Crime in Shelf and Northowram: statistics, rates and trends
306 crimes were recorded in Shelf and Northowram in the 12 months to July 2026, 50.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 19% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Shelf and Northowram
- Questions about crime in Shelf and Northowram
- About this data
306 crimes were recorded in Shelf and Northowram in the 12 months to July 2026, 50.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 19% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 121 reports (40% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Shelf and Northowram has the 1,150th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Shelf and Northowram | Calderdale | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 306 | 24,636 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 50.4 | 116.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -19% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 6,068 | 210,929 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Shelf and Northowram was highest in the year to July 2019 (437 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (306). Over the whole period it fell 28%, 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 | 306 | 50.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 380 | 62.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 374 | 61.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 368 | 60.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 362 | 59.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 328 | 54.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 333 | 54.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 437 | 72.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 424 | 69.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 30 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Shelf and Northowram 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 burglary (+18%).
The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-34%) and criminal damage and arson (-34%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 121 | 19.9 | 0.58 | -16% |
| Other theft | 34 | 5.6 | 0.88 | -29% |
| Vehicle crime | 32 | 5.3 | 1.07 | +3% |
| Burglary | 26 | 4.3 | 1.21 | +18% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 25 | 4.1 | 0.61 | -34% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 23 | 3.8 | 0.25 | -34% |
| Public order | 18 | 3.0 | 0.45 | -18% |
| Other crime | 16 | 2.6 | 1.25 | +0% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.5 | 0.60 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.5 | 0.37 | +0% |
| Drugs | 2 | 0.3 | 0.10 | -85% |
| Shoplifting | 2 | 0.3 | 0.04 | -60% |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.2 | 0.17 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Shelf and Northowram
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Shelf and Northowram recorded 121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 39.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Shelf and Northowram
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Shelf and Northowram recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 11.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Shelf and Northowram
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Shelf and Northowram recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 10.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Shelf and Northowram
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Shelf and Northowram recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Shelf and Northowram
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Shelf and Northowram recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Shelf and Northowram
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Shelf and Northowram recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Shelf and Northowram
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Shelf and Northowram recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Shelf and Northowram
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Shelf and Northowram recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Shelf and Northowram
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Shelf and Northowram recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Shelf and Northowram
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Shelf and Northowram recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Shelf and Northowram
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Shelf and Northowram recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 85% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Shelf and Northowram
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Shelf and Northowram recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Shelf and Northowram
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Shelf and Northowram recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Shelf and Northowram, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Shelf and Northowram.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Shelf and Northowram |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queensbury | 928 | 80.6 | +60% |
| Halifax | 13,947 | 152.5 | +202% |
| Brighouse | 3,339 | 100.6 | +100% |
| Elland | 1,891 | 123.8 | +146% |
| Bradford | 52,909 | 153.1 | +204% |
| Cleckheaton | 1,501 | 121.4 | +141% |
| Gomersal and Birkenshaw | 1,193 | 74.0 | +47% |
| Liversedge | 1,674 | 102.9 | +104% |
1 areas within Shelf and Northowram, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Northowram and Shelf had the highest rate (58.2 per 1,000) and Northowram and Shelf the lowest (58.2). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northowram and Shelf | Neighbourhood | 11,717 | 682 | 58.2 |
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 Shelf and Northowram over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Old Godley Lane | 18 |
| On or near Parking Area | 15 |
| On or near Glencoe | 14 |
| On or near Wade House Avenue | 13 |
| On or near Hough | 12 |
| On or near Wade House Road | 10 |
| On or near Highfield | 8 |
| On or near Hall Stone Court | 8 |
| On or near Westercroft Lane | 8 |
| On or near Belle Vue Road | 7 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Shelf and Northowram 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 | 108 | 35.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 104 | 34.0% |
| Under investigation | 28 | 9.2% |
| Not recorded | 23 | 7.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 16 | 5.2% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 9 | 2.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 1.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 4 | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 1.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.7% |
Shelf and Northowram has an estimated population of 6,068. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Shelf and Northowram sits in decile 7.5, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Shelf and Northowram |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 79.4% |
| Social rented homes | 6.6% |
| Private rented homes | 14.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.5 |
Is Shelf and Northowram a safe place to live?
Shelf and Northowram recorded 50.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than 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 Shelf and Northowram?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by other theft (34).
Is crime in Shelf and Northowram going up or down?
Recorded crime in Shelf and Northowram was down 19% on the year before: 306 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 380 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Shelf and Northowram?
Shelf and Northowram is policed by West Yorkshire. 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 Shelf and Northowram. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.