Crime in Oswestry South: statistics, rates and trends
720 crimes were recorded in Oswestry South in the 12 months to July 2026, 140.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Oswestry South at a glance
- Crime trends in Oswestry South
- Types of crime in Oswestry South
- Oswestry South compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Oswestry South
- What happened after crimes were reported in Oswestry South
- Population and deprivation in Oswestry South
- Questions about crime in Oswestry South
- About this data
720 crimes were recorded in Oswestry South in the 12 months to July 2026, 140.0 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 274 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Oswestry South has the 531st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Oswestry South | Shropshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 720 | 19,279 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 140.0 | 58.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +4% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 5,142 | 332,455 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Oswestry South was highest in the year to July 2023 (1,251 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (694). Over the whole period it fell 32%, 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 | 720 | 140.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 694 | 135.0 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 897 | 174.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,251 | 243.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,041 | 202.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,006 | 195.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 868 | 168.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,089 | 211.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,056 | 205.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 64 |
| June 2026 | 62 |
| May 2026 | 72 |
| April 2026 | 77 |
| March 2026 | 56 |
| February 2026 | 35 |
| January 2026 | 56 |
| December 2025 | 62 |
| November 2025 | 52 |
| October 2025 | 53 |
| September 2025 | 46 |
| August 2025 | 85 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Oswestry South 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. Rates were well above the national level for violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting.
The largest increases were in violence and sexual offences (+18%). The largest falls were in other theft (-11%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 274 | 53.3 | 1.56 | +18% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 119 | 23.1 | 1.51 | -8% |
| Shoplifting | 97 | 18.9 | 2.28 | +2% |
| Public order | 64 | 12.4 | 1.87 | +5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 52 | 10.1 | 1.49 | +4% |
| Other theft | 42 | 8.2 | 1.28 | -11% |
| Other crime | 17 | 3.3 | 1.57 | +89% |
| Burglary | 14 | 2.7 | 0.77 | -22% |
| Robbery | 13 | 2.5 | 1.87 | +86% |
| Drugs | 12 | 2.3 | 0.71 | -25% |
| Vehicle crime | 10 | 1.9 | 0.39 | +43% |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.6 | 0.60 | -57% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.4 | 0.47 | -71% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.2 | 0.12 | -88% |
Violence and sexual offences in Oswestry South
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Oswestry South recorded 274 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (53.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 18% on the year before. It made up 38.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Oswestry South
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Oswestry South recorded 119 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 16.5% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Oswestry South
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Oswestry South recorded 97 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 13.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Oswestry South
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Oswestry South recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Oswestry South
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Oswestry South recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Oswestry South
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Oswestry South recorded 42 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Oswestry South
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Oswestry South recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 89% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Oswestry South
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Oswestry South recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Oswestry South
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Oswestry South recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 86% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Oswestry South
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Oswestry South recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Oswestry South
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Oswestry South recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 43% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Oswestry South
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Oswestry South recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 57% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Oswestry South
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Oswestry South recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 71% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Oswestry South
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Oswestry South recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 88% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Oswestry South, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Oswestry South.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Oswestry South |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oswestry North | 250 | 55.5 | -60% |
| Oswestry South East | 338 | 91.7 | -34% |
| Oswestry North East | 215 | 44.5 | -68% |
| St Oswald | 135 | 27.5 | -80% |
| Whittington | 199 | 44.1 | -69% |
| Selattyn & Gobowen | 258 | 60.7 | -57% |
| Llanymynech | 127 | 29.5 | -79% |
| St Martin's | 410 | 44.0 | -69% |
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 Oswestry South over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Nightclub | 62 |
| On or near Parking Area | 62 |
| On or near Bailey Street | 56 |
| On or near Supermarket | 40 |
| On or near B5069 | 35 |
| On or near Willow Street | 32 |
| On or near Albion Hill | 26 |
| On or near Arthur Street | 25 |
| On or near Orchard Street | 25 |
| On or near Morda Road | 23 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Oswestry South 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 277 | 38.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 149 | 20.7% |
| Not recorded | 119 | 16.5% |
| Under investigation | 82 | 11.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 37 | 5.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 20 | 2.8% |
| Local resolution | 12 | 1.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 1.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 1.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Oswestry South has an estimated population of 5,142. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Oswestry South sits in decile 6.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Oswestry South |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 64.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 59.3% |
| Social rented homes | 8.4% |
| Private rented homes | 32.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 |
Is Oswestry South a safe place to live?
Oswestry South recorded 140.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, higher 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 Oswestry South?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 274 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (119).
Is crime in Oswestry South going up or down?
Recorded crime in Oswestry South was up 4% on the year before: 720 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 694 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Oswestry South?
Oswestry South is policed by West Mercia. 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 Oswestry South. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.