Crime in Bestwood: statistics, rates and trends
2,261 crimes were recorded in Bestwood in the 12 months to August 2026, 128.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (839), anti-social behaviour (439) and criminal damage and arson (237) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 698th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Bestwood | Nottingham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,261 | 52,029 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 128.8 | 157.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | +7% | -1% |
| Population | 17,560 | 331,077 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Bestwood peaked in the year to August 2023 (2,541 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (2,102). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it was almost unchanged, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,261 | 128.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,102 | 119.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,474 | 140.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,541 | 144.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,229 | 126.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,453 | 139.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,369 | 134.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,470 | 140.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,282 | 130.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 197 |
| July 2026 | 232 |
| June 2026 | 195 |
| May 2026 | 215 |
| April 2026 | 218 |
| March 2026 | 171 |
| February 2026 | 174 |
| January 2026 | 193 |
| December 2025 | 195 |
| November 2025 | 161 |
| October 2025 | 149 |
| September 2025 | 161 |
Compared with England and Wales, Bestwood recorded notably more other crime (2.4 times the national rate), criminal damage and arson (2.0 times the national rate) and anti-social behaviour (63% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (37% below) and burglary (28% below). On the year before, other crime rose from 64 to 90 and other theft rose from 78 to 109, while shoplifting fell from 317 to 174 and possession of weapons fell from 39 to 26.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 839 | 47.8 | 34.2 | +14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 439 | 25.0 | 15.4 | +34% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 237 | 13.5 | 6.7 | +13% |
| Shoplifting | 174 | 9.9 | 8.5 | -45% |
| Public order | 123 | 7.0 | 6.7 | +16% |
| Other theft | 109 | 6.2 | 6.4 | +40% |
| Other crime | 90 | 5.1 | 2.1 | +41% |
| Drugs | 82 | 4.7 | 3.3 | -12% |
| Vehicle crime | 55 | 3.1 | 5.0 | -2% |
| Burglary | 45 | 2.6 | 3.6 | +22% |
| Possession of weapons | 26 | 1.5 | 1.0 | -33% |
| Robbery | 26 | 1.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 10 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Bestwood; the highest is Hyson Green & Arboretum (209.3 per 1,000) and the lowest Bulwell Forest (106.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bestwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulwell Forest | 1,466 | 106.1 | -18% |
| Sherwood | 2,131 | 136.8 | +6% |
| Basford | 1,868 | 112.6 | -13% |
| Bulwell | 2,772 | 169.5 | +32% |
| Berridge | 2,354 | 130.7 | +2% |
| Mapperley | 1,766 | 108.7 | -16% |
| Aspley | 2,069 | 114.9 | -11% |
| Hyson Green & Arboretum | 5,087 | 209.3 | +63% |
The 10 locations below account for 34% of the crime recorded in Bestwood over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (267).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 267 |
| On or near Eardley Road | 80 |
| On or near Southglade Road | 73 |
| On or near Morrell Bank | 65 |
| On or near Raymede Close | 61 |
| On or near Shoreswood Close | 46 |
| On or near Trinstead Way | 44 |
| On or near Bembridge Drive | 43 |
| On or near Winterton Gardens | 43 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 42 |
Of the 1,822 crimes in Bestwood with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 439 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 793 | 43.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 548 | 30.1% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 178 | 9.8% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 96 | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 57 | 3.1% | 1.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 55 | 3.0% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 38 | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 24 | 1.3% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 14 | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 12 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Bestwood has an estimated population of 17,560 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (37%, against 17%), more households without a car (39%, against 23%) and more residents with no qualifications (27%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Bestwood average decile 1.9 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Bestwood | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 23.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 5.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 16.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 7.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 26.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 39.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 44.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 37.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 1.9 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 36.2% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Bestwood a safe place to live?
Bestwood recorded 128.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 698th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Bestwood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 839 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (439).
Is crime in Bestwood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bestwood was up 8% on the year before: 2,261 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,102 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Bestwood?
About 17,560 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 13% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Bestwood?
Bestwood is policed by Nottinghamshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.