Crime in Cornwall: statistics, rates and trends
41,480 crimes were recorded in Cornwall in the 12 months to August 2026, 71.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Cornwall at a glance
- Crime trends in Cornwall
- Types of crime in Cornwall
- Home Office recorded crime in Cornwall
- Cornwall compared with nearby districts
- Areas within Cornwall
- Streets with the most crime in Cornwall
- What happened after crimes were reported in Cornwall
- Demographics of Cornwall
- Fly-tipping in Cornwall
- Questions about crime in Cornwall
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (19,731), anti-social behaviour (5,021) and criminal damage and arson (4,222) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 214th of the 302 districts covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Cornwall | South West | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 41,480 | 437,109 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 71.1 | 83.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 583,289 | 5,220,315 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Cornwall peaked in the year to August 2025 (42,345 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2022 (35,080). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 4%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 41,480 | 71.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 42,345 | 72.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 37,035 | 63.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 35,080 | 60.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 36,624 | 62.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 36,540 | 62.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 37,788 | 64.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 39,717 | 68.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 3,875 |
| July 2026 | 4,020 |
| June 2026 | 3,574 |
| May 2026 | 3,692 |
| April 2026 | 3,467 |
| March 2026 | 3,428 |
| February 2026 | 2,972 |
| January 2026 | 3,040 |
| December 2025 | 3,082 |
| November 2025 | 3,382 |
| October 2025 | 3,498 |
| September 2025 | 3,450 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and bicycle theft (82% below) and theft from the person (80% below) were well below it. On the year before, robbery rose from 139 to 179 and vehicle crime rose from 769 to 907, while anti-social behaviour fell from 7,782 to 5,021 and bicycle theft fell from 107 to 86.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 19,731 | 33.8 | 34.2 | +12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 5,021 | 8.6 | 15.4 | -35% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 4,222 | 7.2 | 6.7 | -3% |
| Other theft | 3,152 | 5.4 | 6.4 | +8% |
| Public order | 2,606 | 4.5 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Shoplifting | 2,204 | 3.8 | 8.5 | -16% |
| Burglary | 952 | 1.6 | 3.6 | +1% |
| Other crime | 933 | 1.6 | 2.1 | +6% |
| Vehicle crime | 907 | 1.6 | 5.0 | +18% |
| Drugs | 851 | 1.5 | 3.3 | -13% |
| Possession of weapons | 437 | 0.7 | 1.0 | +3% |
| Theft from the person | 199 | 0.3 | 1.7 | -14% |
| Robbery | 179 | 0.3 | 1.4 | +29% |
| Bicycle theft | 86 | 0.1 | 0.8 | -20% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
36,590 crimes, excluding fraud, were recorded by the police in Cornwall in the year ending March 2026, according to the Home Office's police recorded crime statistics. That is 62.7 per 1,000 residents, lower than the England and Wales rate of 83.2. The total was up 6% on the year ending March 2025 (34,659), against a fall of 2% across England and Wales. Among the 272 districts of England and Wales with a figure for that year, Cornwall had the 91st lowest rate (the street-level ranking above is among the 302 districts with street-level pages on this site, over the 12 months to August 2026).
Offences recorded in Cornwall, the year ending March 2026
The largest category was violence without injury, with 6,589 offences (18% of the total). No category with at least 20 offences had a rate a quarter or more above the England and Wales rate. Rates were lowest relative to the national rate for theft from the person (0.19 times), bicycle theft (0.19 times) and robbery of business property (0.22 times).
The largest rises on the year were in stalking and harassment (+32%) and arson (+23%). The largest falls were in possession of drugs (−30%) and trafficking of drugs (−24%). Robbery of business property and shoplifting are not compared with the year ending March 2025: from April 2025 the Home Office Counting Rules were clarified so that a theft from a shop in which violence is used or threatened against staff or anyone else is recorded as robbery of business property rather than shoplifting (ONS).
| Offence | Offences | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on 2024/25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence without injury | 6,589 | 11.3 | 13.2 | 0.86 | +6% |
| Stalking and harassment | 6,022 | 10.3 | 10.1 | 1.02 | +32% |
| Violence with injury | 4,708 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 0.99 | −1% |
| Criminal damage | 4,226 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 1.06 | +1% |
| Other theft offences | 3,064 | 5.3 | 6.5 | 0.80 | +8% |
| Public order offences | 2,661 | 4.6 | 7.0 | 0.66 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 2,543 | 4.4 | 8.1 | 0.54 | – |
| Other sexual offences | 1,340 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.01 | +1% |
| Miscellaneous crimes against society | 915 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0.75 | +16% |
| Vehicle offences | 909 | 1.6 | 5.0 | 0.31 | +7% |
| Rape | 709 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.01 | −6% |
| Residential burglary | 647 | 1.1 | 2.5 | 0.45 | +6% |
| Possession of drugs | 547 | 0.94 | 2.5 | 0.38 | −30% |
| Possession of weapons | 448 | 0.77 | 1.00 | 0.77 | +8% |
| Non-residential burglary | 351 | 0.60 | 1.1 | 0.54 | −11% |
| Trafficking of drugs | 245 | 0.42 | 1.2 | 0.35 | −24% |
| Theft from the person | 191 | 0.33 | 1.8 | 0.19 | −18% |
| Arson | 154 | 0.26 | 0.38 | 0.69 | +23% |
| Robbery of personal property | 139 | 0.24 | 0.91 | 0.26 | +10% |
| Bicycle theft | 95 | 0.16 | 0.85 | 0.19 | −5% |
| Robbery of business property | 61 | 0.10 | 0.47 | 0.22 | – |
| Death or serious injury caused by unlawful driving | 22 | 0.04 | 0.03 | 1.08 | −12% |
| Homicide | 4 | 0.01 | 0.01 | 0.85 | −20% |
Recorded crime in Cornwall since the year ending March 2013
The chart shows police recorded crime per 1,000 residents in each year ending March from 2013 to 2026. Cornwall's rate was below the England and Wales rate in every one of those 14 years. Changes in how forces record crime move these figures as well as changes in crime (methodology).
| Year ending March | Offences | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 36,590 | 62.7 | 83.2 |
| 2025 | 34,659 | 59.4 | 84.5 |
| 2024 | 31,636 | 54.2 | 86.2 |
| 2023 | 29,717 | 50.9 | 89.2 |
| 2022 | 28,868 | 49.5 | 85.4 |
| 2021 | 25,899 | 44.4 | 74.1 |
| 2020 | 27,661 | 47.4 | 84.7 |
| 2019 | 29,219 | 50.1 | 84.1 |
| 2018 | 28,531 | 48.9 | 78.2 |
| 2017 | 23,393 | 40.1 | 69.1 |
| 2016 | 21,384 | 36.7 | 62.3 |
| 2015 | 22,450 | 38.5 | 57.1 |
| 2014 | 24,228 | 41.5 | 55.9 |
| 2013 | 24,092 | 41.3 | 56.7 |
Districts in the Devon & Cornwall Police area, the year ending March 2026
Of the 4 districts in the Devon & Cornwall Police area with a figure for the year ending March 2026, Cornwall had the lowest rate. Isles of Scilly is not in the table because it has too few recorded offences for a reliable rate. East Devon, Mid Devon, North Devon, South Hams, Teignbridge, Torridge and West Devon are not in the table because the Home Office publishes each of them jointly with a neighbouring district, as one community safety partnership.
| District | Offences | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter | 13,296 | 96.1 | 1.15 |
| Torbay | 13,086 | 93.4 | 1.12 |
| Plymouth | 25,339 | 93.1 | 1.12 |
| Cornwall | 36,590 | 62.7 | 0.75 |
Source: Home Office police recorded crime and outcomes open data tables (released 23 July 2026), gov.uk, Open Government Licence v3.0. Financial years, excluding fraud; how they differ from the street-level figures: methodology.
2 of the 8 nearest districts have a higher crime rate than Cornwall; the highest is Plymouth district (109.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Isles of Scilly (39.3).
| District | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cornwall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | 29,802 | 109.5 | +54% |
| West Devon | 2,623 | 44.5 | -37% |
| South Hams | 4,357 | 47.3 | -34% |
| Torridge | 3,849 | 55.1 | -23% |
| Teignbridge | 8,148 | 58.8 | -17% |
| Torbay | 15,261 | 108.9 | +53% |
| North Devon | 7,112 | 70.3 | -1% |
| Isles of Scilly | 93 | 39.3 | -45% |
Of the 189 areas within Cornwall, Truro Moresk & Trehaverne had the highest crime rate (299.2 per 1,000) and Mylor Bridge the lowest (12.8), 23 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truro Moresk & Trehaverne | Neighbourhood | 5,237 | 1,567 | 299.2 |
| Newquay Central & Pentire | Neighbourhood | 5,210 | 1,295 | 248.6 |
| Penzance East | Neighbourhood | 7,989 | 1,408 | 176.2 |
| St Austell Central & Gover | Neighbourhood | 8,528 | 1,257 | 147.4 |
| St Austell Poltair & Mount Charles | Neighbourhood | 4,709 | 676 | 143.6 |
| Liskeard Central | Neighbourhood | 8,555 | 1,134 | 132.6 |
| Truro | Town | 23,026 | 2,962 | 128.6 |
| Penzance | Town | 16,247 | 2,029 | 124.9 |
| Bodmin St Mary's & St Leonard | Neighbourhood | 7,688 | 955 | 124.2 |
| Redruth North | Neighbourhood | 6,059 | 737 | 121.6 |
| Falmouth Arwenack | Neighbourhood | 5,404 | 652 | 120.7 |
| Camborne Trelowarren | Neighbourhood | 7,759 | 933 | 120.2 |
| Troon (Cornwall) | Town | 1,165 | 139 | 119.3 |
| Bodmin | Town | 17,575 | 2,090 | 118.9 |
| Pool & Tehidy | Neighbourhood | 8,522 | 1,006 | 118.0 |
| Liskeard | Town | 11,703 | 1,337 | 114.2 |
| Newquay | Town | 24,556 | 2,666 | 108.6 |
| Pool and Illogan | Town | 9,941 | 1,078 | 108.4 |
| Bodmin St Petroc's | Neighbourhood | 7,768 | 831 | 107.0 |
| St Austell | Town | 24,336 | 2,582 | 106.1 |
| St Ives (Cornwall) | Town | 5,211 | 545 | 104.6 |
| St Ives West & Towednack | Neighbourhood | 5,211 | 545 | 104.6 |
| Launceston | Town | 8,234 | 841 | 102.1 |
| Gloweth, Malabar & Shortlanesend | Neighbourhood | 7,141 | 707 | 99.0 |
| Camborne Roskear & Tuckingmill | Neighbourhood | 5,556 | 550 | 99.0 |
| Redruth | Town | 12,088 | 1,193 | 98.7 |
| Camborne | Town | 22,369 | 2,199 | 98.3 |
| Falmouth Penwerris | Neighbourhood | 8,033 | 777 | 96.7 |
| Penwithick | Town | 3,986 | 369 | 92.6 |
| Launceston South | Neighbourhood | 7,238 | 662 | 91.5 |
| Penzance Promenade | Neighbourhood | 4,951 | 445 | 89.9 |
| Bude | Neighbourhood | 5,289 | 475 | 89.8 |
| Hayle | Town | 9,139 | 793 | 86.8 |
| Perranporth | Town | 2,951 | 254 | 86.1 |
| Helston South & Meneage | Neighbourhood | 7,217 | 618 | 85.6 |
| Penryn | Town | 8,712 | 736 | 84.5 |
| Looe | Town | 5,654 | 476 | 84.2 |
| Newlyn | Town | 1,496 | 125 | 83.6 |
| Falmouth | Town | 23,831 | 1,961 | 82.3 |
| Bugle | Town | 2,189 | 178 | 81.3 |
| Hayle West | Neighbourhood | 7,119 | 576 | 80.9 |
| Gwinear-Gwithian & Hayle East | Neighbourhood | 6,944 | 561 | 80.8 |
| St Columb Major | Town | 3,707 | 288 | 77.7 |
| Wadebridge | Town | 5,191 | 398 | 76.7 |
| Newquay Trenance | Neighbourhood | 7,174 | 546 | 76.1 |
| Callington | Town | 3,951 | 299 | 75.7 |
| Redruth South | Neighbourhood | 6,340 | 476 | 75.1 |
| Wadebridge West & St Mabyn | Neighbourhood | 8,341 | 623 | 74.7 |
| Saltash Tamar | Neighbourhood | 5,865 | 438 | 74.7 |
| Camborne West & Treswithian | Neighbourhood | 5,933 | 441 | 74.3 |
| Truro Tregolls | Neighbourhood | 7,144 | 531 | 74.3 |
| Four Lanes, Beacon & Troon | Neighbourhood | 7,515 | 539 | 71.7 |
| Torpoint | Neighbourhood | 6,005 | 418 | 69.6 |
| St Blazey | Town | 7,005 | 484 | 69.1 |
| Truro Boscawen & Redannick | Neighbourhood | 6,867 | 474 | 69.0 |
| St Austell Bethel & Holmbush | Neighbourhood | 6,346 | 438 | 69.0 |
| Lanivet, Blisland & Bodmin St Lawrence | Neighbourhood | 7,083 | 488 | 68.9 |
| St Columb Minor & Colan | Neighbourhood | 7,127 | 491 | 68.9 |
| Bude | Town | 8,129 | 560 | 68.9 |
| Lostwithiel | Town | 3,397 | 234 | 68.9 |
| Roche & Bugle | Neighbourhood | 6,577 | 451 | 68.6 |
| Pendeen | Town | 1,546 | 106 | 68.6 |
| Tywardreath | Town | 2,853 | 195 | 68.3 |
| Foxhole | Town | 2,153 | 146 | 67.8 |
| Saltash | Town | 16,441 | 1,112 | 67.6 |
| St Columb Major, St Mawgan & St Wenn | Neighbourhood | 5,070 | 342 | 67.5 |
| Penwithick & Boscoppa | Neighbourhood | 8,739 | 580 | 66.4 |
| Falmouth Trescobeas & Budock | Neighbourhood | 6,220 | 410 | 65.9 |
| Launceston North & North Petherwin | Neighbourhood | 5,852 | 385 | 65.8 |
| Perranporth | Neighbourhood | 4,431 | 291 | 65.7 |
| Camelford | Town | 3,274 | 213 | 65.1 |
| Looe East & Deviock | Neighbourhood | 7,828 | 509 | 65.0 |
| Padstow | Town | 2,514 | 158 | 62.8 |
| Indian Queens, Fraddon and St Columb Road | Town | 5,979 | 375 | 62.7 |
| Connor Downs | Town | 1,788 | 112 | 62.6 |
| Torpoint | Town | 7,494 | 468 | 62.4 |
| St Dennis & St Enoder | Neighbourhood | 9,525 | 594 | 62.4 |
| Roche | Town | 4,388 | 273 | 62.2 |
| St Dennis | Town | 3,546 | 219 | 61.8 |
| Saltash Trematon & Landrake | Neighbourhood | 5,431 | 335 | 61.7 |
| Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval & Heamoor | Neighbourhood | 7,025 | 433 | 61.6 |
| Portreath | Town | 1,690 | 103 | 60.9 |
| Looe West, Pelynt, Lansallos & Lanteglos | Neighbourhood | 4,481 | 273 | 60.9 |
| Helston | Town | 10,340 | 622 | 60.2 |
| Mullion | Town | 2,186 | 130 | 59.5 |
| Newquay Porth & Tretherras | Neighbourhood | 7,156 | 418 | 58.4 |
| Callington & St Dominic | Neighbourhood | 7,919 | 462 | 58.3 |
| Fowey, Tywardreath & Par | Neighbourhood | 5,755 | 335 | 58.2 |
| Lostwithiel & Lanreath | Neighbourhood | 6,926 | 399 | 57.6 |
| Tolvaddon | Town | 1,326 | 76 | 57.3 |
| St Stephen-in-Brannel | Neighbourhood | 6,739 | 378 | 56.1 |
| Goonhavern | Town | 2,059 | 114 | 55.4 |
| Mousehole, Newlyn & St Buryan | Neighbourhood | 4,359 | 238 | 54.6 |
| Budock Water | Town | 2,508 | 136 | 54.2 |
| Threemilestone | Town | 2,899 | 156 | 53.8 |
| Withnoe | Town | 2,046 | 109 | 53.3 |
| Illogan & Portreath | Neighbourhood | 6,213 | 330 | 53.1 |
| Threemilestone & Chacewater | Neighbourhood | 4,784 | 253 | 52.9 |
| Pelynt | Town | 1,807 | 95 | 52.6 |
| Saltash Essa | Neighbourhood | 7,708 | 405 | 52.5 |
| Porthleven | Town | 2,362 | 122 | 51.7 |
| Chacewater | Town | 1,885 | 97 | 51.5 |
| Mount Hawke | Town | 2,516 | 129 | 51.3 |
| Stratton (Cornwall) | Town | 2,685 | 137 | 51.0 |
| Tresillian | Town | 1,534 | 78 | 50.8 |
| Nanpean | Town | 1,284 | 65 | 50.6 |
| St Stephen | Town | 3,302 | 167 | 50.6 |
| Marazion | Town | 1,811 | 91 | 50.2 |
| St Day | Town | 1,842 | 91 | 49.4 |
| St Merryn | Town | 1,556 | 76 | 48.8 |
| Mevagissey | Town | 2,257 | 110 | 48.7 |
| Fowey | Town | 2,902 | 140 | 48.2 |
| Camelford & Boscastle | Neighbourhood | 8,067 | 382 | 47.4 |
| Liskeard South & Dobwalls | Neighbourhood | 7,513 | 352 | 46.9 |
| Mullion & St Keverne | Neighbourhood | 7,620 | 356 | 46.7 |
| Menheniot | Town | 1,774 | 82 | 46.2 |
| Rame Peninsula & St Germans | Neighbourhood | 7,547 | 346 | 45.8 |
| Redruth Central, Carharrack & St Day | Neighbourhood | 7,239 | 329 | 45.4 |
| Long Rock, Marazion & St Erth | Neighbourhood | 6,357 | 287 | 45.1 |
| Land's End | Neighbourhood | 8,639 | 388 | 44.9 |
| Carlyon Bay | Town | 1,856 | 83 | 44.7 |
| Mevagissey & St Austell Bay | Neighbourhood | 5,376 | 240 | 44.6 |
| Padstow | Neighbourhood | 6,894 | 307 | 44.5 |
| Lanner, Stithians & Gwennap | Neighbourhood | 6,445 | 287 | 44.5 |
| Illogan | Town | 1,778 | 79 | 44.4 |
| Grampound Road | Town | 1,875 | 83 | 44.3 |
| Shortlanesend | Town | 1,884 | 83 | 44.1 |
| St Erme and Trispen | Town | 2,688 | 118 | 43.9 |
| St Neot | Town | 1,596 | 70 | 43.9 |
| Carbis Bay | Town | 5,553 | 239 | 43.0 |
| Wadebridge East & St Minver | Neighbourhood | 5,139 | 220 | 42.8 |
| St Teath | Town | 1,682 | 72 | 42.8 |
| St Just | Town | 1,520 | 64 | 42.1 |
| Probus & St Erme | Neighbourhood | 7,753 | 324 | 41.8 |
| Lanner | Town | 2,839 | 118 | 41.6 |
| St Newlyn East, Cubert & Goonhavern | Neighbourhood | 6,646 | 276 | 41.5 |
| St Agnes | Neighbourhood | 8,824 | 362 | 41.0 |
| St Cleer & Menheniot | Neighbourhood | 6,447 | 263 | 40.8 |
| St Agnes | Town | 4,598 | 186 | 40.5 |
| Porthleven, Breage & Germoe | Neighbourhood | 5,488 | 222 | 40.5 |
| Four Lanes | Town | 2,046 | 82 | 40.1 |
| Quintrell Downs | Town | 2,111 | 84 | 39.8 |
| Dobwalls | Town | 1,287 | 51 | 39.6 |
| St Ives East, Lelant & Carbis Bay | Neighbourhood | 7,568 | 299 | 39.5 |
| Stithians | Town | 2,228 | 88 | 39.5 |
| Downderry | Town | 2,105 | 83 | 39.4 |
| Falmouth Boslowick | Neighbourhood | 6,682 | 258 | 38.6 |
| Stratton, Kilkhampton & Morwenstow | Neighbourhood | 8,056 | 308 | 38.2 |
| Calstock | Neighbourhood | 6,928 | 264 | 38.1 |
| Tintagel | Town | 1,436 | 54 | 37.6 |
| Helston North | Neighbourhood | 6,285 | 236 | 37.5 |
| Madron | Town | 1,905 | 71 | 37.3 |
| Duporth | Town | 1,263 | 47 | 37.2 |
| St Teath & Tintagel | Neighbourhood | 4,731 | 173 | 36.6 |
| Reawla | Town | 1,561 | 56 | 35.9 |
| Trewoon | Town | 1,617 | 58 | 35.9 |
| Gorran Haven | Town | 1,323 | 47 | 35.5 |
| St Goran, Tregony & the Roseland | Neighbourhood | 6,401 | 227 | 35.5 |
| Egloshayle | Town | 1,554 | 55 | 35.4 |
| Carey Park | Town | 1,161 | 40 | 34.5 |
| Altarnun & Stoke Climsland | Neighbourhood | 7,169 | 246 | 34.3 |
| St Cleer | Town | 1,574 | 54 | 34.3 |
| St Keverne | Town | 2,056 | 70 | 34.0 |
| Pensilva | Town | 2,302 | 78 | 33.9 |
| Cubert | Town | 1,362 | 46 | 33.8 |
| Poundstock | Neighbourhood | 5,199 | 172 | 33.1 |
| Feock & Kea | Neighbourhood | 5,654 | 175 | 31.0 |
| Landrake | Town | 1,103 | 33 | 29.9 |
| St Mewan & Grampound | Neighbourhood | 6,151 | 183 | 29.8 |
| Lynher | Neighbourhood | 4,331 | 125 | 28.9 |
| Constantine | Town | 2,419 | 68 | 28.1 |
| Carharrack | Town | 1,523 | 42 | 27.6 |
| Praze-an-Beeble | Town | 1,778 | 49 | 27.6 |
| Probus | Town | 1,656 | 45 | 27.2 |
| Crowan, Sithney & Wendron | Neighbourhood | 7,789 | 211 | 27.1 |
| Constantine, Mabe & Mawnan | Neighbourhood | 7,710 | 205 | 26.6 |
| Goldsithney | Town | 2,155 | 57 | 26.5 |
| Mabe Burnthouse | Town | 3,392 | 88 | 25.9 |
| Mawnan Smith | Town | 1,899 | 49 | 25.8 |
| Praa Sands | Town | 1,503 | 38 | 25.3 |
| Bolingey | Town | 1,480 | 37 | 25.0 |
| Gunnislake and St Ann's Chapel | Town | 3,363 | 83 | 24.7 |
| Carnon Downs and Devoran | Town | 2,161 | 52 | 24.1 |
| Mylor, Perranarworthal & Ponsanooth | Neighbourhood | 6,319 | 146 | 23.1 |
| Luxulyan | Town | 1,853 | 42 | 22.7 |
| Ponsanooth | Town | 1,568 | 32 | 20.4 |
| St Eval | Town | 1,737 | 34 | 19.6 |
| St Newlyn East | Town | 1,516 | 26 | 17.2 |
| Mylor Bridge | Town | 1,557 | 20 | 12.8 |
The 10 locations below account for 19% of the crime recorded in Cornwall over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (2,875).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 2,875 |
| On or near Supermarket | 1,365 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 738 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 735 |
| On or near Fore Street | 587 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 573 |
| On or near Hospital | 369 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 297 |
| On or near Church Street | 271 |
| On or near Market Strand | 222 |
Of the 36,459 crimes in Cornwall with a recorded outcome, 23% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 5,021 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 17,203 | 47.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 8,363 | 22.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 5,663 | 15.5% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 1,501 | 4.1% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 1,268 | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 616 | 1.7% | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 554 | 1.5% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 502 | 1.4% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 247 | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 240 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 169 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 108 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Cornwall has an estimated population of 583,289 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (26%, against 19%), fewer households without a car (15%, against 23%) and more retired residents (29%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cornwall average decile 4.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Cornwall | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 15.0% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 19.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.8 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 3.1% | 10.1% (England) |
3,931 fly-tipping incidents were recorded in Cornwall in 2024/25 (6.7 per 1,000 residents, against 21.1 across the councils in England that count all incidents), according to the council's return to Defra. Fly-tipping is not in the police figures on this page: fly-tipping in Cornwall has the council's figures by place, type of waste and size, and its enforcement actions and fines.
Is Cornwall a safe place to live?
Cornwall recorded 71.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 214th of the 302 districts on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Cornwall?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 19,731 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (5,021).
Is crime in Cornwall going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cornwall was down 2% on the year before: 41,480 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 42,345 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cornwall?
About 583,289 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 26% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cornwall?
Cornwall is policed by Devon & Cornwall.
How many crimes did the police record in Cornwall in the year ending March 2026?
36,590 crimes, excluding fraud, in the Home Office's police recorded crime statistics: 62.7 per 1,000 residents, against 83.2 across England and Wales. In the year ending March 2025 the figure was 34,659.
Which offences are more common in Cornwall than across England and Wales?
None: no category with at least 20 offences had a rate a quarter or more above the England and Wales rate in the year ending March 2026. The largest category was violence without injury (6,589).
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.