Christchurch Central-West
Safety Score (12-month average)
5
–
Crime rate
317.6 per 1,000
Population 1,143
Total crimes (past 12 months)
363
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 16.2%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#20 / 331
Top 6%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Christchurch Central-West Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (73.0%), assault (11.6%), and burglary (10.7%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Christchurch Central-West is 317.585 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 20 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Jul 2025, Aug 2025, Dec 2025.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in July, August, and December 2025.
Christchurch Central-West crime statistics: common questions
Is Christchurch Central-West safe?
Christchurch Central-West recorded 363 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 317.6 per 1,000 residents across about 1,143 residents. These are offences recorded by New Zealand Police, which reflect what was reported and recorded rather than all crime that occurred.
What is the crime rate in Christchurch Central-West?
The crime rate in Christchurch Central-West is 317.6 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 363 recorded offences across about 1,143 residents. A rate counts offences against a suburb's resident population, so town centres and commercial areas can show high rates because offences there involve people who do not live there.
What is the most common crime in Christchurch Central-West?
The most common offence category in Christchurch Central-West is theft, with 265 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 73% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is assault (42).
Is crime going up or down in Christchurch Central-West?
Recorded offences in Christchurch Central-West have risen 16.2% over the most recent three-month period compared with the previous three months. This is a three-month comparison, not a year-on-year one, and short windows move around a lot in small areas.
How does Christchurch Central-West compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
Christchurch Central-West ranks 20 of 331 suburbs in Canterbury Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Christchurch Central-West only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Christchurch Central-West come from?
Figures for Christchurch Central-West, Christchurch City come from New Zealand Police recorded victimisation data, published through police.govt.nz, and are grouped to Stats NZ Statistical Area 2 (SA2) boundaries. They count offences recorded by Police, so they reflect reporting and recording practice as well as underlying offending.
Looking for a plain-English safety summary?
👉 See how safe Christchurch Central-West is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz