Crime in Somerset: statistics, rates and trends

53,466 crimes were recorded in Somerset in the 12 months to July 2026, 90.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 22,602 reports (42% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Somerset has the 129th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Somerset was highest in the year to July 2026 (53,466 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (42,515). Over the whole period it rose 22%, 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 Somerset 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 bicycle theft (+47%) and robbery (+42%).

Violence and sexual offences in Somerset

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Somerset recorded 22,602 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (38.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 42.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Somerset

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Somerset recorded 7,731 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 14.5% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Somerset

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Somerset recorded 5,250 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 9.8% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Somerset

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Somerset recorded 4,666 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Somerset

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Somerset recorded 3,782 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Somerset

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Somerset recorded 3,131 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Somerset

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Somerset recorded 1,747 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Somerset

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Somerset recorded 1,424 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 up 32% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Somerset

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Somerset recorded 1,102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Somerset

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Somerset recorded 661 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Somerset

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Somerset recorded 642 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Somerset

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Somerset recorded 342 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 37% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Somerset

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Somerset recorded 307 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 up 47% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Somerset

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Somerset recorded 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

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

135 areas within Somerset, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Taunton East had the highest rate (275.4 per 1,000) and Nether Stowey the lowest (24.6). 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 Somerset over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Somerset 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.

Somerset has an estimated population of 588,328. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Somerset sits in decile 5.5, 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 Somerset. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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