Crime in Barnsley
Recorded crime in Barnsley is 1.2 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 13%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
251,770 residents in 148 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 3/10Above average crime
- Living
- 6.5/10Good
- 5-year change
- −13%fewer crimes
Crime over 5 years
Down 13% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Barnsley, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.2× the England and Wales average. 95 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 61% of the harm here
- Burglary: 18% of the harm here
- Robbery: 5% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 61% 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: 22 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 | 0.9 |
| Burglary | 7.1 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 37.1 |
| Drugs | 2.3 |
| Possession of weapons | 1.0 |
| Other crime | 3.5 |
| Other theft | 7.4 |
| Theft from the person | 0.4 |
| Vehicle crime | 7.1 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 12.0 |
| Public order | 9.3 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.4 |
| Shoplifting | 6.3 |
Towns and cities in Barnsley
Postcode districts in Barnsley
Questions about crime in Barnsley
- Is Barnsley a safe place to live?
- Barnsley scores 3 out of 10 for safety (above average crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Barnsley?
- Down 13% over 5 years, from 26,057 recorded crimes a year to 22,581.
- What is the most common crime in Barnsley?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 37 per 1,000 residents a year.