Crime in Cosham: statistics, rates and trends
2,136 crimes were recorded in Cosham in the 12 months to August 2026, 143.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 2% on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (832), shoplifting (366) and anti-social behaviour (188) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 489th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Cosham | Portsmouth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,136 | 26,789 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 143.8 | 125.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 14,857 | 214,321 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Cosham peaked in the year to August 2018 (2,511 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (2,045). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 15%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,136 | 143.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,100 | 141.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,045 | 137.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,339 | 157.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,231 | 150.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,147 | 144.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,287 | 153.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,265 | 152.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,511 | 169.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 191 |
| July 2026 | 227 |
| June 2026 | 209 |
| May 2026 | 204 |
| April 2026 | 215 |
| March 2026 | 202 |
| February 2026 | 154 |
| January 2026 | 161 |
| December 2025 | 125 |
| November 2025 | 155 |
| October 2025 | 147 |
| September 2025 | 146 |
Compared with England and Wales, Cosham recorded notably more bicycle theft (3.4 times the national rate), shoplifting (2.9 times the national rate) and public order (77% above the national rate), and notably less other crime (24% below). On the year before, robbery rose from 22 to 35 and vehicle crime rose from 46 to 72, while drugs fell from 67 to 55 and possession of weapons fell from 25 to 21.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 832 | 56.0 | 34.2 | -8% |
| Shoplifting | 366 | 24.6 | 8.5 | +52% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 188 | 12.7 | 15.4 | +14% |
| Public order | 175 | 11.8 | 6.7 | -15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 133 | 9.0 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Other theft | 131 | 8.8 | 6.4 | -13% |
| Vehicle crime | 72 | 4.8 | 5.0 | +57% |
| Drugs | 55 | 3.7 | 3.3 | -18% |
| Burglary | 48 | 3.2 | 3.6 | -16% |
| Bicycle theft | 42 | 2.8 | 0.8 | -5% |
| Robbery | 35 | 2.4 | 1.4 | +59% |
| Other crime | 24 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 0% |
| Possession of weapons | 21 | 1.4 | 1.0 | -16% |
| Theft from the person | 14 | 0.9 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Cosham; the highest is Charles Dickens (255.5 per 1,000) and the lowest Drayton and Farlington (43.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cosham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drayton and Farlington | 613 | 43.0 | -70% |
| Hilsea | 1,327 | 91.5 | -36% |
| Paulsgrove | 1,520 | 102.8 | -29% |
| Copnor | 1,430 | 106.2 | -26% |
| Nelson | 2,229 | 138.9 | -3% |
| Baffins | 1,274 | 81.7 | -43% |
| Fratton | 1,547 | 94.7 | -34% |
| Charles Dickens | 6,044 | 255.5 | +78% |
The 10 locations below account for 51% of the crime recorded in Cosham over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Spur Road” (217).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Spur Road | 217 |
| On or near Cavell Drive | 161 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 154 |
| On or near Parking Area | 112 |
| On or near Fourth Avenue | 96 |
| On or near Wembley Grove | 85 |
| On or near Chatsworth Avenue | 75 |
| On or near Cosham Interchange | 71 |
| On or near Aldroke Street | 66 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 63 |
Of the 1,948 crimes in Cosham with a recorded outcome, 31% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 6.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 188 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 728 | 37.4% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 598 | 30.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 259 | 13.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 131 | 6.7% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 74 | 3.8% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 46 | 2.4% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 35 | 1.8% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 31 | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 17 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 13 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 13 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Cosham has an estimated population of 14,857 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (21%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Cosham average decile 4.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Cosham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 60.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 21.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 27.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 21.4% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Cosham a safe place to live?
Cosham recorded 143.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 489th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were bicycle theft and shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Cosham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 832 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (366).
Is crime in Cosham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cosham was up 2% on the year before: 2,136 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,100 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Cosham?
About 14,857 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 17% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Cosham?
Cosham 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.