Crime in Central, Swindon: statistics, rates and trends
3,638 crimes were recorded in Central, Swindon in the 12 months to July 2026, 209.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Central, Swindon at a glance
- Crime trends in Central, Swindon
- Types of crime in Central, Swindon
- Central, Swindon compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Central, Swindon
- What happened after crimes were reported in Central, Swindon
- Population and deprivation in Central, Swindon
- Questions about crime in Central, Swindon
- About this data
3,638 crimes were recorded in Central, Swindon in the 12 months to July 2026, 209.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,121 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Central, Swindon has the 177th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Central, Swindon | Swindon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 3,638 | 19,864 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 209.0 | 81.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +8% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 17,403 | 243,875 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Central, Swindon was highest in the year to July 2018 (4,716 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (3,245). Over the whole period it fell 23%, 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 | 3,638 | 209.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 3,369 | 193.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 3,414 | 196.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 3,846 | 221.0 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 3,703 | 212.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 3,245 | 186.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 3,825 | 219.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 4,162 | 239.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 4,716 | 271.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 280 |
| June 2026 | 300 |
| May 2026 | 252 |
| April 2026 | 346 |
| March 2026 | 288 |
| February 2026 | 272 |
| January 2026 | 290 |
| December 2025 | 316 |
| November 2025 | 290 |
| October 2025 | 364 |
| September 2025 | 312 |
| August 2025 | 328 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Central, Swindon 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 possession of weapons (+45%) and vehicle crime (+39%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-20%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,121 | 64.4 | 1.88 | +6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 926 | 53.2 | 3.47 | +16% |
| Public order | 310 | 17.8 | 2.68 | +12% |
| Shoplifting | 261 | 15.0 | 1.81 | +1% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 244 | 14.0 | 2.07 | +3% |
| Other theft | 164 | 9.4 | 1.47 | -9% |
| Vehicle crime | 154 | 8.8 | 1.80 | +39% |
| Drugs | 126 | 7.2 | 2.21 | -2% |
| Other crime | 76 | 4.4 | 2.07 | -4% |
| Burglary | 74 | 4.3 | 1.20 | +17% |
| Bicycle theft | 57 | 3.3 | 3.98 | -20% |
| Possession of weapons | 48 | 2.8 | 2.84 | +45% |
| Theft from the person | 43 | 2.5 | 1.46 | -4% |
| Robbery | 34 | 2.0 | 1.45 | +3% |
Violence and sexual offences in Central, Swindon
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Central, Swindon recorded 1,121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (64.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 30.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Central, Swindon
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Central, Swindon recorded 926 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (53.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 25.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Central, Swindon
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Central, Swindon recorded 310 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Central, Swindon
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Central, Swindon recorded 261 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Central, Swindon
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Central, Swindon recorded 244 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Central, Swindon
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Central, Swindon recorded 164 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Central, Swindon
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Central, Swindon recorded 154 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 39% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Central, Swindon
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Central, Swindon recorded 126 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Central, Swindon
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Central, Swindon recorded 76 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Central, Swindon
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Central, Swindon recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Central, Swindon
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Central, Swindon recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Central, Swindon
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Central, Swindon recorded 48 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 45% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Central, Swindon
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Central, Swindon recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Central, Swindon
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Central, Swindon recorded 34 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Central, Swindon, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Central, Swindon.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Central, Swindon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastcott | 1,650 | 138.5 | -34% |
| Old Town | 967 | 83.4 | -60% |
| Gorse Hill and Pinehurst | 1,054 | 81.5 | -61% |
| Walcot and Park North | 1,325 | 109.1 | -48% |
| Mannington and Western | 1,130 | 90.0 | -57% |
| Rodbourne Cheney | 1,124 | 84.1 | -60% |
| Liden, Eldene and Park South | 1,174 | 83.9 | -60% |
| St Margaret and South Marston | 678 | 61.7 | -70% |
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, Swindon over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 369 |
| On or near Regent Circus | 166 |
| On or near Queen Street | 164 |
| On or near College Street | 123 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 97 |
| On or near Temple Street | 94 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 88 |
| On or near Supermarket | 87 |
| On or near Fleet Street | 81 |
| On or near Edgeware Road | 78 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Central, Swindon 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Not recorded | 926 | 25.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 883 | 24.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 778 | 21.4% |
| Under investigation | 424 | 11.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 172 | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 169 | 4.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 103 | 2.8% |
| Local resolution | 84 | 2.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 36 | 1.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 33 | 0.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 15 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.2% |
Central, Swindon has an estimated population of 17,403. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Central, Swindon sits in decile 4.2, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Central, Swindon |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 71.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 9.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 40.9% |
| Social rented homes | 13.3% |
| Private rented homes | 45.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.2 |
Is Central, Swindon a safe place to live?
Central, Swindon recorded 209.0 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, Swindon?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (926).
Is crime in Central, Swindon going up or down?
Recorded crime in Central, Swindon was up 8% on the year before: 3,638 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 3,369 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Central, Swindon?
Central, Swindon is policed by Wiltshire. 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, Swindon. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.