Crime in Lewisham Central: statistics, rates and trends
2,718 crimes were recorded in Lewisham Central in the 12 months to July 2026, 264.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Lewisham Central at a glance
- Crime trends in Lewisham Central
- Types of crime in Lewisham Central
- Lewisham Central compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Lewisham Central
- What happened after crimes were reported in Lewisham Central
- Population and deprivation in Lewisham Central
- Questions about crime in Lewisham Central
- About this data
2,718 crimes were recorded in Lewisham Central in the 12 months to July 2026, 264.2 per 1,000 residents. That is higher 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 745 reports (27% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Lewisham Central has the 104th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Lewisham Central | Lewisham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,718 | 36,975 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 264.2 | 122.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 10,287 | 301,255 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Lewisham Central was highest in the year to July 2026 (2,718 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (2,150). Over the whole period it rose 26%, 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 | 2,718 | 264.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,701 | 262.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,629 | 255.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,453 | 238.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,239 | 217.7 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,218 | 215.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,425 | 235.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,254 | 219.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,150 | 209.0 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 228 |
| June 2026 | 242 |
| May 2026 | 254 |
| April 2026 | 231 |
| March 2026 | 253 |
| February 2026 | 207 |
| January 2026 | 189 |
| December 2025 | 200 |
| November 2025 | 229 |
| October 2025 | 249 |
| September 2025 | 205 |
| August 2025 | 231 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Lewisham Central 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 violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting.
The largest increases were in bicycle theft (+51%) and anti-social behaviour (+24%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-41%) and criminal damage and arson (-28%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 745 | 72.4 | 2.12 | +16% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 405 | 39.4 | 2.57 | +24% |
| Shoplifting | 354 | 34.4 | 4.15 | +12% |
| Other theft | 227 | 22.1 | 3.45 | -21% |
| Public order | 205 | 19.9 | 3.00 | +11% |
| Theft from the person | 182 | 17.7 | 10.47 | -41% |
| Drugs | 148 | 14.4 | 4.40 | -11% |
| Robbery | 92 | 8.9 | 6.62 | -7% |
| Burglary | 91 | 8.8 | 2.50 | +17% |
| Vehicle crime | 83 | 8.1 | 1.64 | -20% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 73 | 7.1 | 1.05 | -28% |
| Bicycle theft | 56 | 5.4 | 6.61 | +51% |
| Other crime | 32 | 3.1 | 1.47 | -6% |
| Possession of weapons | 25 | 2.4 | 2.50 | +19% |
Violence and sexual offences in Lewisham Central
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Lewisham Central recorded 745 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (72.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 27.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Lewisham Central
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Lewisham Central recorded 405 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (39.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 14.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Lewisham Central
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Lewisham Central recorded 354 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 13.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Lewisham Central
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Lewisham Central recorded 227 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (22.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Lewisham Central
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Lewisham Central recorded 205 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (19.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Lewisham Central
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Lewisham Central recorded 182 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Lewisham Central
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Lewisham Central recorded 148 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Lewisham Central
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Lewisham Central recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Lewisham Central
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Lewisham Central recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Lewisham Central
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Lewisham Central recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Lewisham Central
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Lewisham Central recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Lewisham Central
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Lewisham Central recorded 56 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 51% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Lewisham Central
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Lewisham Central recorded 32 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Lewisham Central
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Lewisham Central recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Lewisham Central, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Lewisham Central.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Lewisham Central |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ladywell | 1,635 | 139.8 | -47% |
| Blackheath | 3,076 | 182.3 | -31% |
| Brockley | 2,379 | 110.8 | -58% |
| Lee Green | 1,243 | 84.6 | -68% |
| Rushey Green | 3,795 | 185.1 | -30% |
| Deptford | 2,652 | 184.5 | -30% |
| Telegraph Hill | 1,315 | 81.1 | -69% |
| Crofton Park | 1,370 | 89.1 | -66% |
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 Lewisham Central over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shopping Area | 359 |
| On or near Parking Area | 240 |
| On or near Supermarket | 182 |
| On or near Lewis Grove | 174 |
| On or near Lewisham Dlr | 172 |
| On or near Thurston Road | 160 |
| On or near Barnstaple Lane | 145 |
| On or near Cornmill Lane | 120 |
| On or near Salisbury Yard | 96 |
| On or near Lewisham High Street | 84 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Lewisham Central 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 | 935 | 34.4% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 642 | 23.6% |
| Not recorded | 405 | 14.9% |
| Under investigation | 292 | 10.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 186 | 6.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 102 | 3.8% |
| Local resolution | 62 | 2.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 42 | 1.5% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 24 | 0.9% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 0.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.3% |
Lewisham Central has an estimated population of 10,287. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Lewisham Central sits in decile 4.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Lewisham Central |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 82.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 3.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 30.6% |
| Social rented homes | 21.8% |
| Private rented homes | 47.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.5 |
Is Lewisham Central a safe place to live?
Lewisham Central recorded 264.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 Lewisham Central?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 745 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (405).
Is crime in Lewisham Central going up or down?
Recorded crime in Lewisham Central was almost unchanged on the year before: 2,718 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,701 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Lewisham Central?
Lewisham Central 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 Lewisham Central. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.