Crime in Portswood: statistics, rates and trends
1,705 crimes were recorded in Portswood in the 12 months to July 2026, 119.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Portswood at a glance
- Crime trends in Portswood
- Types of crime in Portswood
- Portswood compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Portswood
- What happened after crimes were reported in Portswood
- Population and deprivation in Portswood
- Questions about crime in Portswood
- About this data
1,705 crimes were recorded in Portswood in the 12 months to July 2026, 119.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 630 reports (37% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Portswood has the 830th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Portswood | Southampton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,705 | 34,149 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 119.7 | 131.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 14,244 | 259,424 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Portswood was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,941 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (1,549). Over the whole period it rose 4%, 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 | 1,705 | 119.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,679 | 117.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,857 | 130.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,762 | 123.7 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,941 | 136.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,823 | 128.0 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,883 | 132.2 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,549 | 108.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,642 | 115.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 142 |
| June 2026 | 138 |
| May 2026 | 137 |
| April 2026 | 148 |
| March 2026 | 161 |
| February 2026 | 136 |
| January 2026 | 139 |
| December 2025 | 122 |
| November 2025 | 149 |
| October 2025 | 152 |
| September 2025 | 150 |
| August 2025 | 131 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Portswood 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, shoplifting, public order. The largest falls were in drugs (-33%) and burglary (-20%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 630 | 44.2 | 1.29 | +9% |
| Shoplifting | 192 | 13.5 | 1.63 | -10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 174 | 12.2 | 0.80 | +8% |
| Public order | 138 | 9.7 | 1.46 | -3% |
| Other theft | 116 | 8.1 | 1.27 | +7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 113 | 7.9 | 1.17 | +6% |
| Vehicle crime | 96 | 6.7 | 1.37 | -17% |
| Burglary | 65 | 4.6 | 1.29 | -20% |
| Drugs | 46 | 3.2 | 0.99 | -33% |
| Bicycle theft | 40 | 2.8 | 3.41 | +8% |
| Other crime | 30 | 2.1 | 1.00 | +58% |
| Possession of weapons | 29 | 2.0 | 2.10 | +107% |
| Robbery | 27 | 1.9 | 1.40 | +42% |
| Theft from the person | 9 | 0.6 | 0.37 | -25% |
Violence and sexual offences in Portswood
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Portswood recorded 630 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (44.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 37.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Portswood
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Portswood recorded 192 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Portswood
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Portswood recorded 174 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 10.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Portswood
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Portswood recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Portswood
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Portswood recorded 116 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Portswood
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Portswood recorded 113 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Portswood
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Portswood recorded 96 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Portswood
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Portswood recorded 65 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Portswood
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Portswood recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Portswood
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Portswood recorded 40 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Portswood
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Portswood recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 58% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Portswood
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Portswood recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 107% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Portswood
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Portswood recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Portswood
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Portswood recorded 9 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 down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Portswood, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Portswood.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Portswood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bevois | 2,832 | 157.5 | +32% |
| Swaythling | 1,354 | 76.3 | -36% |
| Bitterne Park | 1,150 | 75.1 | -37% |
| Bassett | 974 | 63.2 | -47% |
| Banister & Polygon | 5,294 | 273.6 | +129% |
| Shirley | 1,726 | 114.1 | -5% |
| Freemantle | 1,678 | 138.7 | +16% |
| Peartree | 1,516 | 107.6 | -10% |
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 Portswood over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 331 |
| On or near Supermarket | 177 |
| On or near Richmond Gardens | 104 |
| On or near Shakespeare Avenue | 55 |
| On or near Woodside Road | 51 |
| On or near Drummond Drive | 50 |
| On or near Thackeray Road | 45 |
| On or near Belmont Road | 41 |
| On or near St Denys Road | 37 |
| On or near Highcrown Mews | 36 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Portswood 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 | 610 | 35.8% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 454 | 26.6% |
| Not recorded | 174 | 10.2% |
| Under investigation | 136 | 8.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 103 | 6.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 82 | 4.8% |
| Local resolution | 67 | 3.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 54 | 3.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% |
Portswood has an estimated population of 14,244. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Portswood sits in decile 5.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Portswood |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 73.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 42.3% |
| Social rented homes | 14.0% |
| Private rented homes | 43.5% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 |
Is Portswood a safe place to live?
Portswood recorded 119.7 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 Portswood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 630 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (192).
Is crime in Portswood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Portswood was up 2% on the year before: 1,705 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,679 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Portswood?
Portswood is policed by Hampshire. 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 Portswood. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.