Crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk: statistics, rates and trends
133 crimes were recorded in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk in the 12 months to July 2026, 34.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- 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
- Population and deprivation in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
- Questions about crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
- About this data
133 crimes were recorded in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk in the 12 months to July 2026, 34.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 69 reports (52% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk has the 3,641st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk | King's Lynn and West Norfolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 133 | 10,245 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 34.8 | 65.6 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +2% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 3,824 | 156,206 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk was highest in the year to July 2019 (185 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (121). Over the whole period it rose 6%, 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 | 133 | 34.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 131 | 34.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 121 | 31.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 137 | 35.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 154 | 40.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 155 | 40.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 162 | 42.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 185 | 48.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 125 | 32.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| August 2025 | 10 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk 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 violence and sexual offences (+15%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-61%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 69 | 18.0 | 0.53 | +15% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 16 | 4.2 | 0.62 | +7% |
| Other theft | 10 | 2.6 | 0.41 | +0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 9 | 2.4 | 0.15 | -61% |
| Burglary | 6 | 1.6 | 0.44 | +200% |
| Public order | 6 | 1.6 | 0.24 | -25% |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 1.6 | 0.32 | +50% |
| Other crime | 4 | 1.0 | 0.50 | -20% |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.8 | 0.24 | +50% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.5 | 0.64 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 2 | 0.5 | 0.54 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 51.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 12.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 61% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 3.0% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Winch | 253 | 55.5 | +60% |
| East Downham | 164 | 50.4 | +45% |
| Tilney, Mershe Lande & Wiggenhall | 325 | 52.3 | +50% |
| Airfield | 196 | 26.9 | -23% |
| Downham Old Town | 361 | 112.5 | +224% |
| South & West Lynn | 744 | 128.3 | +269% |
| St. Margaret's with St. Nicholas | 1,822 | 346.0 | +895% |
| Gaywood Chase | 296 | 94.4 | +172% |
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 Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Church Road | 9 |
| On or near Beechwood Close | 8 |
| On or near Challis Close | 8 |
| On or near Britton Close | 6 |
| On or near John Davis Way | 6 |
| On or near Martin Close | 6 |
| On or near Station Road | 6 |
| On or near Mill Road | 5 |
| On or near Orchard Close | 5 |
| On or near Stiffkey Close | 5 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk 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 | 63 | 47.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 26 | 19.5% |
| Under investigation | 10 | 7.5% |
| Not recorded | 9 | 6.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 5.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 3.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 4 | 3.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 3 | 2.3% |
| Local resolution | 3 | 2.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 2.3% |
Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk has an estimated population of 3,824. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk sits in decile 4.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.7% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 75.2% |
| Social rented homes | 6.5% |
| Private rented homes | 18.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.7 |
Is Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk a safe place to live?
Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk recorded 34.8 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 Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (16).
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 up 2% on the year before: 133 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 131 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk?
Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk is policed by Norfolk. 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 Watlington, King's Lynn and West Norfolk. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.