Waverley and Catcliffe Crime Rate

Waverley and Catcliffe currently records an overall crime rate of 104.8 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the UK national average of 91.6. Despite this, the area maintains a respectable safety score of 76/100, indicating a perception of safety that is moderate, though below the UK average of 79/100. Recent data shows that the crime trend is increasing significantly, with a 31.9% rise in total incidents year-over-year. This suggests that while the area remains relatively secure, residents should be more vigilant than in previous years. The following analysis provides a detailed look at the crime breakdown and temporal patterns to help residents and visitors understand the safety context of the Waverley and Catcliffe urban area.

Crime in Waverley and Catcliffe

The crime landscape in Waverley and Catcliffe is primarily lead by violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, and shoplifting. Violence and sexual offences represent the largest category, accounting for 33.9% of total crime with 154 incidents. Anti-social behaviour is the second most common report, making up 20.7% with 94 recorded cases. Shoplifting follows as a significant concern, with 45 incidents recorded annually.

Property crime in Waverley and Catcliffe—including burglary, robbery, theft from the person, criminal damage and arson, vehicle crime, and other theft—occurs at a rate of 35.0 per 1,000 people. While violent crime and ASB are the top individual categories, the combined volume of property-related offences, including 34 cases of vehicle crime and 19 cases of burglary, indicates a persistent risk. For residents and homeowners, the threat of burglary (4.4 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (7.8 per 1,000) highlights the importance of maintaining good security measures to protect their homes and vehicles from opportunistic theft.

Crime Trends in Waverley and Catcliffe

The crime rate in Waverley and Catcliffe is currently on a significant upward trajectory, showing a year-over-year increase of 31.9%. This indicates that the volume of criminal activity has grown substantially over the past twelve months. Looking at the monthly data for 2025, the year began with its lowest rate in January (5.1). Crime activity showed a steady increase through the spring and summer, peaking at 12.4 in June.

Following this peak, the crime rate fluctuated but remained higher than the start of the year, with a rate of 10.1 in October before settling at 6.7 in December. This overall 31.9% increase is a trend that residents should be aware of. While Waverley and Catcliffe remains relatively safe compared to other high-volume urban centres, this sharp growth in reported incidents highlights the importance of continued community vigilance and a focus on local security measures to help reverse this trend and maintain the area's safety standards.

How To Keep Safe in Waverley and Catcliffe

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently recorded crimes in Waverley and Catcliffe, making personal safety awareness a key priority for residents and visitors. While these statistics cover a wide range of incidents, taking sensible precautions can help you navigate the area's urban spaces more safely.

To enhance your safety, it is advisable to plan your journeys and stick to well-lit, busy pedestrian routes, especially when walking at night. Avoid being distracted by your phone or headphones, as staying aware of your surroundings is your first line of defence. If you are socialising, stay with friends and use reputable transport services to get home.

For those concerned about property crime, particularly vehicle crime which is a notable factor in Waverley and Catcliffe, ensuring that your car is parked in a secure, well-lit area and that no valuables are left on display can act as a significant deterrent. Always report suspicious behaviour to the local police, as community intelligence is vital for effective patrolling and crime prevention. By remaining vigilant and taking basic safety steps, you can help reverse the recent upward trend in local crime.

In Waverley and Catcliffe, crime patterns follow a clear temporal trend. During the daylight hours, theft is a major concern, accounting for 36% of crimes in the morning and 41% in the afternoon. This likely reflects the activity in retail and commercial areas during peak shopping hours. As the day turns to evening, "other" crime types become more prominent (41%). However, the most critical shift occurs during the night (12am - 6am), where vehicle crime surges to account for 53% of all recorded activity. This indicates that vehicles are most at risk when natural surveillance is lowest. Burglary also peaks in the afternoon (25%) and evening (20%), suggesting a mix of opportunistic daytime entries and more covert evening attempts. Understanding these patterns allows residents to focus their security efforts where they are most needed, prioritising vehicle security overnight and home security during the day. Consistent vigilance is key to maintaining the area's safety standards, especially given the recent increase in reported incidents.

In the context of the wider Rotherham region, Waverley and Catcliffe (104.8 crimes per 1,000) is an active urban settlement. It has a higher crime rate than nearby Treeton (65.6), Brinsworth (61.5), and the more suburban Whiston (38.2). It is also more active than Swallownest and Aston (76.6). This suggests that Waverley and Catcliffe face more consistent urban safety challenges than their immediate neighbours. Its safety score of 76/100 and a significant increasing crime trend of 31.9% indicate that while it remains a viable residential area, it requires a higher level of community and personal security focus. For residents in the region, it provides an active urban environment that is successfully managing its growth.

With a property crime rate of 35.0 per 1,000 people in Waverley and Catcliffe, residents should consider the benefits of proactive security over traditional reactive systems. Most standard CCTV cameras and smart doorbells are designed to record footage of a crime after it has already happened. In an area where vehicle crime is a persistent factor, prevention is a far more valuable asset. The scOS AI-powered security system is designed to stop crime before it occurs. By using multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property's perimeter in real-time, scOS can identify suspicious activity—such as someone loitering near your car or side gate—and distinguish it from normal neighbourhood routines. When a genuine threat is detected, scOS can autonomously trigger deterrents like high-intensity lighting or audible warnings. This immediate response destroys the element of surprise that criminals rely on, often causing them to move on before any damage is done. For Waverley and Catcliffe homeowners, this shift from recording a crime to preventing it provides a significant security advantage, especially given the recent upward trend in local crime.