Crime in Cotswold: statistics, rates and trends

5,406 crimes were recorded in Cotswold in the 12 months to July 2026, 59.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,870 reports (35% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Cotswold has the 269th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Cotswold was highest in the year to July 2020 (6,223 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (4,802). Over the whole period it rose 11%, 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 Cotswold 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 shoplifting (+136%) and criminal damage and arson (+29%).

The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-27%) and public order (-18%).

Violence and sexual offences in Cotswold

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Cotswold recorded 1,870 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 34.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Cotswold

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Cotswold recorded 1,014 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 18.8% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Cotswold

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Cotswold recorded 494 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 136% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Cotswold

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Cotswold recorded 430 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Cotswold

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Cotswold recorded 424 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Cotswold

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Cotswold recorded 326 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Cotswold

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Cotswold recorded 294 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Cotswold

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Cotswold recorded 220 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Cotswold

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Cotswold recorded 144 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 down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Cotswold

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Cotswold recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Cotswold

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Cotswold recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Cotswold

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Cotswold recorded 36 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 up 89% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Cotswold

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Cotswold recorded 22 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 up 38% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Cotswold

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Cotswold recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

49 areas within Cotswold, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. St Michael's had the highest rate (259.0 per 1,000) and Four Acres the lowest (16.6). 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 Cotswold over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Cotswold 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.

Cotswold has an estimated population of 91,661. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Cotswold sits in decile 7.2, less deprived than average. 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 Cotswold. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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