Christchurch Central-South
Safety Score (12-month average)
5
–
Crime rate
879.8 per 1,000
Population 840
Total crimes (past 12 months)
739
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 45.5%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#14 / 331
Top 4%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Christchurch Central-South Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (83.8%), burglary (8.8%), and assault (6.1%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Christchurch Central-South is 879.762 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 14 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Nov 2025, May 2026, Jun 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in November 2025, May 2026, and June 2026.
Christchurch Central-South crime statistics: common questions
Is Christchurch Central-South safe?
Christchurch Central-South recorded 739 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 879.8 per 1,000 residents across about 840 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-South?
The crime rate in Christchurch Central-South is 879.8 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 739 recorded offences across about 840 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-South?
The most common offence category in Christchurch Central-South is theft, with 619 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 84% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (65).
Is crime going up or down in Christchurch Central-South?
Recorded offences in Christchurch Central-South have risen 45.5% 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-South compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
Christchurch Central-South ranks 14 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-South only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Christchurch Central-South come from?
Figures for Christchurch Central-South, 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-South is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz