Cliftleigh crime statistics
Reporting period: 2025-07 – 2026-06
192 recorded in this period, compared with 125 in the preceding period.
LGA totals use the selected offence categories. Locality counts and population-adjusted LGA rates are different measures.
About Cliftleigh
Cliftleigh is a semi-rural and rapidly expanding residential locality in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, situated within the Cessnock City Council local government area (postcode 2321). Located approximately 150 kilometres north of Sydney and a short drive from Maitland and Cessnock, the area has experienced significant suburban development in recent years. This growth has transformed parts of the previously rural landscape into modern housing estates, attracting a demographic that largely consists of young families and commuters seeking affordable regional housing.
Local life in Cliftleigh is primarily residential and car-dependent, though it benefits from proximity to the commercial, educational, and medical hubs of neighboring Maitland and the broader Hunter Valley wine region. While the immediate locality features local parks, playgrounds, and newly established residential infrastructure, residents generally rely on adjacent towns for comprehensive shopping, secondary schooling, and major services. The area's main thoroughfare, Stanford Merthyr Road, connects the locality to the Hunter Expressway, facilitating regional travel.
Historically, Cliftleigh and the surrounding Cessnock local government area are deeply intertwined with the Hunter Valley’s rich coal mining heritage. The region's development throughout the 19th and 20th centuries was driven primarily by the extraction and transport of coal from the South Maitland coalfields. While remnants of this industrial past are visible across the broader district, Cliftleigh itself has transitioned from a sparse rural settlement into a modern dormitory suburb servicing the evolving economy of the lower Hunter.
Recorded offence categories
| Category | Current period | Previous period |
|---|---|---|
| Fraud | 30 | 22 |
| Intimidation, stalking and harassment | 29 | 28 |
| Domestic violence related assault | 24 | 14 |
| Malicious damage to property | 18 | 12 |
| Breach Apprehended Violence Order | 16 | 5 |
| Breach bail conditions | 12 | 6 |
| Sexual assault | 11 | 2 |
| Non-domestic violence related assault | 8 | 4 |
| Prohibited and regulated weapons offences | 6 | 1 |
| Break and enter dwelling | 5 | 1 |
| Sexual touching, sexual act and other sexual offences | 5 | 4 |
| Steal from motor vehicle | 5 | 6 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 4 | 6 |
| Assault Police | 2 | 1 |
| Other offences | 2 | 0 |
| Possession and/or use of amphetamines | 2 | 0 |
| Steal from dwelling | 2 | 5 |
| Arson | 1 | 0 |
Community context
The 2021 Census recorded 2,309 residents. This is not a current population estimate.
Sources and interpretation
These are police-recorded incident or victim counts, not every unreported incident or a prediction of personal safety. Percentage changes are not tests of statistical significance; small counts need particular care.