Crime in Isle of Wight: statistics, rates and trends

11,798 crimes were recorded in Isle of Wight in the 12 months to July 2026, 83.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 5,356 reports (45% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Isle of Wight has the 167th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Isle of Wight was highest in the year to July 2022 (13,194 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (10,680). Over the whole period it fell 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 Isle of Wight 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 (+82%) and anti-social behaviour (+11%).

The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-16%) and other crime (-12%).

Violence and sexual offences in Isle of Wight

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Isle of Wight recorded 5,356 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (37.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 45.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Isle of Wight

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Isle of Wight recorded 1,415 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 12.0% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Isle of Wight

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Isle of Wight recorded 1,073 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Isle of Wight

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Isle of Wight recorded 1,060 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Isle of Wight

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Isle of Wight recorded 893 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 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Isle of Wight

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Isle of Wight recorded 632 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Isle of Wight

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Isle of Wight recorded 411 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Isle of Wight

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Isle of Wight recorded 267 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 5% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Isle of Wight

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Isle of Wight recorded 213 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Isle of Wight

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Isle of Wight recorded 153 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Isle of Wight

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Isle of Wight recorded 147 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Isle of Wight

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Isle of Wight recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 82% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Isle of Wight

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Isle of Wight recorded 54 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 2% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Isle of Wight

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Isle of Wight recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

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

58 areas within Isle of Wight, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Newport Central had the highest rate (338.1 per 1,000) and Whitwell (Isle of Wight) the lowest (18.4). 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 Isle of Wight over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Isle of Wight 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.

Isle of Wight has an estimated population of 141,660. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Isle of Wight sits in decile 4.3, more 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 Isle of Wight. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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