Crime in Cotham: statistics, rates and trends
766 crimes were recorded in Cotham in the 12 months to July 2026, 84.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
766 crimes were recorded in Cotham in the 12 months to July 2026, 84.7 per 1,000 residents. That is close to 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 302 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Cotham has the 1,668th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Cotham | Bristol, City of | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 766 | 73,545 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 84.7 | 148.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | +9% | -1% |
| Population | 9,045 | 494,399 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Cotham was highest in the year to July 2018 (948 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (640). Over the whole period it fell 19%, 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 | 766 | 84.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 735 | 81.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 698 | 77.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 666 | 73.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 640 | 70.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 681 | 75.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 691 | 76.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 724 | 80.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 948 | 104.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 50 |
| June 2026 | 60 |
| May 2026 | 71 |
| April 2026 | 49 |
| March 2026 | 65 |
| February 2026 | 69 |
| January 2026 | 82 |
| December 2025 | 58 |
| November 2025 | 61 |
| October 2025 | 81 |
| September 2025 | 72 |
| August 2025 | 48 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Cotham 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 vehicle crime, criminal damage and arson, bicycle theft.
The largest increases were in other theft (+41%) and criminal damage and arson (+34%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-30%) and public order (-17%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 302 | 33.4 | 0.98 | +4% |
| Vehicle crime | 103 | 11.4 | 2.31 | +12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 88 | 9.7 | 0.63 | -30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 78 | 8.6 | 1.27 | +34% |
| Other theft | 55 | 6.1 | 0.95 | +41% |
| Public order | 48 | 5.3 | 0.80 | -17% |
| Burglary | 36 | 4.0 | 1.13 | +9% |
| Bicycle theft | 18 | 2.0 | 2.42 | +100% |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.3 | 0.41 | -8% |
| Shoplifting | 7 | 0.8 | 0.09 | +17% |
| Other crime | 6 | 0.7 | 0.31 | -40% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.7 | 0.68 | +500% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.6 | 0.41 | +400% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.2 | 0.13 | +100% |
Violence and sexual offences in Cotham
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Cotham recorded 302 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 39.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Cotham
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Cotham recorded 103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 13.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Cotham
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Cotham recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 11.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Cotham
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Cotham recorded 78 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 10.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Cotham
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Cotham recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 41% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Cotham
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Cotham recorded 48 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Cotham
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Cotham recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 4.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Cotham
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Cotham recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Cotham
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Cotham recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Cotham
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Cotham recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Cotham
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Cotham recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Cotham
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Cotham recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 500% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Cotham
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Cotham recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 400% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Cotham
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Cotham recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Cotham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Cotham.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cotham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clifton Down | 1,189 | 90.8 | +7% |
| Ashley | 3,789 | 173.6 | +105% |
| Redland | 685 | 49.5 | -42% |
| Central | 12,347 | 524.2 | +519% |
| Clifton | 1,050 | 80.7 | -5% |
| Hotwells and Harbourside | 1,164 | 173.6 | +105% |
| Lawrence Hill | 5,803 | 263.9 | +212% |
| Bishopston and Ashley Down | 1,214 | 87.8 | +4% |
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 Cotham over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Dove Street | 105 |
| On or near Brookfield Lane | 65 |
| On or near Montague Hill | 39 |
| On or near Kingsley Road | 37 |
| On or near Roslyn Road | 36 |
| On or near Cotham Lawn Road | 35 |
| On or near Zetland Road | 31 |
| On or near Winsley Road | 28 |
| On or near Cotham Road | 25 |
| On or near Gibson Road | 19 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Cotham 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 | 262 | 34.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 248 | 32.4% |
| Not recorded | 88 | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 60 | 7.8% |
| Under investigation | 52 | 6.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 16 | 2.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 1.0% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.9% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 0.5% |
Cotham has an estimated population of 9,045. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Cotham sits in decile 8.2, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Cotham |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 7.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 85.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 7.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 43.8% |
| Social rented homes | 6.1% |
| Private rented homes | 50.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.2 |
Is Cotham a safe place to live?
Cotham recorded 84.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Cotham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 302 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by vehicle crime (103).
Is crime in Cotham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cotham was up 4% on the year before: 766 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 735 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Cotham?
Cotham 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 Cotham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.