Crime in Balham: statistics, rates and trends
2,114 crimes were recorded in Balham in the 12 months to July 2026, 129.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before.
Table of Contents
2,114 crimes were recorded in Balham in the 12 months to July 2026, 129.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 5% on the year before. The most common offence was shoplifting, with 408 reports (19% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Balham has the 688th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Balham | Wandsworth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,114 | 33,499 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 129.3 | 99.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +5% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 16,352 | 337,655 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Balham was highest in the year to July 2026 (2,114 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (1,443). Over the whole period it rose 30%, 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 2,114 | 129.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,018 | 123.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,924 | 117.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,016 | 123.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,443 | 88.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,684 | 103.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,621 | 99.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,731 | 105.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,627 | 99.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 191 |
| June 2026 | 154 |
| May 2026 | 168 |
| April 2026 | 184 |
| March 2026 | 186 |
| February 2026 | 153 |
| January 2026 | 171 |
| December 2025 | 159 |
| November 2025 | 161 |
| October 2025 | 192 |
| September 2025 | 174 |
| August 2025 | 221 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Balham 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. Rates were well above the national level for shoplifting, anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in bicycle theft (+82%) and public order (+74%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-26%) and burglary (-24%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 408 | 25.0 | 3.01 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 361 | 22.1 | 1.44 | -5% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 356 | 21.8 | 0.64 | +9% |
| Vehicle crime | 221 | 13.5 | 2.74 | +8% |
| Other theft | 158 | 9.7 | 1.51 | +1% |
| Public order | 150 | 9.2 | 1.38 | +74% |
| Theft from the person | 102 | 6.2 | 3.69 | -26% |
| Burglary | 83 | 5.1 | 1.44 | -24% |
| Bicycle theft | 71 | 4.3 | 5.28 | +82% |
| Robbery | 71 | 4.3 | 3.21 | +4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 68 | 4.2 | 0.61 | +0% |
| Drugs | 40 | 2.4 | 0.75 | +8% |
| Other crime | 19 | 1.2 | 0.55 | +111% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.4 | 0.38 | +50% |
Shoplifting in Balham
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Balham recorded 408 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 19.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Balham
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Balham recorded 361 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 17.1% of all crime in the area.
Violence and sexual offences in Balham
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Balham recorded 356 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 16.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Balham
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Balham recorded 221 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 10.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Balham
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Balham recorded 158 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Balham
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Balham recorded 150 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 74% on the year before. It made up 7.1% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Balham
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Balham recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Balham
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Balham recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Balham
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Balham recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 82% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Balham
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Balham recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Balham
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Balham recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Balham
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Balham recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Balham
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Balham recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 111% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Balham
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Balham recorded 6 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 up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Balham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Balham.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Balham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity | 1,671 | 136.6 | +6% |
| Northcote | 794 | 62.0 | -52% |
| South Balham | 741 | 84.9 | -34% |
| Lavender | 2,649 | 173.0 | +34% |
| Tooting Bec | 1,344 | 71.6 | -45% |
| Wandsworth Common | 1,146 | 68.2 | -47% |
| Wandle | 760 | 72.0 | -44% |
| Shaftesbury & Queenstown | 1,395 | 105.8 | -18% |
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 Balham over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 696 |
| On or near Clapham South | 172 |
| On or near Balham | 87 |
| On or near Caistor Road | 55 |
| On or near Hildreth Street | 49 |
| On or near Balham Hill | 47 |
| On or near Clavering Place | 47 |
| On or near Balham Station Road | 36 |
| On or near Clarence Mews | 35 |
| On or near Linnet Mews | 34 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Balham 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.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,079 | 51.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 364 | 17.2% |
| Not recorded | 361 | 17.1% |
| Under investigation | 129 | 6.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 62 | 2.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 61 | 2.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 23 | 1.1% |
| Local resolution | 15 | 0.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.2% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 3 | 0.1% |
Balham has an estimated population of 16,352. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Balham sits in decile 8.0, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Balham |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 75.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 50.1% |
| Social rented homes | 12.5% |
| Private rented homes | 37.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.0 |
Is Balham a safe place to live?
Balham recorded 129.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4. Crime is concentrated in a small number of places within most areas, often busy centres and transport hubs, so the rate for a single street can differ a lot from the area as a whole.
What is the most common crime in Balham?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 408 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (361).
Is crime in Balham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Balham was up 5% on the year before: 2,114 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,018 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Balham?
Balham is policed by Metropolitan Police. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
How are these crime rates calculated?
Each rate is the number of crimes recorded by the police in the 12 months to July 2026, divided by the resident population and multiplied by 1,000. Crime data is from data.police.uk and population estimates are from the Office for National Statistics.
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 Balham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.