Side-by-side crime statistics from official UK Police data.
S75 · Barnsley
62
crimes in February 2026
Below national average
S65 · Rotherham
196
crimes in February 2026
Above national average
Barnsley has less crime — 62 vs 196 incidents in February 2026.
Rotherham recorded substantially more crime than Barnsley in February 2026 — 196 incidents compared to 62, a 3.2x difference. The crime profiles diverge meaningfully: Barnsley sees higher rates of Shoplifting (24), while Rotherham has more Criminal damage & arson (24). 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 February 2026 Police data, Barnsley recorded fewer crimes than Rotherham — 62 vs 196 incidents. That is 68% fewer crimes. Barnsley is also below the national average for crime.
The main difference lies in crime type. In February 2026, Barnsley saw higher rates of Shoplifting while Rotherham had more Criminal damage & arson. Overall, Barnsley recorded fewer total crimes (62 vs 196).