Is Ards and North Down a safe place to live?

Ards and North Down scores 8 out of 10 for safety (low crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Is crime going up or down in Ards and North Down?

Down 9% over 5 years, from 6,191 recorded crimes a year to 5,617.

What is the most common crime in Ards and North Down?

The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 17 per 1,000 residents a year.

Ards and North DownCouncil area

Crime in Ards and North Down

Recorded crime in Ards and North Down is 0.5 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 9%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.

165,429 residents in 349 neighbourhoods.

Safety: 8/10Low crime
Living: 5.5/10Fair
5-year change: −9%fewer crimes

Open on the map

Crime over 5 years

Down 9% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Ards and North Down, anti-social behaviour left out.

What is recorded

Crime severity: 0.5× the England and Wales average. 35 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.

Violence and sexual offences: 72% of the harm here
Burglary: 9% of the harm here
Drugs: 7% of the harm here

"Violence and sexual offences" is 72% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.

Anti-social behaviour: 25 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.

Crime by type

Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.

Type	Per 1,000 a year
Robbery	0.1
Burglary	1.4
Violence and sexual offences	16.7
Drugs	2.1
Possession of weapons	0.3
Other crime	0.9
Other theft	3.5
Theft from the person	0.0
Vehicle crime	0.7
Criminal damage and arson	6.3
Public order	0.5
Bicycle theft	0.1
Shoplifting	2.3

Towns and cities in Ards and North Down

Postcode districts in Ards and North Down

Questions about crime in Ards and North Down

Is Ards and North Down a safe place to live?: Ards and North Down scores 8 out of 10 for safety (low crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Is crime going up or down in Ards and North Down?: Down 9% over 5 years, from 6,191 recorded crimes a year to 5,617.
What is the most common crime in Ards and North Down?: The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 17 per 1,000 residents a year.