Crime in Forest Hill: statistics, rates and trends
1,288 crimes were recorded in Forest Hill in the 12 months to July 2026, 84.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Forest Hill at a glance
- Crime trends in Forest Hill
- Types of crime in Forest Hill
- Forest Hill compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Forest Hill
- What happened after crimes were reported in Forest Hill
- Population and deprivation in Forest Hill
- Questions about crime in Forest Hill
- About this data
1,288 crimes were recorded in Forest Hill in the 12 months to July 2026, 84.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 397 reports (31% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Forest Hill has the 1,656th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Forest Hill | Lewisham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,288 | 36,975 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 84.9 | 122.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 15,165 | 301,255 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Forest Hill was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,711 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,288). Over the whole period it fell 6%, 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 | 1,288 | 84.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,366 | 90.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,343 | 88.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,525 | 100.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,499 | 98.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,711 | 112.8 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,588 | 104.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,377 | 90.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,374 | 90.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 114 |
| June 2026 | 84 |
| May 2026 | 115 |
| April 2026 | 87 |
| March 2026 | 107 |
| February 2026 | 90 |
| January 2026 | 109 |
| December 2025 | 90 |
| November 2025 | 126 |
| October 2025 | 135 |
| September 2025 | 110 |
| August 2025 | 121 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Forest Hill 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 anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime, robbery.
The largest increases were in criminal damage and arson (+12%). The largest falls were in other crime (-45%) and theft from the person (-33%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 397 | 26.2 | 0.76 | +6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 292 | 19.3 | 1.26 | -6% |
| Vehicle crime | 134 | 8.8 | 1.79 | -11% |
| Public order | 81 | 5.3 | 0.80 | -9% |
| Other theft | 77 | 5.1 | 0.79 | -31% |
| Burglary | 65 | 4.3 | 1.21 | -6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 64 | 4.2 | 0.62 | +12% |
| Drugs | 52 | 3.4 | 1.05 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 48 | 3.2 | 0.38 | -4% |
| Robbery | 31 | 2.0 | 1.51 | +7% |
| Theft from the person | 24 | 1.6 | 0.94 | -33% |
| Other crime | 11 | 0.7 | 0.34 | -45% |
| Bicycle theft | 9 | 0.6 | 0.72 | -31% |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.2 | 0.20 | -40% |
Violence and sexual offences in Forest Hill
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Forest Hill recorded 397 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.2 per 1,000 residents), lower 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 Forest Hill
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Forest Hill recorded 292 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 22.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Forest Hill
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Forest Hill recorded 134 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 down 11% on the year before. It made up 10.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Forest Hill
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Forest Hill recorded 81 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 9% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Forest Hill
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Forest Hill recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Forest Hill
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Forest Hill recorded 65 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 down 6% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Forest Hill
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Forest Hill recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Forest Hill
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Forest Hill recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Forest Hill
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Forest Hill recorded 48 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Forest Hill
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Forest Hill recorded 31 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 7% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Forest Hill
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Forest Hill recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Forest Hill
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Forest Hill recorded 11 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 45% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Forest Hill
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Forest Hill recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Forest Hill
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Forest Hill recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Forest Hill, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Forest Hill.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Forest Hill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Vale | 1,761 | 91.3 | +7% |
| Sydenham | 1,853 | 113.5 | +34% |
| Crofton Park | 1,370 | 89.1 | +5% |
| Bellingham | 1,599 | 150.8 | +78% |
| Rushey Green | 3,795 | 185.1 | +118% |
| Telegraph Hill | 1,315 | 81.1 | -5% |
| Ladywell | 1,635 | 139.8 | +65% |
| Catford South | 2,134 | 122.9 | +45% |
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 Forest Hill over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 76 |
| On or near Supermarket | 76 |
| On or near Suncroft Place | 56 |
| On or near Boveney Road | 43 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 43 |
| On or near Bird-In-Hand Passage | 34 |
| On or near Kirkdale | 31 |
| On or near Dartmouth Place | 30 |
| On or near Longfield Crescent | 30 |
| On or near Heathedge | 28 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Forest Hill 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 | 427 | 33.2% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 315 | 24.5% |
| Not recorded | 292 | 22.7% |
| Under investigation | 113 | 8.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 61 | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 39 | 3.0% |
| Local resolution | 14 | 1.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 12 | 0.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 1 | 0.1% |
Forest Hill has an estimated population of 15,165. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Forest Hill sits in decile 4.9, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Forest Hill |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 71.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 50.0% |
| Social rented homes | 24.1% |
| Private rented homes | 25.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.9 |
Is Forest Hill a safe place to live?
Forest Hill recorded 84.9 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 Forest Hill?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 397 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (292).
Is crime in Forest Hill going up or down?
Recorded crime in Forest Hill was down 6% on the year before: 1,288 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,366 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Forest Hill?
Forest Hill is policed by Metropolitan Police. 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 Forest Hill. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.