Stoke-on-Trent Crime Overview
Stoke-on-Trent is the second safest city in the West Midlands, and among the top 20 safest overall out of the UK's cities. The overall crime rate in Stoke-on-Trent in 2020 was 40 crimes per 1,000 people.
In February 2020, Stoke-on-Trent had the worst crime rate in the West Midlands for criminal damage and arson, with 306 crimes reported and a crime rate of 1.2 per 1,000 inhabitants.
The most common crimes in Stoke-on-Trent are violence and sexual offences, with 4,877 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 19. This is 112% lower than 2019's figure of 10,349 offences and a difference of 21.35 from 2019's crime rate of 40. Stoke-on-Trent's least common crime is theft from the person, with 52 offences recorded in 2020, a decrease of 254% from 2019's figure of 184 crimes.
Stoke-on-Trent Crime Map
Summary of Crimes in Stoke-on-Trent This Year
| Stoke-on-Trent | ||
|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 5,223 | 20.37 |
| Bicycle Theft | 77 | 0.30 |
| Burglary | 556 | 2.17 |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 1,398 | 5.45 |
| Drugs | 269 | 1.05 |
| Other Crime | 225 | 0.88 |
| Other Theft | 825 | 3.22 |
| Possession of Weapons | 102 | 0.40 |
| Public Order | 601 | 2.34 |
| Robbery | 105 | 0.41 |
| Shoplifting | 658 | 2.57 |
| Theft From the Person | 52 | 0.20 |
| Vehicle Crime | 487 | 1.90 |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 4,877 | 19.02 |
Stoke-on-Trent Crime Trends
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 53 | 58 | 49 | 20 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.88 | 0.30 | Safer |
| Burglary | 2.6 | 6 | 4.6 | 2.2 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 15 | 15 | 13 | 5 | Safer |
| Drugs | 2.0 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 1.0 | Safer |
| Other Crime | 2.4 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 0.88 | Safer |
| Other Theft | 10 | 10 | 8 | 3.2 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.87 | 1.2 | 0.93 | 0.40 | Safer |
| Public Order | 6 | 6 | 5 | 2.3 | Safer |
| Robbery | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 0.41 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 8 | 6 | 8 | 2.6 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person | 0.41 | 0.57 | 0.72 | 0.20 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 6 | 6 | 4.9 | 1.9 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 42 | 46 | 40 | 19 | Safer |
Comparing Stoke-on-Trent to the UK's Major Cities
| Cities | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke-on-Trent | 39.91 | - |
| Coventry | 71.50 | 44% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 73.99 | 46% more dangerous |
| Kirklees | 74.23 | 46% more dangerous |
| Croydon | 77.18 | 48% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 79.19 | 50% more dangerous |
| London | 80.70 | 51% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 89.02 | 55% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 91.57 | 56% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 91.90 | 57% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 102.51 | 61% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 105.94 | 62% more dangerous |
Crime in Stoke-on-Trent During Coronavirus Lockdowns
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Stoke-on-Trent change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in April, when Stoke-on-Trent saw a 183% increase in bicycle theft. Stoke-on-Trent saw a large fall in anti-social behaviour during August, when it fell by 100% compared to August in 2019.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Oct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | +1% | +20% | -6% | -100% | - | -100% | -100% | - | - |
| Bicycle Theft | -27% | +183% | -52% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Burglary | -12% | +33% | -67% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | +8% | -1% | -70% | - | - | - | -100% | -99% | -100% |
| Drugs | -2% | +26% | +20% | - | - | - | -95% | - | - |
| Other Crime | +19% | +79% | -45% | - | - | - | - | - | -97% |
| Other Theft | -18% | +11% | -60% | - | - | - | -99% | - | -99% |
| Possession of Weapons | - | +20% | -62% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Public Order | +35% | +26% | -54% | - | - | -99% | -99% | -97% | -99% |
| Robbery | -25% | -32% | -93% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Shoplifting | +13% | -41% | -79% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Theft From the Person | -15% | -38% | -71% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Vehicle Crime | +30% | -7% | -64% | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | +41% | +21% | -54% | -100% | -99% | -100% | -100% | -99% | -99% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Stoke-on-Trent
What police force serves Stoke-on-Trent?
Stoke-on-Trent's local territorial police force is the Staffordshire Police.How dangerous is Stoke-on-Trent?
Stoke-on-Trent is the second safest city in the West Midlands.What is Stoke-on-Trent's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Stoke-on-Trent are violence and sexual offences.What is the least common crime in Stoke-on-Trent?
Stoke-on-Trent's least common crime is theft from the person.Last updated: 01 Mar 2021