Crime in Shirley: statistics, rates and trends
1,726 crimes were recorded in Shirley in the 12 months to July 2026, 114.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
1,726 crimes were recorded in Shirley in the 12 months to July 2026, 114.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than 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 802 reports (46% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Shirley has the 922nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Shirley | Southampton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,726 | 34,149 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 114.1 | 131.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -9% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 15,128 | 259,424 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Shirley was highest in the year to July 2022 (2,408 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,726). Over the whole period it fell 22%, 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 | 1,726 | 114.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,896 | 125.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,838 | 121.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,172 | 143.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,408 | 159.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 2,151 | 142.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,134 | 141.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,117 | 139.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,206 | 145.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 175 |
| June 2026 | 141 |
| May 2026 | 135 |
| April 2026 | 159 |
| March 2026 | 160 |
| February 2026 | 134 |
| January 2026 | 119 |
| December 2025 | 127 |
| November 2025 | 143 |
| October 2025 | 140 |
| September 2025 | 159 |
| August 2025 | 134 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Shirley 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, public order, criminal damage and arson.
The largest increases were in possession of weapons (+50%) and burglary (+17%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-69%) and other crime (-32%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 802 | 53.0 | 1.55 | +3% |
| Public order | 162 | 10.7 | 1.61 | -30% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 158 | 10.4 | 0.68 | -19% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 138 | 9.1 | 1.35 | +10% |
| Other theft | 101 | 6.7 | 1.04 | -10% |
| Vehicle crime | 83 | 5.5 | 1.11 | +1% |
| Burglary | 74 | 4.9 | 1.38 | +17% |
| Shoplifting | 44 | 2.9 | 0.35 | -69% |
| Drugs | 43 | 2.8 | 0.87 | -2% |
| Possession of weapons | 33 | 2.2 | 2.25 | +50% |
| Robbery | 29 | 1.9 | 1.42 | +107% |
| Other crime | 25 | 1.7 | 0.78 | -32% |
| Bicycle theft | 23 | 1.5 | 1.85 | -30% |
| Theft from the person | 11 | 0.7 | 0.43 | +10% |
Violence and sexual offences in Shirley
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Shirley recorded 802 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (53.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 46.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Shirley
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Shirley recorded 162 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 9.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Shirley
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Shirley recorded 158 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Shirley
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Shirley recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 8.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Shirley
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Shirley recorded 101 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Shirley
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Shirley recorded 83 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 4.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Shirley
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Shirley recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 17% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Shirley
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Shirley recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 69% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Shirley
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Shirley recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Shirley
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Shirley recorded 33 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Shirley
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Shirley recorded 29 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 107% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Shirley
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Shirley recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Shirley
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Shirley recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Shirley
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Shirley recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Shirley, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Shirley.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Shirley |
|---|---|---|---|
| Millbrook | 1,847 | 128.4 | +13% |
| Freemantle | 1,678 | 138.7 | +22% |
| Coxford | 1,195 | 85.5 | -25% |
| Banister & Polygon | 5,294 | 273.6 | +140% |
| Redbridge | 1,969 | 136.6 | +20% |
| Bassett | 974 | 63.2 | -45% |
| Portswood | 1,705 | 119.7 | +5% |
| Bevois | 2,832 | 157.5 | +38% |
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 Shirley over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hospital | 298 |
| On or near Parking Area | 73 |
| On or near Church Street | 70 |
| On or near Birch Close | 67 |
| On or near Regent'S Grove | 67 |
| On or near St James'S Close | 49 |
| On or near Crown Street | 42 |
| On or near Park/Open Space | 42 |
| On or near Supermarket | 37 |
| On or near Milner Court | 34 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Shirley 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 | 562 | 32.6% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 556 | 32.2% |
| Under investigation | 170 | 9.8% |
| Not recorded | 158 | 9.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 72 | 4.2% |
| Local resolution | 67 | 3.9% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 60 | 3.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 22 | 1.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 20 | 1.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 17 | 1.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 13 | 0.8% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.5% |
Shirley has an estimated population of 15,128. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Shirley sits in decile 5.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Shirley |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 15.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 56.2% |
| Social rented homes | 17.7% |
| Private rented homes | 26.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.7 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 11.4% |
Is Shirley a safe place to live?
Shirley recorded 114.1 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 Shirley?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 802 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (162).
Is crime in Shirley going up or down?
Recorded crime in Shirley was down 9% on the year before: 1,726 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,896 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Shirley?
Shirley 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 Shirley. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.