Derby Crime Rate

Derby is a major industrial city with an overall crime rate of 131.4 per 1,000 people for the period of January 2025 to December 2025. This figure is above the UK national average of 91.6, resulting in a safety score of 69/100. The crime trend is currently stable, showing a minor 0.7% decrease year-over-year. Property crime in Derby is recorded at 38.6 per 1,000, which is also higher than the UK average of 32.2. This suggests that residents face a higher risk of burglary and theft than in many other parts of the country. The majority of local crime is driven by violence and anti-social behaviour. This analysis provides a comprehensive look at the safety landscape across the Derby local authority area.

Derby is a historic city in the East Midlands, known for its strong industrial heritage and role as a major transport hub. It is home to world-renowned engineering firms like Rolls-Royce and Toyota UK, which provide significant employment. The city centre is a busy commercial hub with a diverse retail offering and a vibrant night-time economy, particularly around the Cathedral Quarter and Friar Gate.

As a major rail and road junction, Derby has a high transient population, which can influence crime statistics. The city's geography includes a mix of high-density urban wards, sprawling suburban estates, and more affluent residential areas. Socio-economic factors, including pockets of urban deprivation, contribute to the local crime profile, particularly regarding anti-social behaviour and acquisitive crime. The presence of a large student population at the University of Derby also adds to the city's demographic diversity. These factors—industrial activity, transport connectivity, and urban density—all play a role in shaping the safety landscape of the Derby local authority area.

In Derby, the crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, which account for 40.0% of all recorded incidents (52.5 per 1,000 residents). Anti-social behaviour is the second most common category at 13.9%, followed by public order offences at 9.3%. These three types make up over 60% of the total crime in the city.

Property-related crime in Derby is recorded at 38.6 per 1,000 people, which is higher than the UK national average of 32.2. Within this category, shoplifting is the most prevalent, representing 8.1% of total crime, followed by other theft at 6.0%. Vehicle crime and burglary are also significant, accounting for 3.7% and 2.6% of total incidents respectively. For homeowners, this means that while the risk of burglary is relatively low (3.5 per 1,000), there is a persistent level of general theft and vehicle crime across the city. Residents should be mindful that the overall volume of property crime in a large city like Derby necessitates consistent security awareness, particularly in urban and commercial areas.

The crime trend in Derby is currently stable, with a minor 0.7% decrease in total offences recorded between January 2025 and December 2025. Monthly data shows a consistent pattern of activity, with the crime rate per 1,000 people hovering between 9.8 and 12.0. The busiest months were March, May, June, July, and August, all recording rates of 11.4 or higher, peaking at 12.0 in July. This aligns with typical urban patterns, as higher footfall during the spring and summer months often leads to an increase in reported incidents.

The quieter months were January, February, November, and December, with rates dipping as low as 9.8. This stability suggests that Derby's safety environment is predictable, without major surges or declines in criminal activity. For residents, this means that the risks remain consistent throughout the year, though extra vigilance is recommended during the peak summer months when the city is at its busiest. Overall, the data indicates a well-managed safety landscape for a city of Derby's size and complexity.

When compared to its immediate neighbours, Derby's crime statistics reflect its status as the region's primary urban centre. Surrounding areas such as Erewash, South Derbyshire, Amber Valley, and Broxtowe all record significantly lower crime rates, often near zero in comparison to the city's 131.4 per 1,000. Similarly, nearby cities like Nottingham also show lower reported figures in this data period. This disparity is typical for the East Midlands, where a large city like Derby naturally experiences a higher concentration of crime than the surrounding rural and semi-rural districts. For those seeking an urban lifestyle in the region, Derby's stats are a standard reflection of city life.

With a property crime rate of 38.6 per 1,000 and a significant amount of anti-social behaviour, Derby residents should consider the limitations of traditional security. Most standard CCTV systems are reactive; they record footage of a crime as it happens, which often only helps after the damage is done. In a city where property crime and anti-social behaviour are top concerns, the goal should be to prevent the incident from occurring in the first place.

scOS offers a proactive alternative by using AI to monitor property boundaries in real-time. Unlike a simple doorbell camera, scOS identifies potential threats before they reach your door. It can recognise family members and deliveries while alerting you only to genuine risks. If a threat is detected, scOS can autonomously trigger responses like lighting and audio warnings to deter the intruder. For Derby homeowners, this means moving from just having evidence of a crime to actively preventing it. In an urban environment, the visible deterrence of a professional-grade AI system like scOS is a powerful tool in keeping your property safe.

How To Keep Safe in Derby

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crimes in Derby, making up 40% of all recorded incidents. While much of this is concentrated in specific urban areas and related to the night-time economy, all residents can benefit from increased safety awareness.

To stay safe in the Derby local authority area, consider the following advice:

• When enjoying Derby's nightlife, particularly in the Cathedral Quarter or Friar Gate, stay with friends and use licensed taxis or public transport to get home.
• Be aware of your surroundings in busy urban areas and stick to well-lit, populated routes at night.
• Given the prevalence of anti-social behaviour, ensure your home's exterior is well-lit and that boundaries like fences and gates are secure.
• Report any suspicious activity or anti-social behaviour to the local police via 101 to help them target patrols more effectively.
• Keep your home and vehicle secure at all times; as property crime is above the national average, opportunistic theft can occur in any urban setting.