Crime in Wakefield
Recorded crime in Wakefield is 1.4 times the England and Wales average. Over 5 years it has fallen 18%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
367,666 residents in 215 neighbourhoods. 2% live in busy town or city centres.
- Safety
- 2/10High crime
- Living
- 6.8/10Good
- 5-year change
- −18%fewer crimes
Crime over 5 years
Down 18% in 5 years Recorded crimes in Wakefield, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 1.4× the England and Wales average. 109 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 68% of the harm here
- Burglary: 13% of the harm here
- Other theft: 4% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 68% 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: 17 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 | 5.9 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 47.4 |
| Drugs | 2.7 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.8 |
| Other crime | 3.0 |
| Other theft | 8.5 |
| Theft from the person | 0.8 |
| Vehicle crime | 6.7 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 10.7 |
| Public order | 12.3 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.7 |
| Shoplifting | 9.1 |
Towns and cities in Wakefield
Postcode districts in Wakefield
Questions about crime in Wakefield
- Is Wakefield a safe place to live?
- Wakefield scores 2 out of 10 for safety (high crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Wakefield?
- Down 18% over 5 years, from 46,744 recorded crimes a year to 38,172.
- What is the most common crime in Wakefield?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 47 per 1,000 residents a year.