Crime in Gillingham: statistics, rates and trends
620 crimes were recorded in Gillingham in the 12 months to July 2026, 40.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Gillingham at a glance
- Crime trends in Gillingham
- Types of crime in Gillingham
- Gillingham compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Gillingham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Gillingham
- Population and deprivation in Gillingham
- Questions about crime in Gillingham
- About this data
620 crimes were recorded in Gillingham in the 12 months to July 2026, 40.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 196 reports (32% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Gillingham has the 3,419th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Gillingham | Dorset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 620 | 20,740 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 40.7 | 53.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -6% | -1% |
| Population | 15,244 | 389,947 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Gillingham was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,030 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (615). Over the whole period it fell 33%, 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 | 620 | 40.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 615 | 40.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 626 | 41.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 833 | 54.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 768 | 50.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 925 | 60.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 871 | 57.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,030 | 67.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 923 | 60.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 72 |
| June 2026 | 64 |
| May 2026 | 61 |
| April 2026 | 45 |
| March 2026 | 51 |
| February 2026 | 31 |
| January 2026 | 51 |
| December 2025 | 49 |
| November 2025 | 57 |
| October 2025 | 54 |
| September 2025 | 41 |
| August 2025 | 44 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Gillingham 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. The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+65%) and criminal damage and arson (+25%).
The largest falls were in shoplifting (-57%) and vehicle crime (-30%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 196 | 12.9 | 0.38 | -18% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 162 | 10.6 | 0.69 | +65% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 64 | 4.2 | 0.62 | +25% |
| Other theft | 52 | 3.4 | 0.53 | -5% |
| Public order | 37 | 2.4 | 0.37 | +16% |
| Burglary | 36 | 2.4 | 0.67 | +3% |
| Vehicle crime | 28 | 1.8 | 0.37 | -30% |
| Shoplifting | 19 | 1.2 | 0.15 | -57% |
| Other crime | 12 | 0.8 | 0.37 | +100% |
| Drugs | 5 | 0.3 | 0.10 | +67% |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.3 | 0.27 | +33% |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.1 | 0.10 | -50% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.1 | 0.08 | -33% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | -67% |
Violence and sexual offences in Gillingham
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Gillingham recorded 196 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 31.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Gillingham
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Gillingham recorded 162 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 65% on the year before. It made up 26.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Gillingham
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Gillingham 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 25% on the year before. It made up 10.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Gillingham
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Gillingham recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Gillingham
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Gillingham recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Gillingham
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Gillingham recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Gillingham
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Gillingham recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Gillingham
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Gillingham recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 57% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Gillingham
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Gillingham recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Gillingham
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Gillingham recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Gillingham
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Gillingham recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Gillingham
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Gillingham recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Gillingham
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Gillingham recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Gillingham
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Gillingham recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 67% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Gillingham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Gillingham.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Gillingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaftesbury Town | 676 | 72.0 | +77% |
| Beacon | 200 | 35.3 | -13% |
| Stalbridge & Marnhull | 181 | 30.0 | -26% |
| Sturminster Newton | 305 | 63.2 | +55% |
| Hill Forts & Upper Tarrants | 170 | 32.0 | -21% |
| Blackmore Vale | 122 | 30.7 | -25% |
| Sherborne East | 229 | 50.7 | +25% |
| Sherborne West | 436 | 68.0 | +67% |
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 Gillingham over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 29 |
| On or near Paris Court | 27 |
| On or near Meadowcroft | 20 |
| On or near Parking Area | 20 |
| On or near South Street | 20 |
| On or near Harding'S Lane | 18 |
| On or near Common Mead Lane | 17 |
| On or near Hyde Road | 17 |
| On or near Back Lane | 16 |
| On or near The Meadows | 16 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Gillingham 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 | 172 | 27.7% |
| Not recorded | 162 | 26.1% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 154 | 24.8% |
| Under investigation | 59 | 9.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 19 | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 12 | 1.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 10 | 1.6% |
| Local resolution | 9 | 1.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 1.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 0.6% |
Gillingham has an estimated population of 15,244. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Gillingham sits in decile 6.7, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Gillingham |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 55.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 28.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.1% |
| Social rented homes | 9.5% |
| Private rented homes | 17.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.7 |
Is Gillingham a safe place to live?
Gillingham recorded 40.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower than 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 Gillingham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 196 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (162).
Is crime in Gillingham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Gillingham was almost unchanged on the year before: 620 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 615 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Gillingham?
Gillingham is policed by Dorset. 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 Gillingham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.