Crime in Old Town, Swindon: statistics, rates and trends

967 crimes were recorded in Old Town, Swindon in the 12 months to July 2026, 83.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 10% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 435 reports (45% of the total).

Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Old Town, Swindon has the 1,720th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Old Town, Swindon was highest in the year to July 2018 (1,184 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (886). Over the whole period it fell 18%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Old Town, Swindon 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 burglary (+90%) and criminal damage and arson (+20%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-48%) and drugs (-22%).

Violence and sexual offences in Old Town, Swindon

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Old Town, Swindon recorded 435 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (37.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 45.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Old Town, Swindon

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Old Town, Swindon recorded 174 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 18.0% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Old Town, Swindon

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Old Town, Swindon recorded 72 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Old Town, Swindon

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Old Town, Swindon recorded 66 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Old Town, Swindon

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Old Town, Swindon recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 48% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Old Town, Swindon

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Old Town, Swindon recorded 39 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Old Town, Swindon

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Old Town, Swindon recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 90% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Old Town, Swindon

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Old Town, Swindon recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Old Town, Swindon

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Old Town, Swindon recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Old Town, Swindon

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Old Town, Swindon recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Old Town, Swindon

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Old Town, Swindon recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Old Town, Swindon

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Old Town, Swindon recorded 7 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 up 17% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Old Town, Swindon

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Old Town, Swindon recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 62% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Old Town, Swindon

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Old Town, Swindon recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Old Town, Swindon, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Old Town, Swindon.

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 Old Town, Swindon over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Old Town, Swindon 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.

Old Town, Swindon has an estimated population of 11,595. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Old Town, Swindon sits in decile 7.8, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Old Town, Swindon. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.