York Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime in York

York, with a population of 209,301, reports an overall crime rate of 93.7 per 1,000 people per year. This figure is marginally higher than the UK average of 93.4 per 1,000. The area boasts a safety score of 80 out of 100, which is above the UK average of 78, indicating a relatively safe environment for its residents. Over the past year, crime rates in York have remained stable, showing a slight decrease of 0.5% year-over-year. This data provides a foundational understanding of the local crime landscape, offering context for more detailed analysis of specific crime types and trends within the city.

About York

York is a historic city characterised by its blend of urban and suburban areas, a strong tourism sector, and a significant student population due to its universities. These characteristics contribute to its crime statistics in several ways. The city centre, with its numerous shops, restaurants, bars, and tourist attractions, naturally experiences higher levels of activity, including nightlife, which can lead to incidents of anti-social behaviour and public order offences. As a major transport hub in the region, York also sees a transient population passing through, which can sometimes correlate with certain types of crime such as theft. While generally prosperous, economic factors can still influence crime rates, particularly property-related offences in more residential zones. Understanding these underlying factors helps to explain the patterns observed in York's crime data.

Crime Breakdown in York

In York, the most prevalent crime types are Violence and sexual offences, Anti-social behaviour, and Shoplifting. Violence and sexual offences account for 6,003 crimes, representing 30.6% of all reported incidents, at a rate of 28.7 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour follows with 4,910 crimes (25.1% of the total), at 23.5 per 1,000, often associated with public spaces and nightlife. Shoplifting, with 2,378 incidents (12.1%), at 11.4 per 1,000, is a significant concern for local businesses.

Beyond these top three, overall property-related crime in York, encompassing burglary (624 crimes), other theft (889 crimes), bicycle theft (673 crimes), vehicle crime (546 crimes), criminal damage and arson (1,381 crimes), robbery (146 crimes), and theft from the person (99 crimes), totals 4,358 incidents. This results in a property crime rate of 32.2 per 1,000 people, slightly below the UK average of 33.2 per 1,000. For residents and homeowners, this highlights the importance of securing personal property and being aware of surroundings, especially in areas prone to theft and anti-social behaviour.

Crime Trends in York

Crime trends in York show a stable picture, with a minimal decrease of 0.5% year-over-year. Examining the monthly data reveals some fluctuations. The crime rate per 1,000 residents was higher in October 2024 at 8.8, gradually declining to a low of 6.3 in February 2025. Following this, there was an upward trend peaking at 8.7 in July 2025, before a slight dip to 7.5 in September 2025. This pattern suggests seasonal variations, with crime rates potentially rising during warmer months or periods of increased activity. For residents, a stable overall trend is reassuring, but awareness of these monthly variations can help inform personal safety measures and property protection throughout the year.

Crime Comparison with Nearby Areas

When compared to its neighbouring areas, York presents a distinctive crime profile. Its overall crime rate of 93.7 per 1,000 is comparable to the UK average. Nearby, East Riding of Yorkshire and North Yorkshire typically exhibit lower crime rates, reflecting their more rural and suburban characteristics. In contrast, larger urban centres like Leeds, Wakefield, Doncaster, and Bradford generally report higher crime rates, which is common for metropolitan areas with greater population density and diverse socio-economic factors. York's position, with a safety score of 80/100, places it favourably against these larger cities, providing a regional context of relative safety while still acknowledging the urban challenges that contribute to its crime statistics.

Protecting Your Home in York

Given York's property crime rate of 32.2 per 1,000 people, ensuring robust home and property security is a key consideration for residents. Traditional security measures, such as basic CCTV, often only provide footage after a burglary has occurred, acting reactively rather than preventatively. For those seeking genuine peace of mind and proactive protection, advanced solutions like scOS offer a significant advantage. scOS is an AI-powered home security operating system designed to prevent crime before it happens by detecting threats at the property boundary. Unlike systems that merely record incidents, scOS uses multi-camera intelligence to watch all cameras simultaneously, learning routines and only alerts on real threats. This proactive approach, coupled with features like autonomous response (lights activating, speakers engaging), aims to deter potential intruders within their critical 60-second decision window, making them move on before a break-in can occur. Investing in professional-grade equipment signals serious protection and shifts the focus from recording a crime to preventing it entirely.