Crime in Ashley: statistics, rates and trends
3,845 crimes were recorded in Ashley in the 12 months to August 2026, 176.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 24% on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,256), anti-social behaviour (711) and public order (334) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 277th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Ashley | Bristol, City of | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 3,845 | 73,581 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 176.2 | 148.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +24% | +10% | -1% |
| Population | 21,827 | 494,399 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Ashley of any year here (3,845 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 18%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 3,845 | 176.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 3,111 | 142.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 3,282 | 150.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,969 | 136.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,762 | 126.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,698 | 123.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 3,095 | 141.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 3,123 | 143.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 3,271 | 149.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 328 |
| July 2026 | 389 |
| June 2026 | 278 |
| May 2026 | 324 |
| April 2026 | 351 |
| March 2026 | 328 |
| February 2026 | 282 |
| January 2026 | 314 |
| December 2025 | 325 |
| November 2025 | 299 |
| October 2025 | 324 |
| September 2025 | 303 |
Compared with England and Wales, Ashley recorded notably more bicycle theft (4.1 times the national rate), robbery (2.8 times the national rate) and burglary (2.4 times the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (21% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 94 to 204 and other crime rose from 31 to 48.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,256 | 57.5 | 34.2 | +28% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 711 | 32.6 | 15.4 | +20% |
| Public order | 334 | 15.3 | 6.7 | -7% |
| Other theft | 297 | 13.6 | 6.4 | +29% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 267 | 12.2 | 6.7 | +12% |
| Vehicle crime | 215 | 9.9 | 5.0 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 204 | 9.3 | 8.5 | +117% |
| Burglary | 183 | 8.4 | 3.6 | +46% |
| Drugs | 115 | 5.3 | 3.3 | +44% |
| Robbery | 84 | 3.8 | 1.4 | +20% |
| Bicycle theft | 73 | 3.3 | 0.8 | +11% |
| Other crime | 48 | 2.2 | 2.1 | +55% |
| Possession of weapons | 29 | 1.3 | 1.0 | +16% |
| Theft from the person | 29 | 1.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Ashley; the highest is Central, Bristol, City of (520.2 per 1,000) and the lowest Redland (50.3).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ashley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotham | 780 | 86.2 | -51% |
| Lawrence Hill | 5,818 | 264.6 | +50% |
| Redland | 696 | 50.3 | -71% |
| Central | 12,253 | 520.2 | +195% |
| Bishopston and Ashley Down | 1,244 | 89.9 | -49% |
| Easton | 1,946 | 133.7 | -24% |
| Clifton Down | 1,195 | 91.2 | -48% |
| Lockleaze | 2,898 | 206.6 | +17% |
The 10 locations below account for 31% of the crime recorded in Ashley over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Bond Street” (234).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Bond Street | 234 |
| On or near Parking Area | 188 |
| On or near Moon Street | 156 |
| On or near Elton Lane | 146 |
| On or near Ashfield Place | 93 |
| On or near John Street | 86 |
| On or near Nightclub | 80 |
| On or near York Street | 78 |
| On or near Picton Lane | 70 |
| On or near Orange Street | 68 |
Of the 3,134 crimes in Ashley with a recorded outcome, 41% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 711 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,279 | 40.8% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,117 | 35.6% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 244 | 7.8% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 218 | 7.0% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 119 | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 57 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 39 | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 23 | 0.7% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 0.4% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 13 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.1% | 0.6% |
Ashley has an estimated population of 21,827 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (17.5%, against 7.9%), more private renting (38%, against 20%) and fewer retired residents (6.8%, against 21.6%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Ashley average decile 4.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Ashley | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 6.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 65.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 6.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 17.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 56.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 8.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 35.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 40.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 21.1% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 38.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Ashley a safe place to live?
Ashley recorded 176.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 277th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were bicycle theft and robbery.
What is the most common crime in Ashley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,256 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (711).
Is crime in Ashley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ashley was up 24% on the year before: 3,845 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 3,111 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Ashley?
About 21,827 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 6.0% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Ashley?
Ashley is policed by Avon and Somerset.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.