Crime in Sydenham: statistics, rates and trends
1,853 crimes were recorded in Sydenham in the 12 months to July 2026, 113.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Sydenham at a glance
- Crime trends in Sydenham
- Types of crime in Sydenham
- Sydenham compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Sydenham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Sydenham
- Population and deprivation in Sydenham
- Questions about crime in Sydenham
- About this data
1,853 crimes were recorded in Sydenham in the 12 months to July 2026, 113.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 7% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 543 reports (29% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Sydenham has the 938th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Sydenham | Lewisham | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,853 | 36,975 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 113.5 | 122.7 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -7% | +3% | -1% |
| Population | 16,327 | 301,255 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Sydenham was highest in the year to July 2025 (1,995 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (1,491). Over the whole period it rose 24%, 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 | 1,853 | 113.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,995 | 122.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,728 | 105.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,868 | 114.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,714 | 105.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,794 | 109.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,872 | 114.7 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,765 | 108.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,491 | 91.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 181 |
| June 2026 | 169 |
| May 2026 | 166 |
| April 2026 | 140 |
| March 2026 | 116 |
| February 2026 | 155 |
| January 2026 | 147 |
| December 2025 | 146 |
| November 2025 | 156 |
| October 2025 | 180 |
| September 2025 | 160 |
| August 2025 | 137 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Sydenham 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 anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime, theft from the person.
The largest increases were in robbery (+26%) and other crime (+25%). The largest falls were in burglary (-36%) and drugs (-30%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 543 | 33.3 | 0.97 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 444 | 27.2 | 1.77 | -11% |
| Vehicle crime | 186 | 11.4 | 2.31 | -7% |
| Other theft | 130 | 8.0 | 1.25 | +9% |
| Public order | 110 | 6.7 | 1.01 | -4% |
| Shoplifting | 99 | 6.1 | 0.73 | -15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 74 | 4.5 | 0.67 | -24% |
| Drugs | 62 | 3.8 | 1.16 | -30% |
| Burglary | 59 | 3.6 | 1.02 | -36% |
| Theft from the person | 50 | 3.1 | 1.81 | -6% |
| Robbery | 44 | 2.7 | 1.99 | +26% |
| Other crime | 30 | 1.8 | 0.87 | +25% |
| Possession of weapons | 17 | 1.0 | 1.07 | +112% |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.3 | 0.37 | -44% |
Violence and sexual offences in Sydenham
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sydenham recorded 543 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 29.3% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Sydenham
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sydenham recorded 444 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (27.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 24.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Sydenham
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sydenham recorded 186 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 10.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Sydenham
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sydenham recorded 130 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 9% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Sydenham
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sydenham recorded 110 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Sydenham
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sydenham recorded 99 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Sydenham
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sydenham recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Sydenham
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sydenham recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Sydenham
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sydenham recorded 59 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Sydenham
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sydenham recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Sydenham
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sydenham recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Sydenham
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sydenham recorded 30 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Sydenham
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sydenham recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 112% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Sydenham
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sydenham recorded 5 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 down 44% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Sydenham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Sydenham.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Sydenham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perry Vale | 1,761 | 91.3 | -20% |
| Forest Hill | 1,288 | 84.9 | -25% |
| Bellingham | 1,599 | 150.8 | +33% |
| Crofton Park | 1,370 | 89.1 | -21% |
| Rushey Green | 3,795 | 185.1 | +63% |
| Catford South | 2,134 | 122.9 | +8% |
| Ladywell | 1,635 | 139.8 | +23% |
| Downham | 1,981 | 103.1 | -9% |
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 Sydenham over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Queensthorpe Mews | 188 |
| On or near Supermarket | 77 |
| On or near Sydenham Station Approach | 71 |
| On or near Silverdale | 65 |
| On or near Venner Road | 58 |
| On or near Sunnydene Street | 46 |
| On or near Allwood Close | 37 |
| On or near Newman Close | 37 |
| On or near Spring Hill | 36 |
| On or near Elderton Road | 31 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sydenham 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 | 601 | 32.4% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 460 | 24.8% |
| Not recorded | 444 | 24.0% |
| Under investigation | 156 | 8.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 77 | 4.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 68 | 3.7% |
| Local resolution | 16 | 0.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 0.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 10 | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.2% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 2 | 0.1% |
Sydenham has an estimated population of 16,327. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sydenham sits in decile 4.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Sydenham |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 67.0% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 44.2% |
| Social rented homes | 33.9% |
| Private rented homes | 21.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.0 |
Is Sydenham a safe place to live?
Sydenham recorded 113.5 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 Sydenham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 543 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (444).
Is crime in Sydenham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Sydenham was down 7% on the year before: 1,853 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,995 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Sydenham?
Sydenham 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 Sydenham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.