Local Area Crime Statistics

Leeds Crime Rate

Crime is stable and HIGH in Leeds

Explore Leeds crime statistics, revealing an overall crime rate of 129.9 per 1,000 residents and a safety score of 68/100, stable year-on-year.

Overall Crime Rate

129.9
per 1,000 people
39% higher than UK avg

Property Crime Rate

48.6
per 1,000 people
46% higher than UK avg

Based on population of 845,189 over 12 months

Crime Statistics Summary for Leeds

Data last updated: September 2025. Source: Police.uk, ONS, Home Office.

Crime rates per 1,000 people in Leeds
Overall Crime Rate129.9 per 1,000 people
Property Crime Rate48.6 per 1,000 people
UK Average Crime Rate93.4 per 1,000 people
UK Average Property Crime Rate33.2 per 1,000 people
Safety Score68 out of 100
Population845,189
Trendstable
Comparisonsignificantly higher than UK average
Crime Breakdown by Type in Leeds
Crime TypeTotal CountPer 1,000 PeoplePercentage of Total
Violence and sexual offences43,24051.239%
Shoplifting10,52312.410%
Anti-social behaviour9,11310.88%
Public order8,99610.68%
Criminal damage and arson7,3288.77%
Other theft7,2618.67%
Burglary6,0867.26%
Vehicle crime6,0387.16%
Drugs3,2633.93%
Other crime3,0863.63%
Robbery1,7612.12%
Theft from the person1,1811.41%
Possession of weapons1,0121.21%
Bicycle theft8991.11%

Introduction to Crime in Leeds

Leeds, a vibrant city with a population of 845,189, has an overall crime rate of 129.9 per 1,000 people per year. This figure is higher than the UK average crime rate of 93.4 per 1,000, indicating a comparatively higher incidence of crime in the area. The city's safety score stands at 68 out of 100, which is below the UK average safety score of 78, suggesting there is room for improvement in perceived safety. In terms of recent trends, Leeds has experienced a stable period, with a slight decrease of 2.7% in overall crime year-over-year. This section provides a detailed overview of crime statistics, offering context for residents and visitors alike.

About Leeds: Factors Influencing Crime Statistics

Leeds is one of the UK's largest and fastest-growing cities, characterised by its diverse urban landscape, encompassing a bustling city centre, extensive residential areas, and significant commercial and industrial zones. These characteristics inherently influence its crime statistics. As a major economic hub, Leeds attracts a large transient population, including students from its several universities, commuters, and tourists. This high population density and constant movement of people can contribute to increased opportunities for certain types of crime, such as theft and anti-social behaviour, particularly in busy commercial districts and nightlife areas. The city's extensive transport infrastructure, including a major railway station and bus networks, also serves as a point of convergence, which can sometimes correlate with higher public order offences. While Leeds offers numerous amenities and opportunities, the combination of its urban scale, diverse population, and active nightlife contributes to the overall crime rate and impacts the perceived safety score, making it a dynamic environment for crime patterns.

Crime Types Breakdown

Violence and sexual offences
43,240 incidents (51.2 per 1,000)
Shoplifting
10,523 incidents (12.4 per 1,000)
Anti-social behaviour
9,113 incidents (10.8 per 1,000)
Public order
8,996 incidents (10.6 per 1,000)
Criminal damage and arson
7,328 incidents (8.7 per 1,000)
Other theft
7,261 incidents (8.6 per 1,000)
Burglary
6,086 incidents (7.2 per 1,000)
Vehicle crime
6,038 incidents (7.1 per 1,000)
Drugs
3,263 incidents (3.9 per 1,000)
Other crime
3,086 incidents (3.6 per 1,000)
Robbery
1,761 incidents (2.1 per 1,000)
Theft from the person
1,181 incidents (1.4 per 1,000)
Possession of weapons
1,012 incidents (1.2 per 1,000)
Bicycle theft
899 incidents (1.1 per 1,000)

Crime Rate Trend

7.8% change(over 12 months)
Leeds
UK Average

Compare Leeds with similar populations

Leeds has a 39.1% higher crime rate than the UK average.

Crime Type Analysis in Leeds

An in-depth look at crime types in Leeds reveals that 'Violence and sexual offences' is the most prevalent category, accounting for 43,240 crimes, or 51.2 per 1,000 residents, representing 39.4% of all reported incidents. Following this, 'Shoplifting' is the second most common, with 10,523 crimes (12.4 per 1,000, 9.6% of total), and 'Anti-social behaviour' ranks third, with 9,113 crimes (10.8 per 1,000, 8.3% of total). These top three categories highlight key areas of concern within the city. Property-related crime in Leeds stands at 48.6 per 1,000 people per year, significantly higher than the UK average of 33.2 per 1,000. This category encompasses offences such as burglary (7.2 per 1,000), theft from the person (1.4 per 1,000), criminal damage and arson (8.7 per 1,000), bicycle theft (1.1 per 1,000), vehicle crime (7.1 per 1,000), and other theft (8.6 per 1,000), along with robbery (2.1 per 1,000). For residents and homeowners, the elevated property crime rate suggests a need for robust security measures to protect their assets.

Crime Trends in Leeds

Over the past year, Leeds has experienced a stable crime trend, with a minor decrease of 2.7% in overall reported crimes. Analysing the monthly crime rate data per 1,000 residents reveals fluctuations throughout the period. The crime rate saw a peak in October 2024 at 11.5 per 1,000, followed by a dip to 9.5 per 1,000 in February 2025, which was the lowest point. Subsequently, there was an upward trend into the summer months, reaching 11.8 per 1,000 in July 2025, before settling at 10.6 per 1,000 by September 2025. This pattern suggests seasonal variations, with crime rates generally lower in the colder months and increasing slightly during warmer periods. For residents, a stable overall trend indicates that the general crime landscape has not significantly worsened, though awareness of these monthly fluctuations can be beneficial for personal safety and property protection.

Crime Context: Leeds and Surrounding Areas

To provide regional context, it is helpful to compare Leeds' crime statistics with those of its neighbouring areas. Leeds' overall crime rate of 129.9 per 1,000 is notably higher than the UK average. When looking at nearby local authorities, Leeds' crime rate is generally higher than areas like North Yorkshire and York, which typically exhibit lower crime figures. However, it sits within a similar range to other major urban centres in West Yorkshire such as Bradford, Wakefield, and Kirklees, which often contend with comparable demographic and socio-economic factors influencing crime. Calderdale also presents similar challenges. This comparison highlights that while Leeds has a higher crime rate than the national average, it is not an outlier when considered alongside its immediate urban neighbours in the region, suggesting a broader regional pattern in urban crime dynamics.

Enhancing Security in Leeds

Given Leeds' property crime rate of 48.6 per 1,000 people, prioritising home and property security is a practical consideration for residents. Traditional security measures, such as basic CCTV, often only provide footage of an incident after it has occurred, offering a reactive rather than a proactive solution. To truly prevent crime, a different approach is needed. scOS, an AI-powered home security operating system, offers proactive protection by detecting threats at your property boundary before a break-in can even happen. Unlike systems that merely record a burglary, scOS intervenes in real-time. Its multi-camera intelligence watches all cameras simultaneously, ensuring nothing is missed, and features like DVLA vehicle verification catch fake plates instantly. By learning your routines, scOS only alerts on genuine threats, providing an autonomous response with activated lights and engaging speakers to destroy the element of surprise. The right security system makes that crucial 60-second decision easy for potential intruders – they move on, making professional-grade security a valuable investment for peace of mind in Leeds.

Ready to stop reading statistics and start protecting what matters?

About Our Crime Statistics

Official government data sources for Leeds

4,392+
UK Locations Monitored
19M+
Data Records
100%
Government Sources

Crime Rate Methodology

We determine crime rates by calculating recorded offences per 1,000 residents. This standardised metric enables meaningful comparisons between different-sized regions across the UK.

Information Sources

Official UK government databases provide all crime and demographic information, including Police.uk for offence records and ONS for population data. Statistics are compiled across town, district, and national boundaries.

Mathematical Formula

Rate per 1,000 = (Offences / Population) × 1,000

We exclusively use official UK government information sources:

  • Police.ukRecorded crime data from England and Wales' 43 territorial police forces
  • Office for National StatisticsDemographic data and Crime Survey statistics
  • Home OfficeNational offence records and crime policy information
  • FOI RequestsSupplementary data from direct police force requests
We monitor crime data across 4,392+ locations throughout England and Wales, covering the majority of significant towns, cities, and county areas. Greater Manchester locations are presently excluded due to data access limitations. Updates occur promptly following new official data releases (approximately bimonthly), with historical records preserved for trend tracking.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0

Last updated: September 2025

New data is released by Police.uk approximately every two months

Spotted incorrect data or something that doesn't look right? Let us know and we'll investigate.