Crime in Melksham East: statistics, rates and trends
268 crimes were recorded in Melksham East in the 12 months to August 2026, 44.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Melksham East at a glance
- Crime trends in Melksham East
- Types of crime in Melksham East
- Melksham East compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Melksham East
- What happened after crimes were reported in Melksham East
- Demographics of Melksham East
- Questions about crime in Melksham East
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (123), anti-social behaviour (63) and criminal damage and arson (25) made up 79% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,291st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Melksham East | Wiltshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 268 | 31,724 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 44.1 | 60.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -6% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 6,080 | 523,700 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Melksham East peaked in the year to August 2024 (295 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2023 (182). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 19%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 268 | 44.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 286 | 47.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 295 | 48.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 182 | 29.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 197 | 32.4 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 245 | 40.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 214 | 35.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 226 | 37.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 225 | 37.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 17 |
| July 2026 | 26 |
| June 2026 | 33 |
| May 2026 | 23 |
| April 2026 | 18 |
| March 2026 | 28 |
| February 2026 | 15 |
| January 2026 | 16 |
| December 2025 | 27 |
| November 2025 | 24 |
| October 2025 | 15 |
| September 2025 | 26 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (41% below) and criminal damage and arson (39% below) were well below it.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 123 | 20.2 | 34.2 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 63 | 10.4 | 15.4 | -5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 25 | 4.1 | 6.7 | +9% |
| Vehicle crime | 12 | 2.0 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other theft | 11 | 1.8 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Public order | 11 | 1.8 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other crime | 7 | 1.2 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 6 | 1.0 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Drugs | 5 | 0.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Burglary | 4 | 0.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Melksham East; the highest is Melksham Forest (96.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Devizes Rural West (33.8).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Melksham East |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melksham Forest | 587 | 96.1 | +118% |
| Melksham South | 377 | 93.9 | +113% |
| Bowerhill | 170 | 38.0 | -14% |
| Melksham Without North & Shurnhold | 183 | 46.1 | +5% |
| Melksham Without West & Rural | 454 | 54.1 | +23% |
| Holt | 237 | 41.5 | -6% |
| Hilperton | 159 | 45.4 | +3% |
| Devizes Rural West | 103 | 33.8 | -23% |
The 10 locations below account for 50% of the crime recorded in Melksham East over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Honeysuckle Close” (21).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Honeysuckle Close | 21 |
| On or near Queensway | 18 |
| On or near Goldfinch Road | 16 |
| On or near Supermarket | 15 |
| On or near Wessex Close | 15 |
| On or near Greenfinch Close | 13 |
| On or near Tower Road | 11 |
| On or near Primrose Drive | 9 |
| On or near Woodrow Road | 8 |
| On or near Linnet Lane | 7 |
Of the 205 crimes in Melksham East with a recorded outcome, 25% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 63 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 66 | 32.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 52 | 25.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 42 | 20.5% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 19 | 9.3% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 3.9% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 2.4% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 2.0% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 2.0% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 1.5% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
Melksham East has an estimated population of 6,080 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (9.5%, against 23.3%), fewer students (5.0%, against 7.9%) and less private renting (13%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Melksham East average decile 6.7 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Melksham East | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 66.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.8% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 17.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 9.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.7 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Melksham East a safe place to live?
Melksham East recorded 44.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,291st of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Melksham East?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 123 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (63).
Is crime in Melksham East going up or down?
Recorded crime in Melksham East was down 6% on the year before: 268 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 286 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Melksham East?
About 6,080 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 15% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Melksham East?
Melksham East 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.