Crime in Central, Bristol, City of: statistics, rates and trends
12,347 crimes were recorded in Central, Bristol, City of in the 12 months to July 2026, 524.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 21% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Central, Bristol, City of at a glance
- Crime trends in Central, Bristol, City of
- Types of crime in Central, Bristol, City of
- Central, Bristol, City of compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Central, Bristol, City of
- What happened after crimes were reported in Central, Bristol, City of
- Population and deprivation in Central, Bristol, City of
- Questions about crime in Central, Bristol, City of
- About this data
12,347 crimes were recorded in Central, Bristol, City of in the 12 months to July 2026, 524.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 21% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 3,449 reports (28% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Central, Bristol, City of has the 17th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Central, Bristol, City of | Bristol, City of | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 12,347 | 73,545 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 524.2 | 148.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +21% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 23,555 | 494,399 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Central, Bristol, City of was highest in the year to July 2026 (12,347 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (8,364). Over the whole period it rose 10%, 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 | 12,347 | 524.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 10,227 | 434.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 10,420 | 442.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 10,310 | 437.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 10,813 | 459.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 8,364 | 355.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 9,473 | 402.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 11,712 | 497.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 11,215 | 476.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 1,012 |
| June 2026 | 913 |
| May 2026 | 937 |
| April 2026 | 976 |
| March 2026 | 1,024 |
| February 2026 | 941 |
| January 2026 | 1,010 |
| December 2025 | 1,058 |
| November 2025 | 1,122 |
| October 2025 | 1,189 |
| September 2025 | 1,093 |
| August 2025 | 1,072 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Central, Bristol, City of 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 violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, public order.
The largest increases were in theft from the person (+92%) and burglary (+72%). The largest falls were in other crime (-11%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 3,449 | 146.4 | 4.28 | +15% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 2,311 | 98.1 | 6.40 | +36% |
| Public order | 1,385 | 58.8 | 8.85 | +3% |
| Other theft | 1,231 | 52.3 | 8.17 | +17% |
| Shoplifting | 1,078 | 45.8 | 5.52 | +18% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 661 | 28.1 | 4.14 | +15% |
| Burglary | 481 | 20.4 | 5.77 | +72% |
| Vehicle crime | 392 | 16.6 | 3.38 | +25% |
| Bicycle theft | 358 | 15.2 | 18.46 | +8% |
| Robbery | 346 | 14.7 | 10.87 | +36% |
| Drugs | 268 | 11.4 | 3.48 | +44% |
| Theft from the person | 219 | 9.3 | 5.50 | +92% |
| Other crime | 97 | 4.1 | 1.95 | -11% |
| Possession of weapons | 71 | 3.0 | 3.10 | +18% |
Violence and sexual offences in Central, Bristol, City of
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 3,449 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (146.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 27.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Central, Bristol, City of
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 2,311 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (98.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 36% on the year before. It made up 18.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Central, Bristol, City of
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 1,385 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (58.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 11.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Central, Bristol, City of
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 1,231 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (52.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 10.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Central, Bristol, City of
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 1,078 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (45.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Central, Bristol, City of
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 661 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Central, Bristol, City of
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 481 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 72% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Central, Bristol, City of
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 392 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Central, Bristol, City of
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 358 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Central, Bristol, City of
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 346 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 36% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Central, Bristol, City of
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 268 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Central, Bristol, City of
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 219 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 92% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Central, Bristol, City of
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 97 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Central, Bristol, City of
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Central, Bristol, City of recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Central, Bristol, City of, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Central, Bristol, City of.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Central, Bristol, City of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotwells and Harbourside | 1,164 | 173.6 | -67% |
| Cotham | 766 | 84.7 | -84% |
| Ashley | 3,789 | 173.6 | -67% |
| Clifton | 1,050 | 80.7 | -85% |
| Southville | 2,653 | 179.6 | -66% |
| Lawrence Hill | 5,803 | 263.9 | -50% |
| Clifton Down | 1,189 | 90.8 | -83% |
| Windmill Hill | 1,215 | 82.0 | -84% |
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 Central, Bristol, City of over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Nightclub | 1,565 |
| On or near Parking Area | 652 |
| On or near Cannon Street | 411 |
| On or near Callowhill Court | 363 |
| On or near Bridewell Street | 319 |
| On or near The Horsefair | 312 |
| On or near Whitson Street | 310 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 300 |
| On or near Fairfax Street | 298 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 297 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Central, Bristol, City of 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 | 4,104 | 33.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 2,854 | 23.1% |
| Not recorded | 2,311 | 18.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 1,174 | 9.5% |
| Under investigation | 771 | 6.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 461 | 3.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 245 | 2.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 172 | 1.4% |
| Local resolution | 75 | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 61 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 50 | 0.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 38 | 0.3% |
Central, Bristol, City of has an estimated population of 23,555. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Central, Bristol, City of sits in decile 5.3, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Central, Bristol, City of |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 5.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 91.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 2.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 22.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.8% |
| Private rented homes | 58.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.3 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 12.4% |
Is Central, Bristol, City of a safe place to live?
Central, Bristol, City of recorded 524.2 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 Central, Bristol, City of?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 3,449 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (2,311).
Is crime in Central, Bristol, City of going up or down?
Recorded crime in Central, Bristol, City of was up 21% on the year before: 12,347 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 10,227 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Central, Bristol, City of?
Central, Bristol, City of is policed by Avon and Somerset. 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 Central, Bristol, City of. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.