Thirsk Crime Rate

Thirsk is a historic market town with a safety profile that compares favourably to national benchmarks. The overall crime rate stands at 84.2 per 1,000 people, which is below the UK average of 93.1. This is reflected in a solid safety score of 81/100. Recent data shows that the crime trend in Thirsk is stable, with a minor year-over-year decrease of 2.3%. While the town is generally secure, the statistics point to specific challenges, particularly regarding interpersonal offences and anti-social behaviour. Understanding these patterns is essential for residents and business owners to maintain the town's high safety standards. The following analysis provides a detailed look at crime types, temporal shifts, and how Thirsk compares to its North Yorkshire neighbours.

The primary crime concerns in Thirsk are violence and sexual offences (36.8%), anti-social behaviour (32.5%), and criminal damage and arson (9.2%). These three categories account for nearly 80% of all reported incidents. Property crime, which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various thefts, occurs at a rate of 18.3 per 1,000 residents. This is notably lower than the UK average of 32.9, suggesting that while interpersonal and community-based issues are more frequent, the risk to physical property is relatively contained. Burglary, for instance, represents only 2.3% of the total crime volume, with just 9 incidents reported annually. This indicates that Thirsk remains a secure location for homeowners, though the high rate of criminal damage warrants continued vigilance.

Thirsk is currently experiencing a stable crime trend, with an overall decrease of 2.3% in reported incidents year-over-year. The monthly data reveals significant variance, however. A notable spike occurred in July 2025, where the rate jumped to 12.5 crimes per 1,000 people, followed by 9.7 in August. These summer peaks suggest a seasonal influence on local crime, possibly linked to increased tourism or outdoor activity. The lowest rates were recorded in January 2025 (4.7) and November 2024 (5.0). Despite these monthly highs and lows, the long-term trend suggests that Thirsk remains a consistently secure environment with no alarming upward trajectory in criminal activity.

How To Keep Safe in Thirsk

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crimes in Thirsk, making up nearly 37% of the total. To enhance your personal safety and contribute to a more secure community, consider the following advice:

1. When walking at night, stick to well-lit main roads and avoid shortcuts through unlit parks or alleyways.
2. Be aware of your surroundings in the town centre during peak evening hours, especially on weekends when anti-social behaviour tends to increase.
3. If you are a victim of or witness to anti-social behaviour, report it promptly to North Yorkshire Police to help them map and address local hotspots.
4. Ensure your home has visible security deterrents, such as alarms or high-quality lighting, to discourage criminal damage and opportunistic theft.
5. Use licensed taxi services or pre-plan your journey home if you are out late, ensuring you are never left isolated in quiet areas.

Crime in Thirsk exhibits a clear escalation as the day progresses, with the evening (6pm-12am) and night (12am-6am) periods seeing the highest levels of activity. The evening is particularly prone to anti-social behaviour and public order issues, often linked to the town's evening economy. Interestingly, the night-time hours carry a specific risk for property owners; 19% of all burglaries and 19% of vehicle crimes take place between midnight and 6am. The afternoon (12pm-6pm) also presents a window of vulnerability for residential properties, accounting for 17% of burglaries. This data suggests that while Thirsk is generally safe, residents should be most vigilant during the hours of darkness and when homes are left unattended during the day.

Thirsk serves as a central hub for several smaller, quieter settlements. When compared to its immediate neighbours, Thirsk's crime rate of 84.2 per 1,000 is higher than Sowerby (51.6) and Carlton Miniott (36.4). Smaller villages like Bagby and Thorpefield report no crime at all, highlighting the typical disparity between a bustling market town and rural hamlets. However, Thirsk remains a safe choice for the region, offering a higher safety score (81/100) than many larger urban centres in the North of England, balancing its role as a commercial and transport centre with a strong sense of community security.

With property crime in Thirsk at 18.3 per 1,000 residents, the town is relatively secure, but the risk of criminal damage (9.2% of total crime) remains a factor. Traditional security measures, such as basic CCTV or doorbell cameras, often only provide evidence after a crime has been committed. In Thirsk, where 19% of burglaries and vehicle crimes occur under the cover of darkness, a proactive approach is more effective. The scOS AI-powered operating system is designed to prevent crime rather than just record it. By monitoring all your cameras simultaneously, scOS can detect a potential intruder the moment they step onto your property. Instead of a simple notification on your phone while you are asleep, scOS can autonomously engage deterrents like high-intensity lighting and audio warnings. This immediate response destroys the element of surprise that most burglars rely on. For Thirsk residents, shifting from reactive recording to proactive AI protection ensures that your home is not just watched, but actively defended.