Shardlow Crime Rate

Shardlow is a historic and active village in South Derbyshire with a safety score of 80/100. Its overall crime rate is 83.5 per 1,000 residents, which comfortably places it below the UK average of 93.1. Encouragingly, Shardlow has seen a decreasing crime trend, with a 9.2% drop year-over-year. The village's crime profile is diverse, featuring a mix of interpersonal incidents and property-related offences, with vehicle crime being a particularly notable factor. As a hub for canal activity and local transport, Shardlow experiences more movement than some of its smaller neighbours, which is reflected in its statistics. This guide provides a detailed analysis of local crime types, trends, and time-based patterns to help residents and visitors stay safe.

Crime Breakdown in Shardlow

Shardlow's crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, which account for 33.8% of all recorded incidents, with a rate of 28.2 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour (13.7%) and vehicle crime (12.9%) are also significant factors. Public order offences and "other theft" follow closely, each making up around 10-11% of the total. These figures suggest that Shardlow, while safe, experiences a more diverse range of crime types than some of its smaller residential neighbours, likely due to its location and visitor activity.

Property crime in Shardlow, which includes burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and criminal damage, results in a combined rate of 30.6 per 1,000 people. This is relatively high for a village, with vehicle crime being a particularly notable concern at 10.8 per 1,000. Burglary is less frequent, accounting for 3.6% of total crime. For residents and homeowners, the data indicates that vehicle security and general theft prevention are the most critical areas for property protection, especially as vehicle crime peaks significantly during the night-time hours.

Shardlow Crime Trends

The crime rate in Shardlow has shown a positive downward trend over the past year, with a year-over-year decrease of 9.2%. This reduction is an encouraging sign for the community, suggesting that crime levels are being effectively managed. Monthly data from late 2024 to late 2025 shows a period of higher activity followed by a significant decline.

The highest crime rates were recorded in the spring and early summer of 2025, peaking at 11.4 per 1,000 residents in April and 10.8 in June. However, the latter part of the year saw a sharp improvement. The rate dropped to 3.6 in August and reached its lowest point of 2.4 per 1,000 in October 2025. This recent downward trajectory is very positive, though the volatility seen earlier in the year suggests that residents should remain observant. For now, the data confirms that Shardlow is becoming a safer place to live.

How To Keep Safe in Shardlow

The most common crime in Shardlow is violence and sexual offences, followed by anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. While the village is safe, these practical tips can help you stay secure.

1. Vehicle Security is Key: With vehicle crime being a major factor at night, always park in a garage or a well-lit driveway if possible. Use a steering wheel lock as a visible deterrent and never leave any items on display inside the car.
2. Be Aware Near Waterways: Shardlow’s canal paths are a beautiful feature but can be isolated. When walking these routes, especially in the evening, stay aware of your surroundings and try to walk with others.
3. Home Lighting: As burglary risk is highest in the afternoon and evening, use timer lights to make your home look occupied when you are out. Motion-sensor lighting around the perimeter of your house is also highly effective.
4. Report Suspicious Activity: The 9.2% decrease in crime is a great trend—help keep it going by reporting any unusual behaviour or suspicious vehicles to the police. Community vigilance is a powerful deterrent.
5. Secure Your Property Boundary: Given the rate of anti-social behaviour, ensure your property’s gates and fences are in good repair. A clear boundary is often enough to discourage casual trespassing or nuisance behaviour.

Shardlow Crime Time Patterns

Crime in Shardlow follows a very distinct pattern throughout the day, particularly for property-related offences. Vehicle crime is the most significant concern during the night (12am - 6am), where it accounts for a staggering 64% of all recorded incidents. This highlights that cars are the primary target for criminals operating under the cover of darkness in the village.

Theft-related offences are most common during the daylight hours, peaking in the morning (49%) and especially the afternoon (60%). These are likely opportunistic incidents occurring when the village is busy with visitors or when residents are away. Burglary risk is more evenly spread but shows a slight peak in the afternoon and evening periods. Overall, the intensity of crime in Shardlow builds through the day, peaking in the late afternoon for theft and remaining high throughout the night for vehicle-related offences. Early morning (3am - 6am) is the quietest time for all crime types except vehicle crime.

In the local context, Shardlow is a moderately active settlement. Its crime rate of 83.5 per 1,000 people is higher than nearby Aston-on-Trent (37.1) and Castle Donington (52.7). It also has a higher rate than Breaston and Draycott (61.1). However, it remains safer than the larger nearby town of Long Eaton (91.3). Shardlow’s position as a gateway for canal tourism and its proximity to major road networks likely contribute to its more elevated crime profile compared to purely residential villages. For those seeking a vibrant community with a safety rating that still beats the national average, Shardlow remains a solid choice in the South Derbyshire region.

Protecting Your Property in Shardlow

Shardlow’s property crime rate of 30.6 per 1,000 residents, combined with a significant presence of vehicle crime (12.9% of total crime), makes home and vehicle security a top priority for local homeowners. While the overall crime trend is decreasing, the fact that vehicle crime accounts for a staggering 64% of all night-time offences is a clear signal that proactive protection is needed.

Traditional security systems, such as Ring or Nest cameras, are reactive; they record the theft of your car or a break-in as it happens. For Shardlow residents, a proactive solution like scOS is much more effective. scOS uses AI-powered multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property’s boundaries in real-time. It can identify unauthorised individuals near your vehicles or home and autonomously activate deterrents like lights or audio warnings before a crime occurs. This destroys the element of surprise and forces opportunistic criminals to move on. By shifting from reactive recording to proactive AI detection, scOS ensures your property is actively defended, providing professional-grade security that matches the needs of the Shardlow community.