Crime in Sanderstead: statistics, rates and trends
530 crimes were recorded in Sanderstead in the 12 months to July 2026, 36.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 22% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Sanderstead at a glance
- Crime trends in Sanderstead
- Types of crime in Sanderstead
- Sanderstead compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Sanderstead
- What happened after crimes were reported in Sanderstead
- Population and deprivation in Sanderstead
- Questions about crime in Sanderstead
- About this data
530 crimes were recorded in Sanderstead in the 12 months to July 2026, 36.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 22% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 191 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Sanderstead has the 3,596th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Sanderstead | Croydon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 530 | 42,591 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 36.0 | 104.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -22% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 14,719 | 409,342 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Sanderstead was highest in the year to July 2025 (676 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (503). Over the whole period it fell 8%, 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 | 530 | 36.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 676 | 45.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 503 | 34.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 527 | 35.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 604 | 41.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 620 | 42.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 671 | 45.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 539 | 36.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 579 | 39.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 55 |
| June 2026 | 59 |
| May 2026 | 52 |
| April 2026 | 47 |
| March 2026 | 51 |
| February 2026 | 31 |
| January 2026 | 34 |
| December 2025 | 28 |
| November 2025 | 56 |
| October 2025 | 42 |
| September 2025 | 37 |
| August 2025 | 38 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Sanderstead 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 vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in violence and sexual offences (+25%). The largest falls were in drugs (-90%) and criminal damage and arson (-51%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 191 | 13.0 | 0.38 | +25% |
| Vehicle crime | 91 | 6.2 | 1.26 | +10% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 82 | 5.6 | 0.36 | -10% |
| Burglary | 44 | 3.0 | 0.85 | -24% |
| Other theft | 36 | 2.4 | 0.38 | +9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 20 | 1.4 | 0.20 | -51% |
| Public order | 17 | 1.2 | 0.17 | -41% |
| Drugs | 15 | 1.0 | 0.31 | -90% |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 0.6 | 0.07 | -31% |
| Robbery | 7 | 0.5 | 0.35 | +250% |
| Other crime | 6 | 0.4 | 0.19 | -33% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.4 | 0.42 | +50% |
| Theft from the person | 5 | 0.3 | 0.20 | +0% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | n/a |
Violence and sexual offences in Sanderstead
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sanderstead recorded 191 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 36.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Sanderstead
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sanderstead recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 17.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Sanderstead
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sanderstead recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 15.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Sanderstead
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sanderstead recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Sanderstead
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sanderstead recorded 36 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Sanderstead
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sanderstead recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 51% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Sanderstead
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sanderstead recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Sanderstead
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sanderstead recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 90% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Sanderstead
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sanderstead recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Sanderstead
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sanderstead recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 250% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Sanderstead
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sanderstead recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Sanderstead
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sanderstead recorded 6 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 up 50% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Sanderstead
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sanderstead recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Sanderstead
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sanderstead recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Sanderstead, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Sanderstead.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sanderstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown | 604 | 59.3 | +65% |
| Selsdon & Addington Village | 761 | 69.3 | +92% |
| Selsdon Vale & Forestdale | 527 | 52.5 | +46% |
| Kenley | 573 | 47.0 | +31% |
| South Croydon | 1,691 | 89.5 | +149% |
| Purley & Woodcote | 1,668 | 89.6 | +149% |
| Park Hill & Whitgift | 1,235 | 140.1 | +289% |
| Waddon | 2,411 | 125.3 | +248% |
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 Sanderstead over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 28 |
| On or near Kingswood Lane | 26 |
| On or near Supermarket | 23 |
| On or near Copthorne Rise | 15 |
| On or near Kingswood Avenue | 14 |
| On or near Ashdown Gardens | 12 |
| On or near Woodview Close | 12 |
| On or near Stanley Gardens | 11 |
| On or near Tudor Close | 11 |
| On or near Cranleigh Close | 10 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sanderstead 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 | 194 | 36.6% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 139 | 26.2% |
| Not recorded | 82 | 15.5% |
| Under investigation | 76 | 14.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 16 | 3.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 11 | 2.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 6 | 1.1% |
| Local resolution | 5 | 0.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.2% |
Sanderstead has an estimated population of 14,719. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sanderstead sits in decile 9.3, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Sanderstead |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 56.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 24.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 86.0% |
| Social rented homes | 5.6% |
| Private rented homes | 8.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 9.3 |
Is Sanderstead a safe place to live?
Sanderstead recorded 36.0 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower 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 Sanderstead?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 191 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by vehicle crime (91).
Is crime in Sanderstead going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sanderstead was down 22% on the year before: 530 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 676 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Sanderstead?
Sanderstead is policed by Metropolitan Police. 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 Sanderstead. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.