Crime in Forest & Solent: statistics, rates and trends
210 crimes were recorded in Forest & Solent in the 12 months to August 2026, 57.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Forest & Solent at a glance
- Crime trends in Forest & Solent
- Types of crime in Forest & Solent
- Forest & Solent compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Forest & Solent
- What happened after crimes were reported in Forest & Solent
- Demographics of Forest & Solent
- Questions about crime in Forest & Solent
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (60), other theft (32) and burglary (28) made up 57% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,711th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Forest & Solent | New Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 210 | 10,266 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 57.7 | 58.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 3,642 | 176,116 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Forest & Solent peaked in the year to August 2020 (322 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (205). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 16%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 210 | 57.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 205 | 56.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 227 | 62.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 242 | 66.4 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 286 | 78.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 308 | 84.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 322 | 88.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 296 | 81.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 250 | 68.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 21 |
| July 2026 | 18 |
| June 2026 | 19 |
| May 2026 | 14 |
| April 2026 | 25 |
| March 2026 | 14 |
| February 2026 | 13 |
| January 2026 | 10 |
| December 2025 | 9 |
| November 2025 | 16 |
| October 2025 | 31 |
| September 2025 | 20 |
Compared with England and Wales, Forest & Solent recorded notably more burglary (2.2 times the national rate) and other theft (36% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (61% below) and violence and sexual offences (52% below). On the year before, other theft rose from 23 to 32, while violence and sexual offences fell from 75 to 60.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 60 | 16.5 | 34.2 | -20% |
| Other theft | 32 | 8.8 | 6.4 | +39% |
| Burglary | 28 | 7.7 | 3.6 | +4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 23 | 6.3 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Anti-social behaviour | 22 | 6.0 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 16 | 4.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 12 | 3.3 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 1.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 1.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 4 | 1.1 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.8 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Forest & Solent; the highest is Hythe South (66.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Sway, New Forest (28.7).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Forest & Solent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lymington | 509 | 63.7 | +10% |
| Pennington | 398 | 51.7 | -10% |
| Brockenhurst & Denny Lodge | 170 | 49.4 | -14% |
| Sway | 111 | 28.7 | -50% |
| Hardley, Holbury & North Blackfield | 369 | 57.7 | 0% |
| Dibden & Dibden Purlieu | 430 | 60.7 | +5% |
| Fawley, Blackfield, Calshot & Langley | 459 | 61.3 | +6% |
| Hythe South | 490 | 66.6 | +15% |
The 10 locations below account for 63% of the crime recorded in Forest & Solent over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (46).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 46 |
| On or near Hatchet Lane | 15 |
| On or near Thorns Lane | 15 |
| On or near Beaulieu Road | 14 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 13 |
| On or near Gilpin Close | 8 |
| On or near Ferry Terminal | 7 |
| On or near School Lane | 5 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 5 |
| On or near Brickfield Lane | 4 |
Of the 188 crimes in Forest & Solent with a recorded outcome, 56% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales. The 22 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 106 | 56.4% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 40 | 21.3% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 16 | 8.5% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 13 | 6.9% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 4 | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 3 | 1.6% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 1.1% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 1.1% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
Forest & Solent has an estimated population of 3,642 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (6.2%, against 23.3%), an older population (28%, against 19%) and less social housing (9.7%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Forest & Solent average decile 6.3 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Forest & Solent | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 54.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 40.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 6.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 23.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.3 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Forest & Solent a safe place to live?
Forest & Solent recorded 57.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,711th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were burglary and other theft.
What is the most common crime in Forest & Solent?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 60 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by other theft (32).
Is crime in Forest & Solent going up or down?
Recorded crime in Forest & Solent was up 2% on the year before: 210 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 205 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Forest & Solent?
About 3,642 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 28% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Forest & Solent?
Forest & Solent 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.