New Plymouth Central
Safety Score (12-month average)
1
–
Crime rate
751.4 per 1,000
Population 1,098
Total crimes (past 12 months)
825
Trend (last 3 months)
▲ 41.7%
vs previous 3-month period
Regional rank
#3 / 66
Top 5%
About this rate: Few people live in New Plymouth Central compared with the number who visit or work there, so crime per resident is high and is not a fair guide to the risk for someone living here. Compare the number of offences instead. How this works
Safety Score (NZCHI)
Police data to August 2026New Plymouth Central Overview
Most common offences by count were theft (67.5%), assault (17.9%), and burglary (11.0%). Percentages show share of offence counts in the selected time frame.
Crime Summary
The annual total crime rate in New Plymouth Central is 751.366 crimes per thousand residents, placing it at rank 3 within Taranaki Region. The overall crime trend in the area has increased in recent months with criminal activity peaking in Sep 2025, Jan 2026, Aug 2026.
Explore crime in nearby locations
Crime activity peaked in September 2025, January 2026, and August 2026.
New Plymouth Central crime statistics: common questions
Is New Plymouth Central safe?
New Plymouth Central recorded 825 offences in the last 12 months, a rate of 751.4 per 1,000 residents across about 1,098 residents. Few people live in New Plymouth Central compared with the number who visit or work there, so crime per resident is high and is not a fair guide to the risk for someone living here. Compare the number of offences instead. 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 New Plymouth Central?
The crime rate in New Plymouth Central is 751.4 offences per 1,000 residents over the last 12 months, from 825 recorded offences across about 1,098 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 New Plymouth Central?
The most common offence category in New Plymouth Central is theft, with 557 recorded offences in the last 12 months — about 68% of all offences recorded there. The next most common is assault (148).
Is crime going up or down in New Plymouth Central?
Recorded offences in New Plymouth Central have risen 41.7% 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 New Plymouth Central compare with other suburbs in Taranaki Region?
New Plymouth Central ranks 3 of 66 suburbs in Taranaki Region by crime rate, where 1 is the highest rate. This is a ranking of recorded crime, not a safety rating, and it compares New Plymouth Central only with other suburbs in Taranaki Region — not with the rest of New Zealand.
Where does the crime data for New Plymouth Central come from?
Figures for New Plymouth Central, New Plymouth 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 New Plymouth Central is on SafeSuburbs.co.nz