Crime in Shelf and Northowram: statistics, rates and trends
305 crimes were recorded in Shelf and Northowram in the 12 months to August 2026, 50.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 22% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Shelf and Northowram at a glance
- Crime trends in Shelf and Northowram
- Types of crime in Shelf and Northowram
- Shelf and Northowram compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Shelf and Northowram
- Streets with the most crime in Shelf and Northowram
- What happened after crimes were reported in Shelf and Northowram
- Demographics of Shelf and Northowram
- Questions about crime in Shelf and Northowram
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (120), vehicle crime (36) and other theft (32) made up 62% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,139th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Shelf and Northowram | Calderdale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 305 | 24,413 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 50.3 | 115.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -22% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 6,068 | 210,929 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Shelf and Northowram of any year here (305 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 30%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 305 | 50.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 389 | 64.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 359 | 59.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 375 | 61.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 366 | 60.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 318 | 52.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 334 | 55.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 424 | 69.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 438 | 72.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 29 |
| July 2026 | 26 |
| June 2026 | 24 |
| May 2026 | 31 |
| April 2026 | 22 |
| March 2026 | 25 |
| February 2026 | 15 |
| January 2026 | 20 |
| December 2025 | 32 |
| November 2025 | 29 |
| October 2025 | 26 |
| September 2025 | 26 |
Compared with England and Wales, Shelf and Northowram recorded notably more burglary (30% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (77% below) and violence and sexual offences (42% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 28 to 36 and burglary rose from 24 to 28, while anti-social behaviour fell from 38 to 21 and other theft fell from 51 to 32.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 120 | 19.8 | 34.2 | -18% |
| Vehicle crime | 36 | 5.9 | 5.0 | +29% |
| Other theft | 32 | 5.3 | 6.4 | -37% |
| Burglary | 28 | 4.6 | 3.6 | +17% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 25 | 4.1 | 6.7 | -36% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 21 | 3.5 | 15.4 | -45% |
| Other crime | 16 | 2.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Public order | 16 | 2.6 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.5 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 2 | 0.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 2 | 0.3 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Every one of the 8 nearest towns has a higher crime rate than Shelf and Northowram.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Shelf and Northowram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensbury | 920 | 79.9 | +59% |
| Halifax | 13,867 | 151.6 | +202% |
| Brighouse | 3,315 | 99.9 | +99% |
| Elland | 1,858 | 121.7 | +142% |
| Bradford | 52,637 | 152.3 | +203% |
| Cleckheaton | 1,521 | 123.0 | +145% |
| Gomersal and Birkenshaw | 1,178 | 73.1 | +45% |
| Liversedge | 1,687 | 103.7 | +106% |
Northowram and Shelf is the one area listed within Shelf and Northowram, with 58.3 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northowram and Shelf | Neighbourhood | 11,717 | 683 | 58.3 |
The 10 locations below account for 37% of the crime recorded in Shelf and Northowram over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (17).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 17 |
| On or near Old Godley Lane | 16 |
| On or near Glencoe | 14 |
| On or near Wade House Avenue | 14 |
| On or near Hough | 12 |
| On or near Wade House Road | 11 |
| On or near Highfield | 8 |
| On or near Burned Road | 7 |
| On or near Burnside Avenue | 7 |
| On or near Westercroft Lane | 7 |
Of the 284 crimes in Shelf and Northowram with a recorded outcome, 38% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 21 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 109 | 38.4% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 108 | 38.0% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 24 | 8.5% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 6.3% | 4.7% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 10 | 3.5% | 0.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 4 | 1.4% | 5.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 1.4% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 2 | 0.7% | 3.1% |
Shelf and Northowram has an estimated population of 6,068 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has less social housing (6.6%, against 17.1%), fewer students (4.4%, against 7.9%) and more retired residents (30%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Shelf and Northowram average decile 7.5 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Shelf and Northowram | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 59.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 31.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 15.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Shelf and Northowram a safe place to live?
Shelf and Northowram recorded 50.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,139th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were burglary.
What is the most common crime in Shelf and Northowram?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 120 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by vehicle crime (36).
Is crime in Shelf and Northowram going up or down?
Recorded crime in Shelf and Northowram was down 22% on the year before: 305 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 389 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Shelf and Northowram?
About 6,068 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Shelf and Northowram?
Shelf and Northowram 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.