Dunedin Central
Safety Score (12-month average)
5
–
Crime rate
403.2 per 1,000
Population 2,133
Total crimes (past 12 months)
860
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 20.6%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#5 / 138
Top 4%
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Updated August 2026Dunedin Central Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (60.0%), assault (28.8%), and burglary (5.7%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in Dunedin Central is 403.188 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 5 within Otago Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Jul 2025, Mar 2026, Jun 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in July 2025, March 2026, and June 2026.
Dunedin Central crime statistics: common questions
Is Dunedin Central safe?
Dunedin Central recorded 860 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 403.2 per 1,000 residents across about 2,133 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 Dunedin Central?
The crime rate in Dunedin Central is 403.2 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 860 recorded offences across about 2,133 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 Dunedin Central?
The most common offence category in Dunedin Central is theft, with 516 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 60% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is assault (248).
Is crime going up or down in Dunedin Central?
Recorded offences in Dunedin Central have risen 20.6% 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 Dunedin Central compare with other suburbs in Otago Region?
Dunedin Central ranks 5 of 138 suburbs in Otago Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares Dunedin Central only with other suburbs in Otago Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for Dunedin Central come from?
Figures for Dunedin Central, Dunedin 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 Dunedin Central is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz