Shirley West
Safety Score (12-month average)
4
–
Crime rate
178.0 per 1,000
Population 4,248
Total crimes (past 12 months)
756
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 13.2%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#32 / 331
Top 10%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Police data to August 2026Shirley West Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (84.8%), burglary (8.6%), and assault (5.0%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Shirley West is 177.966 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 32 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Jan 2026, Jul 2026, Aug 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in January, July, and August 2026.
Shirley West crime statistics: common questions
Is Shirley West safe?
Shirley West recorded 756 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 178.0 per 1,000 residents across about 4,248 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 West?
The crime rate in Shirley West is 178.0 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 756 recorded offences across about 4,248 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 West?
The most common offence category in Shirley West is theft, with 641 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 85% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is burglary (65).
Is crime going up or down in Shirley West?
Recorded offences in Shirley West have risen 13.2% 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 Shirley West compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
Shirley West ranks 32 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 West only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Shirley West come from?
Figures for Shirley 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 Shirley West is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz