Crime in New Forest: statistics, rates and trends

10,252 crimes were recorded in New Forest in the 12 months to July 2026, 58.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 4,450 reports (43% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, New Forest has the 273rd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in New Forest was highest in the year to July 2022 (14,033 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (10,252). Over the whole period it fell 18%, 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 New Forest 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 possession of weapons (+50%) and robbery (+29%).

The largest falls were in shoplifting (-42%) and vehicle crime (-20%).

Violence and sexual offences in New Forest

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. New Forest recorded 4,450 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 43.4% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in New Forest

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. New Forest recorded 1,035 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 10.1% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in New Forest

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. New Forest recorded 936 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.

Public order in New Forest

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. New Forest recorded 788 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 down 18% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in New Forest

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. New Forest recorded 678 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in New Forest

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. New Forest recorded 612 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 42% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in New Forest

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. New Forest recorded 551 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in New Forest

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. New Forest recorded 462 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in New Forest

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. New Forest recorded 226 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in New Forest

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. New Forest recorded 182 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in New Forest

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. New Forest recorded 141 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in New Forest

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. New Forest recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in New Forest

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. New Forest recorded 67 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 29% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in New Forest

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. New Forest recorded 33 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 down 20% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

49 areas within New Forest, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Milton had the highest rate (102.2 per 1,000) and Sandleheath the lowest (22.3). 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 New Forest over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in New Forest 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.

New Forest has an estimated population of 176,116. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in New Forest 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 New Forest. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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