Crime in Swaythling: statistics, rates and trends
1,354 crimes were recorded in Swaythling in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 12% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Swaythling at a glance
- Crime trends in Swaythling
- Types of crime in Swaythling
- Swaythling compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Swaythling
- What happened after crimes were reported in Swaythling
- Population and deprivation in Swaythling
- Questions about crime in Swaythling
- About this data
1,354 crimes were recorded in Swaythling in the 12 months to July 2026, 76.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 12% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 545 reports (40% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Swaythling has the 1,983rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Swaythling | Southampton | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,354 | 34,149 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 76.3 | 131.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -12% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 17,746 | 259,424 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Swaythling was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,835 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,354). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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 | 1,354 | 76.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,534 | 86.4 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,402 | 79.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,536 | 86.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,835 | 103.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,671 | 94.2 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,434 | 80.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,420 | 80.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,523 | 85.8 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 139 |
| June 2026 | 114 |
| May 2026 | 143 |
| April 2026 | 128 |
| March 2026 | 195 |
| February 2026 | 116 |
| January 2026 | 69 |
| December 2025 | 79 |
| November 2025 | 85 |
| October 2025 | 105 |
| September 2025 | 85 |
| August 2025 | 96 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Swaythling 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. The largest increases were in shoplifting (+115%) and drugs (+34%).
The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-48%) and criminal damage and arson (-38%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 545 | 30.7 | 0.90 | -13% |
| Shoplifting | 174 | 9.8 | 1.18 | +115% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 135 | 7.6 | 0.50 | -12% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 87 | 4.9 | 0.72 | -38% |
| Other theft | 87 | 4.9 | 0.77 | -4% |
| Public order | 81 | 4.6 | 0.69 | -28% |
| Vehicle crime | 71 | 4.0 | 0.81 | -48% |
| Drugs | 51 | 2.9 | 0.88 | +34% |
| Burglary | 48 | 2.7 | 0.76 | -36% |
| Other crime | 27 | 1.5 | 0.72 | -18% |
| Robbery | 25 | 1.4 | 1.04 | +1150% |
| Possession of weapons | 13 | 0.7 | 0.75 | -38% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.4 | 0.48 | -59% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.2 | 0.10 | -25% |
Violence and sexual offences in Swaythling
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Swaythling recorded 545 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 40.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Swaythling
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Swaythling recorded 174 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 115% on the year before. It made up 12.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Swaythling
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Swaythling recorded 135 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 10.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Swaythling
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Swaythling recorded 87 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 38% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Swaythling
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Swaythling recorded 87 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Swaythling
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Swaythling recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Swaythling
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Swaythling recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 48% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Swaythling
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Swaythling recorded 51 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Swaythling
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Swaythling recorded 48 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 36% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Swaythling
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Swaythling recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Swaythling
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Swaythling recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 1150% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Swaythling
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Swaythling recorded 13 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 down 38% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Swaythling
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Swaythling recorded 7 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 59% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Swaythling
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Swaythling recorded 3 reports 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 25% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Swaythling, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Swaythling.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Swaythling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portswood | 1,705 | 119.7 | +57% |
| Bitterne Park | 1,150 | 75.1 | -2% |
| Bassett | 974 | 63.2 | -17% |
| Bevois | 2,832 | 157.5 | +106% |
| Harefield | 1,306 | 99.5 | +30% |
| Banister & Polygon | 5,294 | 273.6 | +259% |
| Shirley | 1,726 | 114.1 | +50% |
| Peartree | 1,516 | 107.6 | +41% |
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 Swaythling over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parkville Road | 139 |
| On or near Bealing Close | 75 |
| On or near Poppy Road | 54 |
| On or near Aster Road | 53 |
| On or near Sirdar Mews | 52 |
| On or near Fleming Road | 48 |
| On or near Mardon Close | 42 |
| On or near Brickfield Road | 39 |
| On or near Lobelia Road | 38 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 38 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Swaythling 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 | 451 | 33.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 421 | 31.1% |
| Not recorded | 135 | 10.0% |
| Under investigation | 131 | 9.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 87 | 6.4% |
| Local resolution | 53 | 3.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 35 | 2.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 18 | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 8 | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 0.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.2% |
Swaythling has an estimated population of 17,746. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Swaythling sits in decile 4.2, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Swaythling |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 76.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 9.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 37.6% |
| Social rented homes | 27.7% |
| Private rented homes | 34.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.2 |
Is Swaythling a safe place to live?
Swaythling recorded 76.3 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 Swaythling?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 545 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (174).
Is crime in Swaythling going up or down?
Recorded crime in Swaythling was down 12% on the year before: 1,354 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,534 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Swaythling?
Swaythling 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 Swaythling. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.