Crime in Wiltshire: statistics, rates and trends

31,787 crimes were recorded in Wiltshire in the 12 months to July 2026, 60.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 12,190 reports (38% of the total).

Of the 308 districts covered by this site, Wiltshire has the 262nd highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Wiltshire was highest in the year to July 2019 (35,954 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (30,575). Over the whole period it fell 7%, 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 Wiltshire 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 falls were in other crime (-14%) and bicycle theft (-12%).

Violence and sexual offences in Wiltshire

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Wiltshire recorded 12,190 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 38.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Wiltshire

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Wiltshire recorded 6,252 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 19.7% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Wiltshire

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Wiltshire recorded 2,823 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Wiltshire

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Wiltshire recorded 2,350 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 4% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Wiltshire

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Wiltshire recorded 2,144 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Wiltshire

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Wiltshire recorded 1,789 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Wiltshire

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Wiltshire recorded 1,163 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Wiltshire

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Wiltshire recorded 1,062 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Wiltshire

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Wiltshire recorded 677 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 14% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Wiltshire

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Wiltshire recorded 672 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Wiltshire

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Wiltshire recorded 221 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 down 1% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Wiltshire

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Wiltshire recorded 220 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Wiltshire

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Wiltshire recorded 129 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 2% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Wiltshire

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Wiltshire recorded 95 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

169 areas within Wiltshire, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Chippenham Lowden & Rowden had the highest rate (281.0 per 1,000) and Porton the lowest (12.5). 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 Wiltshire over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Wiltshire 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.

Wiltshire has an estimated population of 523,700. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Wiltshire sits in decile 6.9, 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 Wiltshire. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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