarborough

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Scarborough recorded 109 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Scarborough

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Scarborough recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 55% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Scarborough

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Scarborough recorded 43 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 down 2% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Scarborough

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Scarborough recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

8 areas within Scarborough, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Castle had the highest rate (522.7 per 1,000) and Cayton the lowest (65.0). 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 Scarborough over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Scarborough 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.

Scarborough has an estimated population of 59,427. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Scarborough sits in decile 3.7, 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 Scarborough. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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