Crime in Cornwall: statistics, rates and trends

41,624 crimes were recorded in Cornwall in the 12 months to July 2026, 71.4 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 19,576 reports (47% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Cornwall has the 217th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Cornwall was highest in the year to July 2025 (42,252 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (34,891). Over the whole period it rose 4%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Cornwall 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. The largest increases were in robbery (+30%) and vehicle crime (+17%).

The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-33%) and shoplifting (-17%).

Violence and sexual offences in Cornwall

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Cornwall recorded 19,576 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 47.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Cornwall

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Cornwall recorded 5,269 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 12.7% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Cornwall

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Cornwall recorded 4,264 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 10.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Cornwall

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Cornwall recorded 3,143 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Cornwall

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Cornwall recorded 2,638 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Cornwall

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Cornwall recorded 2,213 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Cornwall

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Cornwall recorded 934 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Cornwall

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Cornwall recorded 920 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Cornwall

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Cornwall recorded 901 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Cornwall

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Cornwall recorded 850 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Cornwall

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Cornwall recorded 436 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Cornwall

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Cornwall recorded 205 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 11% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Cornwall

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Cornwall recorded 182 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Cornwall

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Cornwall recorded 93 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the districts closest to Cornwall, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Cornwall.

191 areas within Cornwall, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Truro Moresk & Trehaverne had the highest rate (292.5 per 1,000) and Mylor Bridge the lowest (12.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Cornwall over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Cornwall 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.

Cornwall has an estimated population of 583,289. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Cornwall sits in decile 4.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Cornwall. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.