Crime in Luton, Medway: statistics, rates and trends
1,437 crimes were recorded in Luton, Medway in the 12 months to July 2026, 138.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Luton, Medway at a glance
- Crime trends in Luton, Medway
- Types of crime in Luton, Medway
- Luton, Medway compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Luton, Medway
- What happened after crimes were reported in Luton, Medway
- Population and deprivation in Luton, Medway
- Questions about crime in Luton, Medway
- About this data
1,437 crimes were recorded in Luton, Medway in the 12 months to July 2026, 138.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 595 reports (41% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Luton, Medway has the 547th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Luton, Medway | Medway | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,437 | 29,852 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 138.8 | 102.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -7% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 10,351 | 292,655 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Luton, Medway was highest in the year to July 2021 (2,046 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,437). Over the whole period it fell 27%, 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 | 1,437 | 138.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,550 | 149.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,829 | 176.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,786 | 172.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,981 | 191.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,046 | 197.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,775 | 171.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,824 | 176.2 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,962 | 189.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 144 |
| June 2026 | 116 |
| May 2026 | 106 |
| April 2026 | 129 |
| March 2026 | 134 |
| February 2026 | 116 |
| January 2026 | 116 |
| December 2025 | 111 |
| November 2025 | 103 |
| October 2025 | 106 |
| September 2025 | 129 |
| August 2025 | 127 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Luton, Medway 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, criminal damage and arson.
The largest increases were in anti-social behaviour (+22%). The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-40%) and drugs (-30%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 595 | 57.5 | 1.68 | -14% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 282 | 27.2 | 1.78 | +22% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 106 | 10.2 | 1.51 | -40% |
| Other theft | 86 | 8.3 | 1.30 | +1% |
| Shoplifting | 77 | 7.4 | 0.90 | +328% |
| Public order | 60 | 5.8 | 0.87 | -10% |
| Vehicle crime | 54 | 5.2 | 1.06 | -24% |
| Drugs | 52 | 5.0 | 1.54 | -30% |
| Other crime | 42 | 4.1 | 1.92 | -24% |
| Burglary | 38 | 3.7 | 1.04 | +6% |
| Possession of weapons | 22 | 2.1 | 2.19 | +16% |
| Robbery | 10 | 1.0 | 0.72 | -23% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.7 | 0.82 | +75% |
| Theft from the person | 6 | 0.6 | 0.34 | -25% |
Violence and sexual offences in Luton, Medway
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Luton, Medway recorded 595 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (57.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 41.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Luton, Medway
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Luton, Medway recorded 282 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 19.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Luton, Medway
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Luton, Medway recorded 106 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Luton, Medway
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Luton, Medway recorded 86 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Luton, Medway
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Luton, Medway recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 328% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Luton, Medway
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Luton, Medway recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Luton, Medway
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Luton, Medway recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Luton, Medway
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Luton, Medway recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Luton, Medway
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Luton, Medway recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Luton, Medway
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Luton, Medway recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Luton, Medway
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Luton, Medway recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Luton, Medway
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Luton, Medway recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Luton, Medway
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Luton, Medway recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 75% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Luton, Medway
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Luton, Medway recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Luton, Medway, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Luton, Medway.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Luton, Medway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chatham Central & Brompton | 3,231 | 161.1 | +16% |
| Gillingham South | 3,144 | 183.0 | +32% |
| Watling | 1,961 | 122.4 | -12% |
| Fort Pitt | 3,380 | 282.0 | +103% |
| Princes Park | 644 | 63.2 | -54% |
| Wayfield & Weeds Wood | 1,069 | 104.4 | -25% |
| Gillingham North | 1,902 | 113.2 | -18% |
| Rochester East & Warren Wood | 1,235 | 88.0 | -37% |
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 Luton, Medway over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Maida Road | 99 |
| On or near Short Street | 71 |
| On or near Parking Area | 61 |
| On or near Constitution Hill | 57 |
| On or near Sawyers Court | 47 |
| On or near Seymour Road | 47 |
| On or near A2 | 40 |
| On or near Luton Road | 40 |
| On or near Oliver Close | 40 |
| On or near Russell Court | 40 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Luton, Medway 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 536 | 37.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 321 | 22.3% |
| Not recorded | 282 | 19.6% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 89 | 6.2% |
| Under investigation | 75 | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 44 | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 30 | 2.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 26 | 1.8% |
| Local resolution | 22 | 1.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 8 | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Luton, Medway has an estimated population of 10,351. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Luton, Medway sits in decile 2.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Luton, Medway |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 23.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 65.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 11.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 49.1% |
| Social rented homes | 18.4% |
| Private rented homes | 32.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 52.8% |
Is Luton, Medway a safe place to live?
Luton, Medway recorded 138.8 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 Luton, Medway?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 595 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (282).
Is crime in Luton, Medway going up or down?
Recorded crime in Luton, Medway was down 7% on the year before: 1,437 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,550 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Luton, Medway?
Luton, Medway is policed by Kent. 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 Luton, Medway. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.