Crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire: statistics, rates and trends
310 crimes were recorded in Malmesbury, Wiltshire in the 12 months to July 2026, 47.4 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 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
- Population and deprivation in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- Questions about crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
- About this data
310 crimes were recorded in Malmesbury, Wiltshire in the 12 months to July 2026, 47.4 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 115 reports (37% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Malmesbury, Wiltshire has the 3,131st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Malmesbury, Wiltshire | Wiltshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 310 | 31,787 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 47.4 | 60.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -1% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 6,535 | 523,700 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire was highest in the year to July 2023 (377 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (253). Over the whole period it rose 22%, 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 | 310 | 47.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 312 | 47.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 314 | 48.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 377 | 57.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 346 | 52.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 297 | 45.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 263 | 40.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 253 | 38.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 254 | 38.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 28 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Malmesbury, Wiltshire 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 criminal damage and arson (+27%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-23%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 115 | 17.6 | 0.51 | -8% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 49 | 7.5 | 0.49 | -23% |
| Shoplifting | 40 | 6.1 | 0.74 | +135% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 28 | 4.3 | 0.63 | +27% |
| Public order | 28 | 4.3 | 0.64 | +8% |
| Other theft | 27 | 4.1 | 0.65 | +50% |
| Burglary | 5 | 0.8 | 0.22 | -17% |
| Other crime | 5 | 0.8 | 0.36 | -38% |
| Vehicle crime | 5 | 0.8 | 0.16 | -69% |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.5 | 0.14 | -40% |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.3 | 0.32 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.3 | 0.18 | +100% |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.2 | 0.11 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 115 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 37.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 15.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 135% on the year before. It made up 12.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 27% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 9.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 5 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 down 38% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 69% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 2 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Malmesbury, Wiltshire, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Malmesbury, Wiltshire.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Malmesbury, Wiltshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sherston | 132 | 27.7 | -42% |
| Brinkworth | 96 | 20.0 | -58% |
| Kington | 219 | 42.1 | -11% |
| Minety | 155 | 31.8 | -33% |
| By Brook | 148 | 28.5 | -40% |
| Lyneham | 143 | 20.8 | -56% |
| Chippenham Hardenhuish | 354 | 50.3 | +6% |
| Chippenham Cepen Park & Derriads | 282 | 52.5 | +11% |
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 Malmesbury, Wiltshire over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 33 |
| On or near Oliver'S Lane | 30 |
| On or near Basevi Close | 23 |
| On or near Jenner Lane | 18 |
| On or near Abbey Row | 17 |
| On or near Oxford Street | 17 |
| On or near St Dennis Lane | 12 |
| On or near Silveston Way | 10 |
| On or near Avon Road | 8 |
| On or near Parklands Close | 7 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Malmesbury, Wiltshire 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 | 76 | 24.5% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 73 | 23.5% |
| Under investigation | 59 | 19.0% |
| Not recorded | 49 | 15.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 5.5% |
| Local resolution | 14 | 4.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 11 | 3.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 1.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.3% |
Malmesbury, Wiltshire has an estimated population of 6,535. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Malmesbury, Wiltshire sits in decile 8.4, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Malmesbury, Wiltshire |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.6% |
| Social rented homes | 16.2% |
| Private rented homes | 20.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.4 |
Is Malmesbury, Wiltshire a safe place to live?
Malmesbury, Wiltshire recorded 47.4 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 Malmesbury, Wiltshire?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 115 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (49).
Is crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire going up or down?
Recorded crime in Malmesbury, Wiltshire was almost unchanged on the year before: 310 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 312 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Malmesbury, Wiltshire?
Malmesbury, Wiltshire is policed by Wiltshire. 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 Malmesbury, Wiltshire. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.