Crime in Norfolk: statistics, rates and trends
66,242 crimes were recorded in Norfolk in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 1% on the year before.
66,242 crimes were recorded in Norfolk in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 27,902 reports (42% of the total).
Of the 21 counties covered by this site, Norfolk has the 15th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Norfolk | East of England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 66,242 | 526,234 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 70.4 | 80.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -1% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 940,359 | 6,576,306 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Norfolk was highest in the year to July 2022 (77,827 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (66,242). Over the whole period it fell 8%, against a fall of 4% across England and Wales. Rates use today's population for every year, so they show the direction of change rather than exact historic rates.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 66,242 | 70.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 67,082 | 71.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 66,476 | 70.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 72,409 | 77.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 77,827 | 82.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 75,006 | 79.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 72,820 | 77.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 74,105 | 78.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 72,393 | 77.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 6,506 |
| June 2026 | 6,091 |
| May 2026 | 5,861 |
| April 2026 | 5,428 |
| March 2026 | 5,657 |
| February 2026 | 4,750 |
| January 2026 | 4,830 |
| December 2025 | 5,071 |
| November 2025 | 5,178 |
| October 2025 | 5,610 |
| September 2025 | 5,521 |
| August 2025 | 5,739 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Norfolk over the 12 months to July 2026. The index compares the local rate with England and Wales: 1.00 is the national rate, 2.00 is double it.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 27,902 | 29.7 | 0.87 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 9,027 | 9.6 | 0.63 | -4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 5,931 | 6.3 | 0.93 | -1% |
| Shoplifting | 5,689 | 6.0 | 0.73 | -5% |
| Public order | 4,489 | 4.8 | 0.72 | -4% |
| Other theft | 3,987 | 4.2 | 0.66 | -0% |
| Other crime | 1,858 | 2.0 | 0.94 | -7% |
| Drugs | 1,825 | 1.9 | 0.59 | +6% |
| Burglary | 1,749 | 1.9 | 0.53 | -6% |
| Vehicle crime | 1,465 | 1.6 | 0.32 | -9% |
| Possession of weapons | 831 | 0.9 | 0.91 | +7% |
| Bicycle theft | 728 | 0.8 | 0.94 | -2% |
| Robbery | 406 | 0.4 | 0.32 | -1% |
| Theft from the person | 355 | 0.4 | 0.22 | -7% |
Violence and sexual offences in Norfolk
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Norfolk recorded 27,902 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 42.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Norfolk
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Norfolk recorded 9,027 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 13.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Norfolk
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Norfolk recorded 5,931 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Norfolk
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Norfolk recorded 5,689 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 8.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Norfolk
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Norfolk recorded 4,489 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Norfolk
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Norfolk recorded 3,987 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Norfolk
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Norfolk recorded 1,858 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Norfolk
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Norfolk recorded 1,825 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Norfolk
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Norfolk recorded 1,749 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Norfolk
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Norfolk recorded 1,465 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Norfolk
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Norfolk recorded 831 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Norfolk
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Norfolk recorded 728 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Norfolk
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Norfolk recorded 406 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Norfolk
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Norfolk recorded 355 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the counties closest to Norfolk, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Norfolk.
| County | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 48,709 | 62.0 | -12% |
| Cambridgeshire | 54,491 | 76.7 | +9% |
| Lincolnshire | 72,075 | 91.3 | +30% |
| Essex | 124,662 | 79.7 | +13% |
| Hertfordshire | 105,683 | 85.5 | +21% |
| Leicestershire | 50,893 | 68.3 | -3% |
| Kent | 145,448 | 88.7 | +26% |
| Nottinghamshire | 73,184 | 85.4 | +21% |
7 areas within Norfolk, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Norwich had the highest rate (125.2 per 1,000) and Broadland the lowest (39.4). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norwich | District | 147,182 | 18,420 | 125.2 |
| Great Yarmouth | District | 100,529 | 11,197 | 111.4 |
| King's Lynn and West Norfolk | District | 156,206 | 10,245 | 65.6 |
| Breckland | District | 146,620 | 8,459 | 57.7 |
| North Norfolk | District | 103,217 | 5,232 | 50.7 |
| South Norfolk | District | 148,448 | 7,239 | 48.8 |
| Broadland | District | 138,157 | 5,450 | 39.4 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Norfolk over the 12 months to July 2026. Many cases are still open when the data is published, and anti-social behaviour has no outcome recorded, so these shares change as investigations finish.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 26,151 | 39.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 11,786 | 17.8% |
| Not recorded | 9,027 | 13.6% |
| Under investigation | 5,830 | 8.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 4,053 | 6.1% |
| Local resolution | 2,465 | 3.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 2,270 | 3.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 1,600 | 2.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 1,514 | 2.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 718 | 1.1% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 337 | 0.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 235 | 0.4% |
Norfolk has an estimated population of 940,359. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Norfolk sits in decile 5.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Norfolk |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.7% |
| Social rented homes | 15.7% |
| Private rented homes | 18.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 5.8% |
Is Norfolk a safe place to live?
Norfolk recorded 70.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Norfolk?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 27,902 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (9,027).
Is crime in Norfolk going up or down?
Recorded crime in Norfolk was down 1% on the year before: 66,242 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 67,082 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Norfolk?
Norfolk is policed by Norfolk. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
Figures are police-recorded crime published on data.police.uk, covering August 2017 to July 2026. Each crime is counted in the small area (LSOA) where it was recorded and added up to Norfolk. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.