Darrington Crime Rate

Darrington is a secure and well-regarded urban settlement with a safety score of 81/100, which sits comfortably above the UK average. The overall crime rate is 71.4 per 1,000 residents, significantly lower than the national figure of 91.7. Most importantly, the area is seeing a dramatic improvement in safety, with crime rates decreasing by 33.7% over the last year. However, residents should be aware of a specific challenge: vehicle crime. While the area is generally safe, vehicle-related offences are unusually high, making up a large portion of local activity. This report delves into the details of Darrington's crime statistics, providing the insights needed to understand local risks and maintain the area's high safety standards.

Crime Breakdown in Darrington

Darrington's crime profile is notably dominated by two main categories: violence and sexual offences (36.6%) and vehicle crime (33.9%). The vehicle crime rate of 24.2 per 1,000 residents is particularly high for an area of this size, suggesting that vehicles are a primary target for local criminal activity. Public order offences follow at 6.2%, with criminal damage and arson at 5.4%.

Property crime as a whole is a significant concern in Darrington, with a combined rate of 34.4 per 1,000 residents. This is slightly higher than the UK average of 32.3. While burglary is relatively low at 3.6% of total crime (2.5 per 1,000), the high volume of vehicle crime and 'other theft' (4.5%) means that residents' assets are frequently targeted. The data reveals a stark temporal pattern: an incredible 87% of crimes committed at night (12am - 6am) are vehicle-related. This suggests that Darrington is often targeted by thieves specifically looking for cars or items within them during the hours when most residents are asleep. For homeowners, this means that while the house itself is statistically safe from break-ins, any property left outside or in a vehicle is at considerable risk, particularly overnight.

Darrington is currently experiencing a very positive safety trend, with an overall crime reduction of 33.7% year-over-year. This significant decrease suggests that the area is becoming much safer for its residents. Looking at the monthly data from Dec 2024 to Nov 2025, the crime rate has remained consistently low for most of the year, typically fluctuating between 3.8 and 8.9 per 1,000 residents. There was a notable dip in August 2025, where the rate fell to an impressive low of 1.3. While there was a sudden spike in October 2025, reaching 12.8 per 1,000, this appears to have been a short-lived anomaly rather than a new trend, as the rate immediately fell back down to 4.5 in November 2025. This return to a lower baseline at the end of the year reinforces the overall downward trajectory and the general security of the Darrington area.

How To Keep Safe in Darrington

Vehicle crime is the most significant security concern in Darrington, accounting for over a third of all reported incidents and a staggering 87% of crime committed during the night. Protecting your car is the single most important step you can take to stay safe.

To protect your property in Darrington, follow these specific tips:

• Always park your vehicle in a locked garage if you have one. If not, use a well-lit driveway and consider installing a physical barrier like a driveway bollard.
• Never leave any items on display inside your car, even seemingly low-value objects, as most vehicle crime in the area is opportunistic and occurs under the cover of darkness.
• Consider using a steering wheel lock or a Faraday pouch for keyless entry fobs, as these are proven physical and technical deterrents for car thieves.
• Ensure your home's exterior lighting is motion-activated and covers the entire area where your vehicle is parked.
• Be particularly vigilant during the night (12am - 6am) and morning (6am - 12pm) hours, as these are the peak times for vehicle-related offences in Darrington.

The timing of crime in Darrington is highly specific and closely tied to vehicle-related offences. The night-time period (12am - 6am) is the most critical, with a massive 87% of all incidents involving vehicle crime. This suggests that the area is a primary target for overnight car thieves. This pattern continues into the morning (6am - 12pm), where 66% of crimes are still vehicle-related. During the afternoon (12pm - 6pm), the crime profile becomes more varied, with theft accounting for 30% and burglary for 13% of reports. Evening hours (6pm - 12am) see vehicle crime rise again to 66%. Interestingly, violence-related stats are recorded as 0% across these specific time-of-day breakdowns, which may indicate that such incidents are less tied to specific times or are reported differently. For Darrington residents, the data is clear: the hours of darkness and the early morning are when your property is at its highest risk, specifically from vehicle-focused criminals.

In the local context, Darrington is a very safe haven compared to its busier neighbours. It is significantly more secure than Knottingley, which has a very high crime rate of 204.4, and Pontefract, which sits at 124.9. It also compares favourably to Holmfield (133.2). While it cannot match the zero-crime statistics of the very rural Thorpe Audlin, Darrington offers a balanced residential environment that is much safer than the larger urban centres in the Wakefield local authority. This makes it an attractive location for those who want to be near these hubs while enjoying a much lower risk of crime in their immediate neighbourhood.

With a property crime rate of 34.4 per 1,000 and a specific focus on vehicle crime, traditional security is often insufficient for Darrington residents. Standard CCTV cameras are reactive—they might show you footage of your car being broken into, but they rarely stop it. In Darrington, where 87% of night-time crime involves vehicles, you need a proactive solution. An AI-powered operating system like scOS is designed for this exact scenario. By using multi-camera intelligence, scOS monitors your driveway and property boundaries 24/7. It can instantly verify vehicle plates and recognise the difference between your family returning home and a suspicious person loitering near your car. If a threat is detected, scOS doesn't just record; it intervenes autonomously by activating lights and speakers. This destroys the cover of darkness that car thieves rely on, preventing the crime before your vehicle is even touched. For Darrington homeowners, this is the difference between having a video of a theft and keeping your property safe.