Crime in Central Southsea: statistics, rates and trends
1,653 crimes were recorded in Central Southsea in the 12 months to August 2026, 101.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 10% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Central Southsea at a glance
- Crime trends in Central Southsea
- Types of crime in Central Southsea
- Central Southsea compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Central Southsea
- What happened after crimes were reported in Central Southsea
- Demographics of Central Southsea
- Questions about crime in Central Southsea
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (575), shoplifting (273) and anti-social behaviour (174) made up 62% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,206th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Central Southsea | Portsmouth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,653 | 26,789 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 101.2 | 125.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +10% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 16,341 | 214,321 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Central Southsea peaked in the year to August 2021 (2,131 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (1,417). 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 | 1,653 | 101.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,509 | 92.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,417 | 86.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,639 | 100.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,798 | 110.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,131 | 130.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,746 | 106.8 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,488 | 91.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,653 | 101.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 158 |
| July 2026 | 147 |
| June 2026 | 166 |
| May 2026 | 148 |
| April 2026 | 124 |
| March 2026 | 127 |
| February 2026 | 138 |
| January 2026 | 154 |
| December 2025 | 133 |
| November 2025 | 101 |
| October 2025 | 127 |
| September 2025 | 130 |
Compared with England and Wales, Central Southsea recorded notably more shoplifting (2.0 times the national rate), bicycle theft (78% above the national rate) and vehicle crime (37% above the national rate), and notably less burglary (40% below) and criminal damage and arson (38% below). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 122 to 174 and shoplifting rose from 223 to 273, while criminal damage and arson fell from 89 to 68 and burglary fell from 45 to 35.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 575 | 35.2 | 34.2 | +7% |
| Shoplifting | 273 | 16.7 | 8.5 | +22% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 174 | 10.6 | 15.4 | +43% |
| Other theft | 127 | 7.8 | 6.4 | +6% |
| Public order | 114 | 7.0 | 6.7 | +2% |
| Vehicle crime | 111 | 6.8 | 5.0 | +6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 68 | 4.2 | 6.7 | -24% |
| Drugs | 67 | 4.1 | 3.3 | +14% |
| Burglary | 35 | 2.1 | 3.6 | -22% |
| Robbery | 26 | 1.6 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 24 | 1.5 | 0.8 | +4% |
| Other crime | 24 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 0% |
| Possession of weapons | 20 | 1.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 15 | 0.9 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Central Southsea; the highest is Charles Dickens (255.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Baffins (81.7).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Central Southsea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastney and Craneswater | 1,169 | 93.0 | -8% |
| Milton | 1,382 | 94.3 | -7% |
| St Jude | 1,985 | 165.1 | +63% |
| St Thomas | 2,480 | 162.8 | +61% |
| Fratton | 1,547 | 94.7 | -6% |
| Charles Dickens | 6,044 | 255.5 | +153% |
| Baffins | 1,274 | 81.7 | -19% |
| Nelson | 2,229 | 138.9 | +37% |
The 10 locations below account for 55% of the crime recorded in Central Southsea over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (383).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 383 |
| On or near Albert Road | 84 |
| On or near B2154 | 73 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 72 |
| On or near Wyndcliffe Road | 66 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 63 |
| On or near Eton Road | 50 |
| On or near Beatrice Road | 45 |
| On or near Cleveland Road | 41 |
| On or near Manners Lane | 38 |
Of the 1,479 crimes in Central Southsea with a recorded outcome, 36% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 174 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 551 | 37.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 538 | 36.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 134 | 9.1% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 74 | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 53 | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 39 | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 39 | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 19 | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 19 | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Central Southsea has an estimated population of 16,341 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more students (28.1%, against 7.9%), more private renting (45%, against 20%) and less social housing (6.8%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Central Southsea average decile 5.2 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Central Southsea | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 9.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 5.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 11.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 28.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 35.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 11.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 32.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 48.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 45.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Central Southsea a safe place to live?
Central Southsea recorded 101.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,206th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting and bicycle theft.
What is the most common crime in Central Southsea?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 575 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (273).
Is crime in Central Southsea going up or down?
Recorded crime in Central Southsea was up 10% on the year before: 1,653 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,509 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Central Southsea?
About 16,341 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 9.5% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Central Southsea?
Central Southsea is policed by Hampshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.