Crime in Bow East: statistics, rates and trends
2,766 crimes were recorded in Bow East in the 12 months to July 2026, 132.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Bow East at a glance
- Crime trends in Bow East
- Types of crime in Bow East
- Bow East compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Bow East
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bow East
- Population and deprivation in Bow East
- Questions about crime in Bow East
- About this data
2,766 crimes were recorded in Bow East in the 12 months to July 2026, 132.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 668 reports (24% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Bow East has the 628th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Bow East | Tower Hamlets | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,766 | 48,015 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 132.9 | 144.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 20,814 | 331,886 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Bow East was highest in the year to July 2020 (3,061 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (2,465). Over the whole period it rose 9%, 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 | 2,766 | 132.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,655 | 127.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,566 | 123.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,465 | 118.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,835 | 136.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 3,036 | 145.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 3,061 | 147.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,509 | 120.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,531 | 121.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 271 |
| June 2026 | 249 |
| May 2026 | 271 |
| April 2026 | 248 |
| March 2026 | 204 |
| February 2026 | 177 |
| January 2026 | 193 |
| December 2025 | 215 |
| November 2025 | 243 |
| October 2025 | 225 |
| September 2025 | 230 |
| August 2025 | 240 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Bow East 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 anti-social behaviour, theft from the person, other theft.
The largest increases were in robbery (+44%) and theft from the person (+40%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-24%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 668 | 32.1 | 0.94 | -3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 567 | 27.2 | 1.78 | -4% |
| Theft from the person | 278 | 13.4 | 7.91 | +40% |
| Other theft | 218 | 10.5 | 1.64 | +2% |
| Burglary | 169 | 8.1 | 2.30 | +20% |
| Drugs | 166 | 8.0 | 2.44 | +8% |
| Public order | 163 | 7.8 | 1.18 | +12% |
| Vehicle crime | 152 | 7.3 | 1.48 | -4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 112 | 5.4 | 0.79 | -8% |
| Robbery | 89 | 4.3 | 3.17 | +44% |
| Bicycle theft | 72 | 3.5 | 4.20 | +16% |
| Shoplifting | 55 | 2.6 | 0.32 | -24% |
| Other crime | 39 | 1.9 | 0.89 | +26% |
| Possession of weapons | 18 | 0.9 | 0.89 | +38% |
Violence and sexual offences in Bow East
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Bow East recorded 668 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 24.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Bow East
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Bow East recorded 567 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 20.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Bow East
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Bow East recorded 278 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 40% on the year before. It made up 10.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Bow East
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Bow East recorded 218 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Bow East
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Bow East recorded 169 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Bow East
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Bow East recorded 166 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Bow East
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Bow East recorded 163 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Bow East
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Bow East recorded 152 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Bow East
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Bow East recorded 112 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 down 8% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Bow East
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Bow East recorded 89 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 44% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Bow East
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Bow East recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Bow East
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Bow East recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Bow East
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Bow East recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Bow East
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Bow East recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Bow East, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Bow East.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bow East |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bow West | 1,902 | 133.0 | +0% |
| Bromley North | 1,917 | 150.9 | +14% |
| Bromley South | 1,489 | 105.2 | -21% |
| Bethnal Green East | 4,233 | 168.6 | +27% |
| Mile End | 3,410 | 136.9 | +3% |
| St Dunstan's | 1,511 | 111.2 | -16% |
| Lansbury | 3,130 | 137.7 | +4% |
| Bethnal Green West | 3,267 | 167.3 | +26% |
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 Bow East over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hackney Wick | 248 |
| On or near Libra Road | 109 |
| On or near Payne Road | 89 |
| On or near Roach Road | 80 |
| On or near Iceland Road | 76 |
| On or near Usher Road | 68 |
| On or near Wyke Road | 68 |
| On or near Alameda Place | 65 |
| On or near Further/Higher Educational Building | 61 |
| On or near Wick Lane | 59 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Bow East 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 | 1,084 | 39.2% |
| Not recorded | 567 | 20.5% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 485 | 17.5% |
| Under investigation | 277 | 10.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 133 | 4.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 77 | 2.8% |
| Local resolution | 65 | 2.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 32 | 1.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 25 | 0.9% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 8 | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.1% |
Bow East has an estimated population of 20,814. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Bow East sits in decile 3.6, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Bow East |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 77.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 6.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 32.8% |
| Social rented homes | 36.0% |
| Private rented homes | 31.1% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.6 |
Is Bow East a safe place to live?
Bow East recorded 132.9 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 Bow East?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 668 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (567).
Is crime in Bow East going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bow East was up 4% on the year before: 2,766 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,655 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Bow East?
Bow East 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 Bow East. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.