Barkston Crime Rate

Barkston is a safe and well-established urban settlement with an overall crime rate of 51.8 per 1,000 people. This is notably lower than the UK average of 91.6, earning the area a strong safety score of 89/100. The local security environment is currently improving, with a year-over-year trend showing a 7.1% decrease in total crime. While anti-social behaviour and violence are the most common reports, the area maintains a low property crime rate of 14.6 per 1,000. This data suggests that Barkston is a secure place to live, though specific patterns in burglary and theft timing require residents to remain attentive to home security. The following sections provide a detailed breakdown of these statistics and practical advice for maintaining safety in Barkston.

Crime in Barkston

The criminal landscape in Barkston is primarily defined by anti-social behaviour, which accounts for 33.3% of all reports with 26 incidents. This is closely followed by violence and sexual offences, representing 30.8% (24 crimes), and other theft at 16.7% (13 crimes). Together, these three categories make up over 80% of the total crime in the area, suggesting that public order and personal safety are the primary concerns for local residents.

Property crime in Barkston, which includes burglary, theft, and vehicle crime, occurs at a rate of 14.6 per 1,000 people. Within this category, other theft is the most prominent, but burglary also features with 5 recorded incidents (6.4% of total crime). While the property crime rate is less than half of the UK average, the presence of burglary and vehicle crime indicates that local homes and assets are still targeted. For homeowners, this highlights the necessity of robust physical security to protect against the theft of personal property and the intrusion of residential spaces.

Barkston is currently experiencing a downward trend in crime, with a 7.1% decrease in total incidents compared to the previous year. This is a reassuring sign for the community. Analysis of the monthly trend data for 2025 shows that the year began with relatively low activity in January and February, before seeing a significant spike in April (6.7 per 1,000) and May (8.0 per 1,000).

Following this spring peak, the crime rate fluctuated, with another notable rise in August (6.7 per 1,000) before dropping back down in the autumn. By the end of the year, the rate had stabilised at 3.3 per 1,000 for November and December. These patterns suggest that crime in Barkston may be subject to seasonal influences, with higher activity in the warmer months. However, the overall annual reduction and the lower rates seen toward the end of 2025 indicate that the area is maintaining its status as a high-safety neighbourhood.

How To Keep Safe in Barkston

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is the most prevalent crime type in Barkston, accounting for a third of all reports. To stay safe and help maintain the community's quality of life, residents should be proactive in their approach to local security.

Report all incidents of anti-social behaviour to the local authorities, even if they seem minor. Consistent reporting helps the police allocate resources effectively and identify hotspots. Joining or forming a Neighbourhood Watch scheme can also foster a stronger sense of community vigilance and deter nuisance behaviour.

To protect against the violence and sexual offences category, ensure that the perimeter of your home is well-lit. Motion-sensor lighting is an effective way to illuminate dark corners and discourage individuals from loitering near your property. When walking alone at night, stay on well-traveled, lit routes and keep your mobile phone easily accessible.

Finally, secure your property's boundaries. High-quality fencing and locked gates can prevent unauthorised access to your garden or driveway, which is often where ASB and opportunistic theft begin. Awareness and physical deterrence are your best tools for staying safe in Barkston.

The timing of criminal activity in Barkston shows a sharp divide between property crime and other offences. During the morning and afternoon, theft is the most significant concern, accounting for 76% and 71% of reported incidents respectively. This suggests that opportunistic theft is most likely to occur when people are away from home or when local commercial activity is at its peak.

However, as night falls, the risk profile changes dramatically. Burglary, which accounts for only 16% of morning crimes, rises to 36% in the evening and peaks at 55% during the night (12am to 6am). This indicates that residential properties are most vulnerable while occupants are asleep. Interestingly, vehicle crime remains very low across all time periods, and violence is not a primary driver of the temporal data. For Barkston residents, these patterns underscore the importance of daytime vigilance against theft and robust overnight security to prevent burglary.

Barkston's crime rate of 51.8 per 1,000 people places it in a moderate position compared to its immediate neighbours. It is considerably safer than Great Gonerby, which has a higher crime rate of 71.1. However, it is more active than Ancaster, where the rate is lower at 35.3. For those looking for absolute quiet, the nearby rural hamlets of West Willoughby and Marston recorded zero crimes, though these areas lack the amenities and population density of Barkston. Within the South Kesteven local authority, Barkston offers a balanced profile—it is safer than the larger regional hubs while being slightly more active than the smallest surrounding villages, making it a typical and relatively secure English settlement.

Barkston's property crime rate of 14.6 per 1,000 and the fact that 55% of burglaries occur during the night highlight a specific need for advanced home protection. Traditional security measures, such as basic CCTV or DIY alarm kits, are often reactive. They might alert you to an intruder once a door is opened or record footage of a theft that has already occurred, but they rarely prevent the crime itself.

For residents seeking genuine peace of mind, scOS offers a proactive alternative. As an AI-powered home security operating system, scOS monitors all your cameras simultaneously, using pattern learning to distinguish between your family, delivery drivers, and genuine threats. Because it operates at the property boundary, it can detect a potential intruder before they even reach your door. In Barkston, where night-time burglary is the primary property threat, scOS can autonomously activate lights and speakers to destroy the element of surprise, forcing the intruder to move on. Choosing a system that prevents crime rather than just recording it is the most effective way to protect your home and family in the Barkston area.