Skelton (York) Crime Rate

Skelton (York) presents a strong safety profile with an overall crime rate of 64.2 per 1,000 people, notably lower than the UK average of 91.7. The area boasts a safety score of 87/100, indicating a secure environment for its 1,683 residents. However, it is important to note that crime has seen an upward trend, increasing by 27.1% over the last year. This data, covering December 2024 to November 2025, shows that while Skelton remains safer than many parts of the country, local patterns are shifting. The following sections detail the crime breakdown and temporal trends to help residents and visitors understand the local safety landscape.

Crime in Skelton (York)

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently recorded crimes in Skelton (York), making up 29.6% of the total with 32 reported incidents. Shoplifting is also significant, accounting for 24.1% (26 crimes), followed by anti-social behaviour at 18.5%. When looking at property crime as a whole—including burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and arson—the rate is 23.2 per 1,000 residents. This is comfortably below the UK average for property crime, which stands at 32.3. Interestingly, Skelton has recorded zero burglaries in this data period, which is a significant positive for local homeowners. Vehicle crime remains very low at 1.2 per 1,000, as does bicycle theft. For residents, this means that while personal safety and retail crime are the primary concerns for local authorities, the risk of traditional home intrusion or vehicle theft is exceptionally low compared to national trends.

Crime Trends in Skelton (York)

The crime trend in Skelton (York) has shown a significant upward movement, with a 27.1% increase in total crimes compared to the previous 12-month period. Looking at the monthly data from December 2024 to November 2025, the rate started at a relatively low 3.0 per 1,000 and peaked in May 2025 at 9.5. Following this peak, the rate remained elevated through the summer, with 7.7 in June and 6.5 in September. The year ended with a slight cooling to 4.8 in November. This sustained increase across the middle of the year suggests a shift in local activity, possibly linked to seasonal retail or social factors. While Skelton remains a safe area overall, this year-over-year growth indicates that residents should be more aware of their surroundings than in previous years.

How To Keep Safe in Skelton (York)

The highest crime type in Skelton is violence and sexual offences, followed by shoplifting. While the area is generally safe, particularly regarding home security, the following tips can help residents stay secure:

1. Be mindful of your surroundings when walking alone, especially during evening hours when public order and anti-social behaviour incidents are more likely to occur.
2. For those working in or visiting retail areas, stay alert to shoplifting activity and report any suspicious behaviour to shop management or local authorities immediately.
3. Although burglary is currently at zero, continue to practice good home security habits, such as locking all doors and windows, to ensure Skelton remains a difficult target for opportunistic thieves.
4. If you witness anti-social behaviour, avoid direct confrontation and report the incident to the non-emergency police line to help authorities track and manage hotspots.
5. Ensure that any personal belongings, such as bags or mobile phones, are kept secure and out of sight when in busy public areas to reduce the risk of opportunistic theft.

Crime Patterns in Skelton (York)

In Skelton, crime follows a pattern closely tied to commercial activity and social hours. Theft and shoplifting are most common during the morning and afternoon, accounting for 40% and 42% of crimes in those periods respectively. As the day progresses into the evening and night, the focus shifts. Evening hours see a high percentage of "Other" crimes (78%), which include anti-social behaviour and public order offences. Interestingly, night-time (12am - 6am) sees the highest relative risk for vehicle crime, which makes up 19% of incidents during those hours. Because there were zero burglaries recorded, the temporal risk for Skelton is primarily focused on retail theft during the day and vehicle security or anti-social behaviour at night. Residents should be particularly vigilant about vehicle security during the late-night hours.

Skelton (York) sits in a varied regional context. It is safer than Wigginton (53.6 per 1,000) but has a higher crime rate than Upper Poppleton, which sits at 23.3 per 1,000. Nearby Nether Poppleton and Shipton (Hambleton) both recorded zero crimes during this period, highlighting Skelton as a slightly busier hub within its immediate rural-suburban cluster. Compared to the wider York average, Skelton remains a preferred location for those seeking a lower crime environment, despite the recent percentage increase in reported incidents.

Home Security in Skelton (York)

Skelton (York) currently enjoys a remarkable statistic: zero recorded burglaries in the latest reporting period. While this is an excellent indicator of safety, the 27.1% overall increase in crime suggests that the local environment is changing. Property crime, including theft and vehicle offences, still occurs at a rate of 23.2 per 1,000. In this context, the best security strategy is one that maintains the status quo of zero break-ins through proactive deterrence.

Traditional security systems often act as digital witnesses, recording a crime while it happens. For Skelton residents, scOS offers a more advanced alternative. This AI-powered operating system uses multi-camera intelligence to monitor property boundaries in real-time. It doesn't just record; it intervenes. By identifying threats early and using autonomous responses like light activation or voice alerts, scOS prevents the 60-second decision a criminal makes to target a home. This proactive approach is particularly effective against opportunistic theft and vehicle crime, ensuring Skelton remains a secure place for homeowners even as regional trends fluctuate.