South Kirkby Crime Rate

South Kirkby is an urban settlement within the Wakefield local authority that presents a higher-than-average crime profile. The overall crime rate is 135.3 per 1,000 people, which stands significantly above the UK national average of 91.7. Consequently, the area has a safety score of 67/100, trailing the UK average of 79. Despite these figures, there is a positive trend to report: total crime has decreased by 10.1% year-over-year. This suggests that while South Kirkby remains more active in terms of criminal incidents than many other areas, the situation is improving. Residents should remain aware of the local landscape, particularly regarding the high rates of shoplifting and personal offences that characterise the area.

Crime in South Kirkby

Violence and sexual offences are the most prevalent crime type in South Kirkby, representing 42.5% of all recorded incidents. At a rate of 57.5 per 1,000 residents, this is the primary contributor to the local crime statistics. Unusually for an area of this size, shoplifting is the second most common offence, accounting for 12.9% of total crime (17.5 per 1,000), which suggests significant activity around local retail hubs. Anti-social behaviour follows as the third top concern at 9.0%.

Property crime—encompassing burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and arson—presents a combined rate of 49.3 per 1,000 residents. Within this category, other theft and criminal damage are the most frequent, each making up 6.6% of total offences. Burglary occurs at a rate of 6.2 per 1,000, while vehicle crime is slightly lower at 5.9 per 1,000. For residents, this means that while personal offences are the most frequent, property security remains a substantial concern, particularly regarding retail theft and damage to personal assets.

Crime Trends in South Kirkby

The annual data for South Kirkby shows a 10.1% decrease in total crime, indicating an overall improvement in safety. However, the month-by-month breakdown from Dec 2024 to Nov 2025 reveals a period of significant fluctuation. The year began with relatively stable rates, starting at 10.3 per 1,000 in December and dipping to its lowest point of 8.6 in March 2025.

From April onwards, the crime rate surged, staying above 12.0 for most of the spring and summer. The peak occurred in September 2025, when the rate hit 13.9 per 1,000 residents. This autumn peak was followed by a sharp decline back to 10.3 in October, suggesting that the earlier increase may have been a seasonal anomaly rather than a long-term trend. For residents, this pattern highlights that while the long-term outlook is positive, certain times of the year—particularly the late summer and early autumn—may see a temporary rise in criminal activity.

How To Keep Safe in South Kirkby

The most prevalent crime in South Kirkby is violence and sexual offences, followed by a notably high rate of shoplifting. Staying safe requires a combination of personal awareness and property vigilance.

• When visiting local shopping areas, be mindful of your belongings; high shoplifting rates often correlate with opportunistic bag or phone theft in crowded commercial spaces.
• Avoid walking alone in unlit areas late at night, particularly between 12am and 6am when burglary and vehicle crime reach their peak percentages.
• For business owners, ensure your premises are equipped with high-quality surveillance and clear signage, as shoplifting accounts for nearly 13% of all local crime.
• Car owners should always double-check that vehicles are locked and no valuables are left on display, as vehicle crime is a persistent issue that intensifies overnight.
• Engage with local community watch groups; in an area with a 135.3 crime rate, staying informed about recent local incidents can help you adjust your safety habits accordingly.

South Kirkby's crime data shows clear temporal shifts. Theft and shoplifting are heavily concentrated in the daylight hours, with the afternoon (12pm-6pm) seeing 49% of all theft-related offences. This aligns with the area's high shoplifting statistics and local commercial activity.

As evening falls, the crime profile changes. The night-time period (12am-6am) is particularly significant for property-related offences; it accounts for 27% of all burglaries and 36% of all vehicle crimes. Conversely, violence and 'other' crimes (including public order) are more prominent in the evening (6pm-12am), where 'other' offences make up 43% of the total. For residents, this suggests that the risk to vehicles and homes is highest overnight, while personal safety and retail security are the primary concerns during the day and early evening.

South Kirkby sits in a geographically high-crime corridor of the Wakefield district, but it is statistically safer than its closest neighbours. Hemsworth (152.6 crimes per 1,000) and South Elmsall (146.5) both report higher incident rates. Conversely, the nearby village of Brierley is significantly quieter with a rate of 64.8, and Upton also maintains a lower rate of 89.4. For those comparing these areas, South Kirkby offers a middle-ground urban experience—more active and commercial than the rural villages, but less prone to the higher crime volumes seen in the larger neighbouring settlements of Hemsworth and South Elmsall.

With a property crime rate of 49.3 per 1,000, South Kirkby homeowners face a tangible risk of theft, burglary, and criminal damage. Traditional security systems, such as basic alarm boxes or record-only CCTV, are often insufficient because they only respond after a crime has been committed. In an area where 27% of burglaries occur at night, proactive protection is a necessity.

The scOS AI-powered operating system is designed to prevent these incidents before they escalate. By using multi-camera intelligence to watch your property boundaries, scOS can identify a potential intruder the moment they step onto your land. Unlike DIY systems that merely send a notification to your phone while you're asleep, scOS can act autonomously. It can activate deterrent lighting or engage speakers to let a trespasser know they are being watched, often causing them to flee immediately. For South Kirkby residents, especially those concerned about the 36% of vehicle crime that happens overnight, the ability of scOS to verify vehicles and detect unusual patterns provides a professional level of security that effectively turns your home into a hard target.