Crime in Sands: statistics, rates and trends
634 crimes were recorded in Sands in the 12 months to July 2026, 89.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 9% on the year before.
634 crimes were recorded in Sands in the 12 months to July 2026, 89.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 9% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 235 reports (37% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Sands has the 1,516th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Sands | Buckinghamshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 634 | 36,056 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 89.5 | 62.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -9% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 7,081 | 578,772 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Sands was highest in the year to July 2023 (717 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (397). Over the whole period it rose 60%, 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 | 634 | 89.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 697 | 98.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 551 | 77.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 717 | 101.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 697 | 98.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 678 | 95.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 570 | 80.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 470 | 66.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 397 | 56.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 61 |
| June 2026 | 58 |
| May 2026 | 55 |
| April 2026 | 45 |
| March 2026 | 50 |
| February 2026 | 41 |
| January 2026 | 62 |
| December 2025 | 49 |
| November 2025 | 50 |
| October 2025 | 44 |
| September 2025 | 50 |
| August 2025 | 69 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Sands 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 drugs.
The largest increases were in drugs (+44%) and public order (+24%). The largest falls were in burglary (-26%) and other theft (-26%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 235 | 33.2 | 0.97 | -18% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 102 | 14.4 | 0.94 | -14% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 55 | 7.8 | 1.15 | +2% |
| Drugs | 52 | 7.3 | 2.25 | +44% |
| Public order | 52 | 7.3 | 1.11 | +24% |
| Other theft | 46 | 6.5 | 1.02 | -26% |
| Vehicle crime | 41 | 5.8 | 1.18 | -2% |
| Burglary | 17 | 2.4 | 0.68 | -26% |
| Shoplifting | 12 | 1.7 | 0.20 | +0% |
| Other crime | 11 | 1.6 | 0.74 | +0% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.7 | 0.73 | +67% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.4 | 0.31 | +0% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.3 | 0.34 | +100% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.08 | -75% |
Violence and sexual offences in Sands
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sands recorded 235 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 37.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Sands
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sands recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 16.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Sands
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sands recorded 55 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 8.7% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Sands
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sands recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 44% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Sands
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sands recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 24% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Sands
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sands recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Sands
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sands recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Sands
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sands recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Sands
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sands recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Sands
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sands recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Sands
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sands recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 67% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Sands
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sands recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Sands
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sands recorded 2 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 up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Sands
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sands recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 75% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Sands, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Sands.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sands |
|---|---|---|---|
| Castlefield & Oakridge | 953 | 88.2 | -2% |
| Downley | 352 | 52.7 | -41% |
| Booker & Cressex | 750 | 150.1 | +68% |
| Disraeli | 463 | 79.5 | -11% |
| Abbey | 3,076 | 175.2 | +96% |
| West Wycombe & Lane End | 283 | 49.6 | -45% |
| Terriers & Amersham Hill | 504 | 46.5 | -48% |
| Totteridge & Bowerdean | 740 | 56.1 | -37% |
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 Sands over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 38 |
| On or near Birches Rise | 33 |
| On or near Fryers Lane | 27 |
| On or near Grafton Street | 24 |
| On or near Langston Court | 24 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 24 |
| On or near Mill End Road | 23 |
| On or near Templeside Gardens | 22 |
| On or near Desborough Park Road | 21 |
| On or near Gilletts Lane | 20 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sands 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 | 201 | 31.7% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 156 | 24.6% |
| Not recorded | 102 | 16.1% |
| Under investigation | 77 | 12.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 29 | 4.6% |
| Local resolution | 28 | 4.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 19 | 3.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 1.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 1.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.6% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 2 | 0.3% |
Sands has an estimated population of 7,081. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sands sits in decile 5.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Sands |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 67.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.5% |
| Social rented homes | 15.4% |
| Private rented homes | 23.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.2 |
Is Sands a safe place to live?
Sands recorded 89.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Sands?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 235 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (102).
Is crime in Sands going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sands was down 9% on the year before: 634 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 697 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Sands?
Sands is policed by Thames Valley. 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 Sands. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.