Leek Crime Rate

Leek presents a stable safety environment, with an overall crime rate of 98.1 per 1,000 people per year. This figure is slightly above the UK average of 93.1, resulting in a safety score of 76/100. The crime trend in Leek is currently categorised as stable, having seen a marginal increase of only 0.9% year-over-year. As a historic market town, Leek's crime profile reflects its role as a local hub for shopping and socialising, with higher concentrations of certain crime types in the town centre. The following data provides a detailed breakdown of crime categories, monthly trends, and time-based patterns to help residents and visitors stay informed about their local surroundings.

Leek experiences a crime rate where violence and sexual offences are the most frequent, accounting for 43.7% of all reports with 790 incidents. Anti-social behaviour follows at 16.6%, while shoplifting is the third most significant type at 11.2%. These figures indicate that the town centre and retail areas are focal points for local crime activity.

The overall property crime rate in Leek is 26.6 per 1,000 people. This includes 32 burglaries, 20 vehicle crimes, and 203 shoplifting incidents. For residents and business owners, this suggests that while burglary rates are relatively low (1.8% of total crime), the high volume of shoplifting and other thefts contributes to a significant property crime presence. Homeowners should be aware that criminal damage and arson also represent 7.2% of local crime. Protecting personal property and retail premises is a priority in Leek, as the combined total of theft-related offences remains a constant concern for the community.

Leek's crime trend has remained remarkably stable over the past year, with a negligible 0.9% increase in total offences. Monthly data shows a consistent pattern, with the crime rate per 1,000 people hovering between 7.7 and 9.0 for most of the year. November 2024 started at 8.4, and the year concluded with a rate of 7.7 in October 2025.

There was a notable peak in July 2025, when the crime rate reached 10.0 per 1,000, likely due to increased activity during the summer months. Conversely, February 2025 saw the lowest rate of 6.4. These fluctuations are typical for a market town and do not indicate a significant shift in the town's overall safety. For the residents of Leek, this stability offers a sense of predictability, suggesting that current policing and community safety measures are effectively maintaining the status quo.

How To Keep Safe in Leek

The most common crime in Leek is violence and sexual offences, often concentrated in the town centre during peak social hours. To stay safe, remain aware of your surroundings when visiting pubs or restaurants, and try to stay with a group when walking home at night. Stick to well-lit main roads rather than taking shortcuts through quieter residential streets.

Given the high rate of shoplifting (11.2% of total crime), business owners should consider enhancing their in-store security and staff training. For residents, the 16.6% of crimes related to anti-social behaviour suggests that reporting persistent issues to the local police is vital for maintaining community order. Additionally, while vehicle crime is low, it is always best practice to ensure your car is locked and that no bags or electronics are left on display. Homeowners should also be mindful of the evening peak for other crimes and ensure that ground-floor windows and doors are securely fastened before dark.

Crime patterns in Leek show distinct variations throughout the day. The morning and afternoon hours (6am - 6pm) are characterised by a high volume of theft-related offences, including shoplifting, which accounts for 45% to 47% of crimes during these periods. This aligns with the town's retail activity. As evening approaches, the nature of crime shifts; between 6pm and 12am, "other" crimes, including anti-social behaviour and public order offences, rise significantly to 63% of the total.

The night-time period (12am - 6am) sees a notable increase in the proportion of property-focused crimes. Burglary peaks at 19% and vehicle crime at 17% during these early hours, suggesting that offenders target unattended properties and cars under the cover of darkness. Understanding these cycles is crucial for residents, as it highlights that while retail areas are busier with theft during the day, residential security becomes paramount during the night and late evening.

Leek serves as the primary urban centre for the surrounding rural settlements. When compared to nearby areas such as Birchall, Leekbrook, Longsdon, and Rudyard—all of which report crime rates of 0.0 per 1,000—Leek's rate of 98.1 appears high. However, this is expected for a market town that hosts retail, nightlife, and a larger resident population. Residents in these outlying areas often travel to Leek for services, which can contribute to the town's higher crime volume. Locally, Leek is the main focus for safety considerations, while the surrounding hamlets offer a much quieter, virtually crime-free environment in comparison.

With a property crime rate of 26.6 per 1,000 people in Leek, proactive home security is a wise investment. Traditional security systems, such as basic CCTV or doorbell cameras, are often reactive—they record a crime as it happens but do little to stop it. For residents in Leek, where shoplifting and other thefts are more common, a system that prevents incidents is far more valuable.

The scOS AI-powered home security operating system offers this proactive protection. By using multi-camera intelligence, scOS monitors your property boundaries and identifies potential threats before a break-in can occur. This is especially relevant given that 19% of burglaries in Leek happen during the night. Features such as autonomous responses—activating lights or speakers when an intruder is detected—can deter criminals instantly. Moving beyond simple recording to active prevention ensures that your home or business is not just watched, but truly protected, making it a much less attractive target for opportunistic offenders.