Crime in Blackheath, Lewisham: statistics, rates and trends
3,142 crimes were recorded in Blackheath, Lewisham in the 12 months to August 2026, 186.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 33% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Blackheath, Lewisham at a glance
- Crime trends in Blackheath, Lewisham
- Types of crime in Blackheath, Lewisham
- Blackheath, Lewisham compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Blackheath, Lewisham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Blackheath, Lewisham
- Demographics of Blackheath, Lewisham
- Questions about crime in Blackheath, Lewisham
- About this data
Crime map
Shoplifting (789), violence and sexual offences (760) and anti-social behaviour (499) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 245th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Blackheath, Lewisham | Lewisham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 3,142 | 36,926 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 186.3 | 122.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +33% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 16,869 | 301,255 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Blackheath, Lewisham of any year here (3,142 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 70%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 3,142 | 186.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,368 | 140.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,393 | 141.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,250 | 133.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,798 | 106.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,895 | 112.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,170 | 128.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,014 | 119.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,845 | 109.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 273 |
| July 2026 | 295 |
| June 2026 | 336 |
| May 2026 | 340 |
| April 2026 | 276 |
| March 2026 | 244 |
| February 2026 | 241 |
| January 2026 | 238 |
| December 2025 | 257 |
| November 2025 | 229 |
| October 2025 | 216 |
| September 2025 | 197 |
Compared with England and Wales, Blackheath, Lewisham recorded notably more shoplifting (5.5 times the national rate), drugs (2.7 times the national rate) and public order (2.4 times the national rate). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 228 to 789 and drugs rose from 108 to 151, while theft from the person fell from 91 to 54.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoplifting | 789 | 46.8 | 8.5 | +246% |
| Violence and sexual offences | 760 | 45.1 | 34.2 | +24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 499 | 29.6 | 15.4 | -8% |
| Public order | 271 | 16.1 | 6.7 | +36% |
| Other theft | 176 | 10.4 | 6.4 | +28% |
| Drugs | 151 | 9.0 | 3.3 | +40% |
| Vehicle crime | 120 | 7.1 | 5.0 | -3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 106 | 6.3 | 6.7 | -2% |
| Burglary | 98 | 5.8 | 3.6 | -9% |
| Theft from the person | 54 | 3.2 | 1.7 | -41% |
| Robbery | 48 | 2.8 | 1.4 | +12% |
| Other crime | 30 | 1.8 | 2.1 | -9% |
| Possession of weapons | 22 | 1.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 18 | 1.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Blackheath, Lewisham; the highest is Lewisham Central (262.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Telegraph Hill (78.6).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Blackheath, Lewisham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lewisham Central | 2,699 | 262.4 | +41% |
| Lee Green | 1,235 | 84.1 | -55% |
| Ladywell | 1,642 | 140.4 | -25% |
| Brockley | 2,347 | 109.3 | -41% |
| Hither Green | 1,942 | 97.3 | -48% |
| Rushey Green | 3,824 | 186.5 | 0% |
| Deptford | 2,616 | 182.0 | -2% |
| Telegraph Hill | 1,276 | 78.6 | -58% |
The 10 locations below account for 59% of the crime recorded in Blackheath, Lewisham over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Police Station” (467).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Police Station | 467 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 433 |
| On or near Eastdown Park | 244 |
| On or near Granville Grove | 191 |
| On or near B212 | 151 |
| On or near Myron Place | 127 |
| On or near Lee High Road | 105 |
| On or near Supermarket | 64 |
| On or near Bankwell Road | 46 |
| On or near Hillside Avenue | 34 |
Of the 2,643 crimes in Blackheath, Lewisham with a recorded outcome, 38% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 16% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 499 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,006 | 38.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 546 | 20.7% | 34.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 416 | 15.7% | 5.2% |
| Under investigation | 347 | 13.1% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 143 | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 100 | 3.8% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 47 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 14 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 12 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.2% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 4 | 0.2% | 0.1% |
Blackheath, Lewisham has an estimated population of 16,869 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more households without a car (51%, against 23%), more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (58%, against 34%) and more social housing (28%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Blackheath, Lewisham average decile 5.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Blackheath, Lewisham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 12.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 65.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 5.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 12.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 8.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 57.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 50.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 40.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 28.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 31.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Blackheath, Lewisham a safe place to live?
Blackheath, Lewisham recorded 186.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 245th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting and drugs.
What is the most common crime in Blackheath, Lewisham?
Shoplifting was the most common category, with 789 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by violence and sexual offences (760).
Is crime in Blackheath, Lewisham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Blackheath, Lewisham was up 33% on the year before: 3,142 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,368 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Blackheath, Lewisham?
About 16,869 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 13% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Blackheath, Lewisham?
Blackheath, Lewisham is policed by Metropolitan Police.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.