Crime in Skipton: statistics, rates and trends
1,217 crimes were recorded in Skipton in the 12 months to August 2026, 76.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (466), anti-social behaviour (311) and shoplifting (107) made up 73% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 670th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Skipton | North Yorkshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,217 | 41,610 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 76.6 | 65.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 15,882 | 635,270 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Skipton of any year here (1,217 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 26%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,217 | 76.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,320 | 83.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,308 | 82.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,403 | 88.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,392 | 87.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,287 | 81.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,455 | 91.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,318 | 83.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,636 | 103.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 114 |
| July 2026 | 92 |
| June 2026 | 90 |
| May 2026 | 106 |
| April 2026 | 96 |
| March 2026 | 93 |
| February 2026 | 70 |
| January 2026 | 90 |
| December 2025 | 102 |
| November 2025 | 131 |
| October 2025 | 126 |
| September 2025 | 107 |
Compared with England and Wales, Skipton recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (27% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (65% below) and drugs (50% below). On the year before, burglary fell from 79 to 34 and public order fell from 95 to 64.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 466 | 29.3 | 34.2 | +8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 311 | 19.6 | 15.4 | -10% |
| Shoplifting | 107 | 6.7 | 8.5 | +5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 81 | 5.1 | 6.7 | -12% |
| Public order | 64 | 4.0 | 6.7 | -33% |
| Other theft | 57 | 3.6 | 6.4 | -3% |
| Burglary | 34 | 2.1 | 3.6 | -57% |
| Vehicle crime | 28 | 1.8 | 5.0 | -22% |
| Drugs | 26 | 1.6 | 3.3 | -7% |
| Other crime | 14 | 0.9 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 8 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Robbery | 6 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Skipton; the highest is Keighley (135.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Ilkley (49.6).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Skipton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silsden | 590 | 63.3 | -17% |
| Steeton | 401 | 75.6 | -1% |
| Barnoldswick | 580 | 52.0 | -32% |
| Keighley | 7,071 | 135.6 | +77% |
| Ilkley | 735 | 49.6 | -35% |
| Colne | 2,469 | 122.1 | +59% |
| Bingley | 1,768 | 77.3 | +1% |
| Barrowford | 451 | 66.1 | -14% |
Of the 3 areas within Skipton, Skipton West & West Craven had the highest crime rate (87.4 per 1,000) and Skipton East & South the lowest (50.7).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skipton West & West Craven | Neighbourhood | 6,315 | 552 | 87.4 |
| Skipton North & Embsay-with-Eastby | Neighbourhood | 5,867 | 360 | 61.4 |
| Skipton East & South | Neighbourhood | 7,685 | 390 | 50.7 |
The 10 locations below account for 37% of the crime recorded in Skipton over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Bus/Coach Station” (83).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Bus/Coach Station | 83 |
| On or near Supermarket | 68 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 62 |
| On or near Swadford Street | 48 |
| On or near Nightclub | 39 |
| On or near Rombalds Way | 38 |
| On or near Brookside | 30 |
| On or near Whinny Gill Road | 29 |
| On or near Mill Bridge | 28 |
| On or near Kendals Yard | 26 |
Of the 906 crimes in Skipton with a recorded outcome, 25% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 311 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 403 | 44.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 229 | 25.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 118 | 13.0% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 40 | 4.4% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 40 | 4.4% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 19 | 2.1% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 18 | 2.0% | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 16 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 10 | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Skipton has an estimated population of 15,882 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.5%, against 7.9%), an older population (25%, against 19%) and more retired residents (28%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Skipton average decile 6.6 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Skipton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 36.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 22.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Skipton a safe place to live?
Skipton recorded 76.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 670th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Skipton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 466 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (311).
Is crime in Skipton going up or down?
Recorded crime in Skipton was down 8% on the year before: 1,217 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,320 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Skipton?
About 15,882 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 25% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Skipton?
Skipton is policed by North Yorkshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.