Crime in South Elmsall: statistics, rates and trends
1,345 crimes were recorded in South Elmsall in the 12 months to July 2026, 114.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 25% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in South Elmsall at a glance
- Crime trends in South Elmsall
- Types of crime in South Elmsall
- South Elmsall compared with nearby towns
- Areas within South Elmsall
- Streets with the most crime in South Elmsall
- What happened after crimes were reported in South Elmsall
- Population and deprivation in South Elmsall
- Questions about crime in South Elmsall
- About this data
1,345 crimes were recorded in South Elmsall in the 12 months to July 2026, 114.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 25% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 619 reports (46% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, South Elmsall has the 220th highest crime rate.
| Measure | South Elmsall | Wakefield | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,345 | 43,130 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 114.1 | 117.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -25% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 11,790 | 367,666 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in South Elmsall was highest in the year to July 2024 (2,032 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,345). Over the whole period it fell 22%, 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 | 1,345 | 114.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,789 | 151.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,032 | 172.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,982 | 168.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,688 | 143.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,606 | 136.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,598 | 135.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,607 | 136.3 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,727 | 146.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 117 |
| June 2026 | 117 |
| May 2026 | 114 |
| April 2026 | 114 |
| March 2026 | 131 |
| February 2026 | 79 |
| January 2026 | 73 |
| December 2025 | 76 |
| November 2025 | 96 |
| October 2025 | 144 |
| September 2025 | 137 |
| August 2025 | 147 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in South Elmsall 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, criminal damage and arson, public order. The largest falls were in shoplifting (-51%) and robbery (-50%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 619 | 52.5 | 1.53 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 119 | 10.1 | 0.66 | -48% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 119 | 10.1 | 1.49 | -27% |
| Public order | 101 | 8.6 | 1.29 | -28% |
| Shoplifting | 88 | 7.5 | 0.90 | -51% |
| Other theft | 87 | 7.4 | 1.15 | -21% |
| Vehicle crime | 66 | 5.6 | 1.14 | -28% |
| Burglary | 52 | 4.4 | 1.25 | -26% |
| Other crime | 41 | 3.5 | 1.65 | -37% |
| Drugs | 21 | 1.8 | 0.54 | -46% |
| Possession of weapons | 13 | 1.1 | 1.14 | +44% |
| Robbery | 11 | 0.9 | 0.69 | -50% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.4 | 0.25 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 3 | 0.3 | 0.31 | -25% |
Violence and sexual offences in South Elmsall
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. South Elmsall recorded 619 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (52.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 46.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in South Elmsall
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. South Elmsall recorded 119 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 48% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in South Elmsall
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. South Elmsall recorded 119 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in South Elmsall
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. South Elmsall recorded 101 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in South Elmsall
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. South Elmsall recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 51% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in South Elmsall
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. South Elmsall recorded 87 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in South Elmsall
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. South Elmsall recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in South Elmsall
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. South Elmsall recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in South Elmsall
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. South Elmsall recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 37% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in South Elmsall
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. South Elmsall recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 46% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in South Elmsall
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. South Elmsall recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in South Elmsall
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. South Elmsall recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in South Elmsall
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. South Elmsall recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in South Elmsall
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. South Elmsall recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to South Elmsall, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to South Elmsall.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs South Elmsall |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Kirkby | 1,169 | 129.2 | +13% |
| Upton (Wakefield) | 529 | 81.6 | -29% |
| Hemsworth | 1,374 | 138.3 | +21% |
| Thurnscoe | 1,085 | 107.5 | -6% |
| Grimethorpe | 722 | 116.0 | +2% |
| Ackworth Moor Top | 387 | 58.1 | -49% |
| Adwick le Street | 2,515 | 128.6 | +13% |
| Goldthorpe | 1,036 | 134.7 | +18% |
1 areas within South Elmsall, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. South Elmsall and South Kirkby had the highest rate (118.0 per 1,000) and South Elmsall and South Kirkby the lowest (118.0). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Elmsall and South Kirkby | Neighbourhood | 19,436 | 2,293 | 118.0 |
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 South Elmsall over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 64 |
| On or near Cambridge Street | 61 |
| On or near Supermarket | 53 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 38 |
| On or near Low Gate | 37 |
| On or near Witmore Street | 34 |
| On or near Hutton Drive | 34 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 32 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 29 |
| On or near Wesley Street | 29 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in South Elmsall 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 | 508 | 37.8% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 378 | 28.1% |
| Under investigation | 129 | 9.6% |
| Not recorded | 119 | 8.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 58 | 4.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 47 | 3.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 35 | 2.6% |
| Local resolution | 25 | 1.9% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 20 | 1.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 15 | 1.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.4% |
South Elmsall has an estimated population of 11,790. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in South Elmsall sits in decile 3.1, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | South Elmsall |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 56.3% |
| Social rented homes | 25.0% |
| Private rented homes | 18.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.1 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 37.9% |
Is South Elmsall a safe place to live?
South Elmsall recorded 114.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 South Elmsall?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 619 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (119).
Is crime in South Elmsall going up or down?
Recorded crime in South Elmsall was down 25% on the year before: 1,345 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,789 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers South Elmsall?
South Elmsall 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 South Elmsall. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.