Crime in Downham Old Town: statistics, rates and trends
357 crimes were recorded in Downham Old Town in the 12 months to August 2026, 111.3 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 14% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Downham Old Town at a glance
- Crime trends in Downham Old Town
- Types of crime in Downham Old Town
- Downham Old Town compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Downham Old Town
- What happened after crimes were reported in Downham Old Town
- Demographics of Downham Old Town
- Questions about crime in Downham Old Town
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (118), shoplifting (70) and anti-social behaviour (61) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 989th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Downham Old Town | King's Lynn and West Norfolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 357 | 10,306 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 111.3 | 66.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -14% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 3,208 | 156,206 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Downham Old Town peaked in the year to August 2023 (428 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (331). 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 | 357 | 111.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 415 | 129.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 405 | 126.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 428 | 133.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 416 | 129.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 331 | 103.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 359 | 111.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 361 | 112.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 355 | 110.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 22 |
| July 2026 | 36 |
| June 2026 | 24 |
| May 2026 | 28 |
| April 2026 | 28 |
| March 2026 | 40 |
| February 2026 | 36 |
| January 2026 | 24 |
| December 2025 | 28 |
| November 2025 | 33 |
| October 2025 | 32 |
| September 2025 | 26 |
Compared with England and Wales, Downham Old Town recorded notably more shoplifting (2.6 times the national rate) and criminal damage and arson (53% above the national rate). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 51 to 70, while anti-social behaviour fell from 94 to 61 and criminal damage and arson fell from 47 to 33.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 118 | 36.8 | 34.2 | -4% |
| Shoplifting | 70 | 21.8 | 8.5 | +37% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 61 | 19.0 | 15.4 | -35% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 33 | 10.3 | 6.7 | -30% |
| Public order | 22 | 6.9 | 6.7 | -15% |
| Other theft | 16 | 5.0 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 13 | 4.1 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 7 | 2.2 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 1.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 5 | 1.6 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 4 | 1.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.6 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Downham Old Town has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest neighbourhoods.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Downham Old Town |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Downham | 154 | 47.4 | -57% |
| Watlington | 132 | 34.5 | -69% |
| Upwell & Delph | 202 | 38.0 | -66% |
| Airfield | 206 | 28.3 | -75% |
| Tilney, Mershe Lande & Wiggenhall | 322 | 51.8 | -53% |
| Emneth & Outwell | 417 | 80.0 | -28% |
| West Winch | 267 | 58.6 | -47% |
| Feltwell | 176 | 28.4 | -74% |
The 10 locations below account for 69% of the crime recorded in Downham Old Town over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Court Gardens” (59).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Court Gardens | 59 |
| On or near Parking Area | 42 |
| On or near Supermarket | 42 |
| On or near Norfolk Square | 21 |
| On or near James Scott Close | 18 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 18 |
| On or near St Winnold Close | 17 |
| On or near Downham Market | 11 |
| On or near Broadlands | 9 |
| On or near Church Road | 9 |
Of the 296 crimes in Downham Old Town with a recorded outcome, 22% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 8.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 61 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 125 | 42.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 64 | 21.6% | 35.3% |
| Local resolution | 27 | 9.1% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 26 | 8.8% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 19 | 6.4% | 2.5% |
| Under investigation | 15 | 5.1% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 2.4% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 2.0% | 0.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 4 | 1.4% | 4.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 1 | 0.3% | 0.0% |
Downham Old Town has an estimated population of 3,208 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more private renting (32%, against 20%), fewer students (3.5%, against 7.9%) and more residents with no qualifications (22%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Downham Old Town average decile 3.7 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Downham Old Town | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 22.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 23.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 50.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 31.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.7 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Downham Old Town a safe place to live?
Downham Old Town recorded 111.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 989th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting and criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Downham Old Town?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 118 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (70).
Is crime in Downham Old Town going up or down?
Recorded crime in Downham Old Town was down 14% on the year before: 357 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 415 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Downham Old Town?
About 3,208 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Downham Old Town?
Downham Old Town is policed by Norfolk.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.