West Melton
Safety Score (12-month average)
89
–
Crime rate
13.0 per 1,000
Population 2,391
Total crimes (past 12 months)
31
Trend (last 3 months)
▼ 66.7%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#266 / 331
Bottom 20%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Police data to August 2026West Melton Overview
Most common offences by count were burglary (58.1%) and theft (38.7%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in West Melton is 12.9653 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 266 within Canterbury Region. The overall crime trend in the area has decreased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Mar 2026, Apr 2026, Jun 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in March, April, and June 2026.
West Melton crime statistics: common questions
Is West Melton safe?
West Melton recorded 31 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 13.0 per 1,000 residents across about 2,391 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 West Melton?
The crime rate in West Melton is 13.0 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 31 recorded offences across about 2,391 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 West Melton?
The most common offence category in West Melton is burglary, with 18 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 58% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is theft (12).
Is crime going up or down in West Melton?
Recorded offences in West Melton have fallen 66.7% 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 West Melton compare with other suburbs in Canterbury Region?
West Melton ranks 266 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 West Melton only with other suburbs in Canterbury Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for West Melton come from?
Figures for West Melton, Selwyn District 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 West Melton is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz