West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in northern England, consisting of five boroughs: Calderdale, Kirklees, and the cities of Leeds, Wakefield, and Bradford. Renowned for its stunning rugged landscapes, industrial heritage towns, and picturesque Brontë-country villages, the area attracts thousands of tourists annually. But how safe is it for visitors and residents alike? We’ll be discussing this and more such as what is West Yorkshire’s crime rate really like.
West Yorkshire Crime Rate
According to Plumplot, West Yorkshire’s overall crime rate is 140.2 crimes per 1,000 people. Its most common crime is violent crimes, which make up more than 40.7% of all crimes reported in the area. Public order crimes are another crime that threatens West Yorkshire’s safety. In 2023, public order crimes made up more than 9.8% of all crimes committed in the area.
While the county’s least common crime is bicycle theft crimes. Bike theft crimes made up 0.6% of all crimes committed in West Yorkshire.
West Yorkshire Crime Prevention
Given the country’s high crime rate, the West Yorkshire Police has made sure that each of the five boroughs has a District Crime Prevention Team whose services can be accessed around the clock. These units are made up of several Crime Prevention Officers, all of whom are trained to address the public’s safety and security needs.
For instance, there are officers who focus on cybercrime and residential burglaries, as well as those who deal with cases that involve domestic abuse, scams, human trafficking, and even terrorism.
To add to that, victims are also provided with an online Crime Tracker, which they can use to receive updates about their case from the officer handling it. As part of the West Yorkshire Police’s Victim Care and Support program, this service has proven to be effective at strengthening the public’s trust in the authorities.
Is West Yorkshire A Good Place To Live?
Despite its relatively high crime rate, West Yorkshire is still widely regarded as one of the best places to live in England. Its diverse environment allows for both apartments in bustling city centres and sprawling farmhouses in the countryside. Its public transportation system is reliable and convenient too.
Bradford Crime Rate
When it comes to crime, Bradford is the most dangerous city in West Yorkshire. According to Crimerate, last year Bradford had an overall crime rate of 158 crimes per 1,000 people. This was 23% higher than West Yorkshire’s overall crime rate of 129 crimes per 1,000 people.
Many crimes affect Bradford’s safety but the most popular are violent and sexual offences. In 2023, violent crimes had decreased by 3.8% and were reported 24,516 times. Violent crimes also had an average crime rate of 76. Bicycle theft is Bradford’s least common crime. In 2023, these had decreased by 4.2% and were reported 229 times.
Bradford’s Most Dangerous Wards
To get a better understanding of which areas in Bradford have the most incidents of crimes, we have compiled a list using statistics from Crimerate.
|
Ward |
Crime Count |
Crime Rate |
|
City |
9,715 |
194 |
|
Bowling & Barkerend |
4,040 |
127 |
|
Tong |
4,005 |
169 |
|
Eccleshill |
2,849 |
204 |
|
Bradford Moor |
2,839 |
119 |
|
Little Horton |
2,776 |
126 |
|
Great Horton |
2,773 |
183 |
|
Royds |
2,759 |
197 |
|
Manningham |
2,460 |
121 |
|
Toller |
2,317 |
104 |
The statistics reveal that Bradford city centre has the highest crime rate. City centres generally attract larger crowds, which can lead to increased crime due to the higher level of activity.
Is Bradford Safe?
Unfortunately, its high crime rate makes Bradford a rather dangerous place. When compared to the whole of the UK, Bradford is ranked as 2nd most dangerous city. It’s also ranked as the 220th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages in the UK.
Wakefield Crime Rate
Wakefield is another popular area within the West of Yorkshire but what is Wakefield’s crime rate really like? Crimerate reports in 2023 Wakefield had an overall crime rate of 152 crimes per 1,000 people. This was 18% higher than West Yorkshire’s own crime rate of 129 crimes.
Much like Bradford, Wakefield’s most common crime is violent and sexual offences. In 2023, violent crimes had decreased by 3.3% and were reported 14,591 times. Wakefield’s least common crime is bicycle theft. In 2023, bike theft crimes had increased by 4.7% and were reported 199 times.
Wakefield’s Most Dangerous Wards
To get a better understanding of where crime in Wakefield is committed, we have made a list using statistics from Crimerate.
|
Ward |
Crime Count |
Crime Rate |
|
Wakefield North |
4,790 |
170 |
|
Castleford Central & Glasshoughton |
3,345 |
166 |
|
Wakefield West |
3,119 |
185 |
|
Wakefield East |
3,025 |
159 |
|
Pontefract North |
2,808 |
161 |
|
Wakefield South |
1,964 |
169 |
|
Airedale & Ferry Fryston |
1,929 |
166 |
|
Knottingley |
1,910 |
154 |
|
Altofts & Whitwood |
1,802 |
102 |
|
Ossett |
1,427 |
97 |
From looking at the statistics we can see that Wakefield North had the most crime committed.
Is Wakefield Safe?
A common question asked about Wakefield is whether the area is safe or not. Wakefield is viewed as the second safest town in the whole of West Yorkshire. When compared to the UK, Wakefield is among the top 10 most dangerous major towns. It is also ranked as the 257th most dangerous location in the UK.
Check out our other articles to see whether the crime in the South of Yorkshire has increased and to see what the crime rate is like in the North of Yorkshire. Or head over to our news page so that you can keep up to date with all the latest Yorkshire news.
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