Derby is an East Midlands city where crime is concentrated in a tight central core and a handful of inner wards, while the outer suburbs to the north, west and south-west sit in a very different environment. The DE1 city centre records a different profile from Allestree (DE22) or Mickleover (DE3). Knowing where a postcode falls matters a great deal for Rolls-Royce and Toyota workers relocating to the city, University of Derby students, and families.
This breakdown uses recent data from the official UK Police API, covering the postcode districts that fall within the Derbyshire Constabulary force area.
Derby Crime at a Glance
Derbyshire Constabulary covers Derby and the wider county. Within the city, crime concentrates in the centre and parts of the inner ring at Normanton and Sinfin, while Mickleover, Allestree and Oakwood on the outer ring record consistently lower counts.
| Postcode | Area | Character | Risk level |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE1 | City centre / Cathedral Quarter | Commercial core and night-time economy | Higher |
| DE23 | Normanton / Pear Tree / Littleover / Sunny Hill | Mixed, dense inner residential | Higher |
| DE24 | Alvaston / Sinfin / Boulton | South-eastern, mixed | Medium |
| DE21 | Chaddesden / Spondon / Oakwood | Eastern residential, lower for Oakwood | Medium |
| DE22 | Allestree / Mackworth / Markeaton | Northern residential, affluent Allestree | Lower |
| DE3 | Mickleover | Western suburb, owner-occupied | Lower |
Source: data.police.uk. Risk level is relative within the Derby area.
The Safest Parts of Derby
The lowest-crime parts of the city sit on the outer ring. Mickleover (DE3) in the west and Allestree (DE22) in the north are predominantly owner-occupied, settled suburbs with no significant night-time economy, and routinely record some of the city's lowest counts.
Within DE21, Oakwood and Spondon sit in the lower-to-medium band, although Chaddesden closer to the centre is busier.
Crime Hotspots in Derby
The DE1 city centre, covering the Cathedral Quarter, the Derbion shopping core and the streets around the railway station, records the highest crime counts. Violence and sexual offences, public order and theft are all elevated, driven by the night-time economy and city-centre footfall.
DE23, covering Normanton, Pear Tree and Sunny Hill, has historically recorded higher anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime, with deprivation above the national average in parts. Littleover, further west within the same postcode, is quieter.
What Crime Types Dominate in Derby?
Across the Derbyshire force area, violence and sexual offences consistently tops the crime category table. In DE1 the night-time economy lifts public order and theft; in DE23 and parts of DE24 anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime are the more common concerns; Mickleover, Allestree and Oakwood see far lower counts across all categories.
How to Check Your Derby Postcode
District-level data gives you the broad picture, but the difference between DE1 and DE3 is significant. See our national safest-areas rankings for wider context, or run a CrimeSafe report for 24 months of trend data, a ward-level breakdown, outcome rates, and a safety score for any Derby postcode.