Shirley East
Safety Score (12-month average)
12
–
Crime rate
127.9 per 1,000
Population 2,580
Total crimes (past 12 months)
330
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 9.3%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#45 / 331
Top 14%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Shirley East Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (79.1%), burglary (10.3%), and assault (9.4%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Shirley East is 127.907 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 45 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has remained the same in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Jul 2025, Nov 2025, May 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in July 2025, November 2025, and May 2026.
Shirley East crime statistics: common questions
Is Shirley East safe?
Shirley East recorded 330 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 127.9 per 1,000 residents across about 2,580 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 Shirley East?
The crime rate in Shirley East is 127.9 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 330 recorded offences across about 2,580 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 Shirley East?
The most common offence category in Shirley East is theft, with 261 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 79% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (34).
Is crime going up or down in Shirley East?
Recorded offences in Shirley East have risen 9.3% 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 Shirley East compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
Shirley East ranks 45 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 Shirley East only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Shirley East come from?
Figures for Shirley East, 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 Shirley East is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz