Crime in Melksham South: statistics, rates and trends
377 crimes were recorded in Melksham South in the 12 months to August 2026, 93.9 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 19% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Melksham South at a glance
- Crime trends in Melksham South
- Types of crime in Melksham South
- Melksham South compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Melksham South
- What happened after crimes were reported in Melksham South
- Demographics of Melksham South
- Questions about crime in Melksham South
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (127), anti-social behaviour (115) and public order (33) made up 73% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,393rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Melksham South | Wiltshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 377 | 31,724 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 93.9 | 60.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +19% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 4,016 | 523,700 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Melksham South peaked in the year to August 2018 (451 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (316). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 16%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 377 | 93.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 316 | 78.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 376 | 93.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 377 | 93.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 413 | 102.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 420 | 104.6 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 370 | 92.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 431 | 107.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 451 | 112.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 36 |
| July 2026 | 43 |
| June 2026 | 42 |
| May 2026 | 27 |
| April 2026 | 34 |
| March 2026 | 28 |
| February 2026 | 29 |
| January 2026 | 28 |
| December 2025 | 24 |
| November 2025 | 21 |
| October 2025 | 30 |
| September 2025 | 35 |
Compared with England and Wales, Melksham South recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (86% above the national rate). On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 64 to 115.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 127 | 31.6 | 34.2 | +11% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 115 | 28.6 | 15.4 | +80% |
| Public order | 33 | 8.2 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 25 | 6.2 | 6.7 | -7% |
| Other theft | 21 | 5.2 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 16 | 4.0 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 11 | 2.7 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Burglary | 8 | 2.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 5 | 1.2 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 1.0 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Drugs | 4 | 1.0 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.7 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.5 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Melksham South; the highest is Melksham Forest (96.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Bowerhill, Wiltshire (38.0).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Melksham South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melksham Forest | 587 | 96.1 | +2% |
| Melksham East | 268 | 44.1 | -53% |
| Bowerhill | 170 | 38.0 | -60% |
| Melksham Without North & Shurnhold | 183 | 46.1 | -51% |
| Melksham Without West & Rural | 454 | 54.1 | -42% |
| Holt | 237 | 41.5 | -56% |
| Hilperton | 159 | 45.4 | -52% |
| Trowbridge Paxcroft | 260 | 43.1 | -54% |
The 10 locations below account for 66% of the crime recorded in Melksham South over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (72).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 72 |
| On or near High Street | 39 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 34 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 21 |
| On or near Spa Court | 17 |
| On or near Church Street | 15 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 14 |
| On or near Martigny Road | 13 |
| On or near Semington Road | 12 |
| On or near Lewington Close | 11 |
Of the 262 crimes in Melksham South with a recorded outcome, 31% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 115 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 80 | 30.5% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 76 | 29.0% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 54 | 20.6% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 14 | 5.3% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 13 | 5.0% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 11 | 4.2% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 3.4% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 2 | 0.8% | 2.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
Melksham South has an estimated population of 4,016 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (31%, against 19%), fewer students (3.3%, against 7.9%) and less social housing (7.8%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Melksham South average decile 7.2 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Melksham South | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 31.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 32.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 25.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 7.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 14.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Melksham South a safe place to live?
Melksham South recorded 93.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,393rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Melksham South?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 127 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (115).
Is crime in Melksham South going up or down?
Recorded crime in Melksham South was up 19% on the year before: 377 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 316 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Melksham South?
About 4,016 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 31% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Melksham South?
Melksham South 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.