Crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk: statistics, rates and trends
132 crimes were recorded in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk in the 12 months to August 2026, 34.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk at a glance
- Crime trends in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
- Types of crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
- Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
- What happened after crimes were reported in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
- Demographics of Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
- Questions about crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (62), criminal damage and arson (17) and other theft (12) made up 69% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 3,645th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk | King's Lynn and West Norfolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 132 | 10,306 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 34.5 | 66.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | 0% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 3,824 | 156,206 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk peaked in the year to August 2019 (189 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (118). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 12%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 132 | 34.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 132 | 34.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 120 | 31.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 137 | 35.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 149 | 39.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 155 | 40.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 164 | 42.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 189 | 49.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 118 | 30.9 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 9 |
| July 2026 | 20 |
| June 2026 | 7 |
| May 2026 | 12 |
| April 2026 | 20 |
| March 2026 | 13 |
| February 2026 | 11 |
| January 2026 | 12 |
| December 2025 | 4 |
| November 2025 | 5 |
| October 2025 | 6 |
| September 2025 | 13 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (53% below) was well below it.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 62 | 16.2 | 34.2 | -5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 17 | 4.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Other theft | 12 | 3.1 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Anti-social behaviour | 10 | 2.6 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Burglary | 6 | 1.6 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 1.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Public order | 6 | 1.6 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 1.6 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.5 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk; the highest is St. Margaret's with St. Nicholas (350.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Airfield (28.3).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Winch | 267 | 58.6 | +70% |
| East Downham | 154 | 47.4 | +37% |
| Tilney, Mershe Lande & Wiggenhall | 322 | 51.8 | +50% |
| Airfield | 206 | 28.3 | -18% |
| Downham Old Town | 357 | 111.3 | +222% |
| South & West Lynn | 751 | 129.5 | +275% |
| St. Margaret's with St. Nicholas | 1,845 | 350.4 | +915% |
| Gaywood Chase | 283 | 90.3 | +162% |
The 10 locations below account for 49% of the crime recorded in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Beechwood Close” and “Church Road” (9 each).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Beechwood Close | 9 |
| On or near Church Road | 9 |
| On or near Challis Close | 8 |
| On or near John Davis Way | 6 |
| On or near Martin Close | 6 |
| On or near Station Road | 6 |
| On or near Stiffkey Close | 6 |
| On or near Britton Close | 5 |
| On or near Lark Road | 5 |
| On or near Mill Road | 5 |
Of the 122 crimes in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk with a recorded outcome, 23% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 10 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 62 | 50.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 28 | 23.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 8 | 6.6% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 5.7% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 5 | 4.1% | 5.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 4.1% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 2.5% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 2.5% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 1 | 0.8% | 4.7% |
Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk has an estimated population of 3,824 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (8.4%, against 23.3%), less social housing (6.5%, against 17.1%) and fewer students (3.8%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk average decile 4.7 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.5% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.6% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 18.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 8.4% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.2% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 6.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.3% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.7 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk a safe place to live?
Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 34.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 3,645th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 62 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (17).
Is crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk going up or down?
Recorded crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk was almost unchanged on the year before: 132 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 132 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
About 3,824 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 26% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk is policed by Norfolk.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.