Crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire: statistics, rates and trends
318 crimes were recorded in Malmesbury, Wiltshire in the 12 months to August 2026, 48.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire at a glance
- Crime trends in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- Types of crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- Malmesbury, Wiltshire compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- What happened after crimes were reported in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- Demographics of Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- Questions about crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (109), anti-social behaviour (51) and shoplifting (51) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,076th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Malmesbury, Wiltshire | Wiltshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 318 | 31,724 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 48.7 | 60.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 6,535 | 523,700 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire peaked in the year to August 2023 (377 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (248). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 28%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 318 | 48.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 300 | 45.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 322 | 49.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 377 | 57.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 338 | 51.7 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 302 | 46.2 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 270 | 41.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 262 | 40.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 248 | 37.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 36 |
| July 2026 | 35 |
| June 2026 | 28 |
| May 2026 | 40 |
| April 2026 | 36 |
| March 2026 | 19 |
| February 2026 | 18 |
| January 2026 | 18 |
| December 2025 | 17 |
| November 2025 | 22 |
| October 2025 | 25 |
| September 2025 | 24 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (51% below) and anti-social behaviour (49% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour fell from 66 to 51.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 109 | 16.7 | 34.2 | -5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 51 | 7.8 | 15.4 | -23% |
| Shoplifting | 51 | 7.8 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Other theft | 29 | 4.4 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 28 | 4.3 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 26 | 4.0 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Burglary | 7 | 1.1 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 5 | 0.8 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Malmesbury, Wiltshire; the highest is Chippenham Cepen Park & Derriads (52.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Brinkworth, Wiltshire (18.1).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Malmesbury, Wiltshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherston | 131 | 27.5 | -44% |
| Brinkworth | 87 | 18.1 | -63% |
| Kington | 220 | 42.3 | -13% |
| Minety | 156 | 32.0 | -34% |
| By Brook | 145 | 27.9 | -43% |
| Lyneham | 144 | 20.9 | -57% |
| Chippenham Hardenhuish | 351 | 49.9 | +2% |
| Chippenham Cepen Park & Derriads | 283 | 52.7 | +8% |
The 10 locations below account for 57% of the crime recorded in Malmesbury, Wiltshire over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (39).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 39 |
| On or near Oliver'S Lane | 34 |
| On or near Basevi Close | 24 |
| On or near Oxford Street | 17 |
| On or near Abbey Row | 16 |
| On or near Jenner Lane | 16 |
| On or near Silveston Way | 11 |
| On or near St Dennis Lane | 9 |
| On or near Avon Road | 7 |
| On or near Parklands Close | 7 |
Of the 267 crimes in Malmesbury, Wiltshire with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 9.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 51 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 81 | 30.3% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 77 | 28.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 46 | 17.2% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 24 | 9.0% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 15 | 5.6% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 4.9% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
Malmesbury, Wiltshire has an estimated population of 6,535 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (13%, against 23%), fewer residents with no qualifications (13%, against 18%) and more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (42%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Malmesbury, Wiltshire average decile 8.4 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Malmesbury, Wiltshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 62.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 23.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 41.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 12.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 13.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 16.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 20.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.4 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Malmesbury, Wiltshire a safe place to live?
Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 48.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,076th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 109 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (51).
Is crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire going up or down?
Recorded crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire was up 6% on the year before: 318 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 300 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Malmesbury, Wiltshire?
About 6,535 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 21% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Malmesbury, Wiltshire?
Malmesbury, Wiltshire is policed by Wiltshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.