Knottingley Crime Rate

Knottingley is an urban settlement within the Wakefield local authority that currently faces significant safety challenges. The overall crime rate is 204.4 per 1,000 people, which is more than double the UK national average of 91.7. This high volume of activity results in a safety score of 51/100, well below the UK average of 79. Adding to these concerns, crime in Knottingley is on an upward trajectory, having increased by 8.1% year-over-year. The area is characterised by high rates of property-related offences and personal safety incidents. Residents and visitors are advised to be particularly vigilant, especially regarding vehicle security and personal safety in public spaces, as the town is statistically one of the most active for crime in the region.

Crime in Knottingley

Violence and sexual offences are the primary crime concern in Knottingley, accounting for 38.4% of all recorded incidents at a rate of 78.4 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is also significant, making up 12.8% of the total, followed closely by shoplifting at 11.7%. These top three categories highlight a high volume of both personal and public-facing offences within the settlement.

The property crime rate in Knottingley is exceptionally high at 79.2 per 1,000 people. This includes vehicle crime, which represents 7.7% of all offences, and criminal damage and arson at 8.9%. Other theft accounts for 6.1%, while burglary sits at 3.2%. For residents and homeowners, these figures are a call to action. The high property crime rate, particularly the volume of vehicle crime and criminal damage, suggests that assets left outdoors or in less secure areas are at a heightened risk compared to national averages. Burglary, while a smaller percentage of the total, still occurs at a rate that demands professional security considerations.

Crime Trends in Knottingley

The data for Knottingley shows a concerning 8.1% year-over-year increase in total crime. This rising trend suggests that the area is becoming more active for criminal behaviour. A detailed look at the Dec 2024 to Nov 2025 period shows that crime rates remained high throughout most of the year.

The year started with a rate of 16.0 in December, rising quickly to 18.9 in January. While there were slight dips in the spring, the summer months saw a sustained peak, with July 2025 reaching the highest rate of the year at 21.3 per 1,000 residents, followed by 20.2 in August. There was a significant and welcome drop toward the end of the period, with November 2025 recording the lowest rate of 11.2. However, the overall annual increase and the high summer peaks indicate that the underlying trend remains a challenge for the community and local law enforcement.

How To Keep Safe in Knottingley

With violence and sexual offences being the most common crime type in Knottingley, and an overall increasing crime trend, personal safety and property vigilance are paramount.

• Always be aware of your surroundings in public spaces, particularly around the high street and transport hubs where anti-social behaviour and theft are more frequent.
• If you own a vehicle, ensure it is parked in a locked garage or a well-lit driveway. Given that 51% of vehicle crime occurs at night, consider using additional physical deterrents like steering wheel locks.
• Retailers should implement robust loss prevention strategies, as shoplifting accounts for nearly 12% of all local crime and is a major issue in the afternoon.
• Enhance your home security with visible deterrents; in a high-crime area, the appearance of professional-grade security can be enough to make a criminal choose an easier target.
• Keep high-value items out of sight from windows. Criminal damage and 'other theft' are significant factors in Knottingley, often triggered by the sight of valuable goods.
• Join or start a local Neighbourhood Watch to stay informed about the specific streets and patterns being targeted in your immediate vicinity.

Knottingley's crime timing is marked by high intensity throughout the day and night. Theft is the dominant concern during daylight hours, peaking in the afternoon (12pm-6pm) when it accounts for 44% of incidents. This coincides with the area's significant shoplifting rate.

As the town moves into the night, the risk profile shifts dramatically. Between 12am and 6am, vehicle crime becomes the primary threat, making up 51% of all recorded offences. This is one of the highest concentrations of night-time vehicle crime in the region. Evening hours (6pm-12am) see a surge in 'other' crimes, including public order and anti-social behaviour, which account for 47% of incidents during this period. Residents should be aware that while theft is a daytime threat, the danger to property—specifically vehicles—is at its highest during the early hours of the morning.

Knottingley stands out in the regional context for its very high crime rate. At 204.4 crimes per 1,000 residents, it is significantly more active than nearby Holmfield (133.2) and Byram (93.0). It also contrasts sharply with the more suburban and rural profiles of Darrington (71.4) and Kellingley, which reported zero crimes. For anyone looking at the Wakefield and Selby border region, Knottingley represents a high-intensity urban hub. While it offers more amenities than its neighbours, the trade-off is a statistical crime rate that is significantly higher than any of the surrounding settlements.

In an area like Knottingley, where the property crime rate is a staggering 79.2 per 1,000, traditional security measures are often pushed to their limits. Standard CCTV is purely reactive; it may show you who stole your car or vandalised your property, but it rarely stops the act. To truly protect your assets in such a high-activity environment, you need a proactive solution.

The scOS AI-powered operating system changes the dynamic of home security. Instead of just recording, scOS uses multi-camera intelligence to actively watch your property. It can distinguish between a neighbour and a potential threat at the boundary. In Knottingley, where 51% of vehicle crime happens at night, scOS's ability to verify vehicles and autonomously respond with lights and audio deterrents is invaluable. By destroying the element of surprise, scOS prevents crime before it happens. This proactive approach is the most effective way to lower your risk in a region where property-related offences are significantly more common than the national average. Professional-grade security sends a clear message to opportunists: this property is not worth the risk.