Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
S63 · Barnsley
65
crimes in April 2026
Below national average
S65 · Rotherham
279
crimes in April 2026
Above national average
Barnsley has less crime — 65 vs 279 incidents in April 2026.
Rotherham recorded substantially more crime than Barnsley in April 2026 — 279 incidents compared to 65, a 4.3x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Barnsley sees higher rates of Other crime (5), while Rotherham has more Shoplifting (26). Barnsley is below the national average while Rotherham is above, making Barnsley the safer choice on this measure.
Full reports cover 24 months of trends, ward breakdowns, outcome rates, and a detailed safety score — from £4.99.
Based on April 2026 Police data, Barnsley recorded fewer crimes than Rotherham — 65 vs 279 incidents. That is 77% fewer crimes. Barnsley is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In April 2026, Barnsley saw higher rates of Other crime while Rotherham had more Shoplifting. Overall, Barnsley recorded fewer total crimes (65 vs 279).