West Yorkshire Crime 2023

Written by regionadmin

9th September 2021

West Yorkshire Crime

West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in northern England comprising five boroughs: Calderdale, Kirklees, and the cities of Leeds, Wakefield, and Bradford. It’s known for its beautiful rugged landscapes, industrial heritage towns, and charming Brontë-country villages, all of which draw thousands of tourists each year.

But just how safe is it for those who want to visit or even live there? Let’s take a closer look at West Yorkshire crime rate and crime statistics.

West Yorkshire Crime Rate

In 2020, the overall crime rate in West Yorkshire was 104 crimes per 1,000 people, making it the second most dangerous county in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This doesn’t mean that the whole of West Yorkshire is dangerous and crime-ridden, though.

For instance, the towns of Huddersfield and Dewsbury in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees are considered the safest areas in the county. The city of Wakefield in the east also has a fairly low crime rate.

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

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 centers and sprawling farmhouses in the countryside. Its public transportation system is reliable and convenient too.

In particular, the towns of Pudsey in Leeds and Keighley in Bradford are considered popular places to live in. Both were recently included in a list of Britain’s top ten property hotspots, which indicates that more and more people are relocating there.

Bradford Crime Rate

In 2020, the overall crime rate in Bradford was 133 crimes per 1,000 people, making it the most dangerous city in West Yorkshire. This high number also means that the city is among the topmost dangerous areas in the country.

Criminal offenses related to violence and sex are incredibly common in Bradford, with a total of 21,607 cases reported in 2020, giving a crime rate of 61. Meanwhile, its least common crime is bicycle theft, with 172 police reports of such filed in 2020.

Bradford Crime Statistics

Based on data gathered by CrimeWatch UK, here’s a summary of the crimes that took place in Bradford in 2020:

Crime Count Rate
Violence and Sexual Offenses 21,607 60.66
Anti-Social Behaviour 8,623 24.21
Public Order 5,846 16.41
Criminal Damage and Arson 5,045 14.16
Burglary 2,926 8.21
Other Theft 2,836 7.96
Vehicle Crime 2,461 6.91
Drugs 2,027 5.69
Shoplifting 1,673 4.70
Other Crime 1,509 4.24
Robbery 505 1.42
Possession of Weapons 411 1.15
Theft From the Person 367 1.03
Bicycle Theft 172 0.48

 

In Bradford, the neighbourhoods of Broomfields and East Bowling experienced the most crime in 2020, with a total of 2,211 police reports filed, giving a rate of 335.

On the other hand, the neighbourhoods of Calverley and Farsley North experienced the least crime in 2020, with a total of 403 police reports filed, giving a rate of 49.

Is Bradford Safe?

Unfortunately, its high crime rate makes Bradford a rather dangerous place, especially for families with young kids. In fact, a study conducted by Uswitch back in 2015 even deemed it the worst city to live in, although this was based on factors other than crime and safety, such as employment, income, and living costs.

is wakefield safe

Wakefield Crime Rate

Wakefield is another popular area within the West of Yorkshire but what is Wakefield’s crime rate really like? In 2020, the overall crime rate in Wakefield was 115 crimes per 1,000 people.

Although this is 9% higher than West Yorkshire’s crime rate of 104 crimes per 1,000 residents, it still makes Wakefield the second safest major area in the county.

Much like Bradford, offenses related to violence and sex are the most common crimes committed in Wakefield. A total of 5,375 cases of such were reported in 2020, giving a crime rate of 50. Its least common crime is bicycle theft too, with 90 reports lodged with the police.

Wakefield Crime Statistics

Based on data gathered by CrimeWatch UK, here’s a summary of the crimes that took place in Wakefield in 2020:

Crime Count Rate
Violence and Sexual Offenses 5,375 49.98
Anti-Social Behaviour 2,396 22.28
Public Order 1,594 14.82
Criminal Damage and Arson 1,172 10.90
Shoplifting 990 9.21
Other Theft 908 8.44
Burglary 659 6.13
Vehicle Crime 584 5.43
Drugs 357 3.32
Other Crime 309 2.87
Possession of Weapons 121 1.13
Theft From the Person 104 0.97
Robbery 103 0.96
Bicycle Theft 90 0.84

 

In Wakefield, the neighbourhood of Wakefield Central experienced the most crime in 2020, with a total of 2,867 police reports filed, giving a rate of 329.

Meanwhile, the neighbourhood of Sandal experienced the least crime in 2020, with a total of 396 police reports filed, giving a rate of 64.

Is Wakefield Safe?

Is Wakefield safe is a common question asked about the area. Compared to Bradford and other towns in West Yorkshire, Wakefield is relatively safe to live in, despite its overall crime rate. People are also attracted to its proximity to other major cities in the county, as well as to its affordable real estate prices, low cost of living, and abundance of nature.

Families also love Wakefield because of the many prestigious schools found there. For instance, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in the market town of Faversham has existed for more than four centuries and is known for its excellent curriculum.

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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