Crime in Wem, Shropshire: statistics, rates and trends
565 crimes were recorded in Wem, Shropshire in the 12 months to August 2026, 58.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 14% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Wem, Shropshire at a glance
- Crime trends in Wem, Shropshire
- Types of crime in Wem, Shropshire
- Wem, Shropshire compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Wem, Shropshire
- What happened after crimes were reported in Wem, Shropshire
- Demographics of Wem, Shropshire
- Questions about crime in Wem, Shropshire
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (284), anti-social behaviour (75) and criminal damage and arson (45) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,663rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Wem, Shropshire | Shropshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 565 | 19,214 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.7 | 57.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +14% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 9,629 | 332,455 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Wem, Shropshire peaked in the year to August 2019 (764 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (477). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 22%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 565 | 58.7 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 495 | 51.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 477 | 49.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 633 | 65.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 558 | 57.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 693 | 72.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 724 | 75.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 764 | 79.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 729 | 75.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 57 |
| July 2026 | 61 |
| June 2026 | 57 |
| May 2026 | 50 |
| April 2026 | 32 |
| March 2026 | 59 |
| February 2026 | 47 |
| January 2026 | 31 |
| December 2025 | 29 |
| November 2025 | 54 |
| October 2025 | 49 |
| September 2025 | 39 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (73% below) and other theft (52% below) were well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 209 to 284 and burglary rose from 25 to 33.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 284 | 29.5 | 34.2 | +36% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 75 | 7.8 | 15.4 | -7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 45 | 4.7 | 6.7 | -10% |
| Burglary | 33 | 3.4 | 3.6 | +32% |
| Public order | 33 | 3.4 | 6.7 | -3% |
| Other theft | 30 | 3.1 | 6.4 | +7% |
| Shoplifting | 22 | 2.3 | 8.5 | +10% |
| Vehicle crime | 13 | 1.4 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 1.0 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 8 | 0.8 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 7 | 0.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Wem, Shropshire; the highest is Whitchurch North (82.1 per 1,000) and the lowest The Meres (31.7).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wem, Shropshire |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Meres | 96 | 31.7 | -46% |
| Prees | 175 | 35.9 | -39% |
| Shawbury | 124 | 39.2 | -33% |
| Whitchurch West | 213 | 58.3 | -1% |
| Hodnet | 327 | 55.0 | -6% |
| Tern | 280 | 51.7 | -12% |
| Ellesmere Urban | 295 | 57.9 | -1% |
| Whitchurch North | 434 | 82.1 | +40% |
The 10 locations below account for 41% of the crime recorded in Wem, Shropshire over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (53).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 53 |
| On or near Oak Avenue | 39 |
| On or near Crown Street | 25 |
| On or near B5476 | 22 |
| On or near Shawbury Road | 19 |
| On or near The Grove | 17 |
| On or near Wem | 16 |
| On or near Park Road | 15 |
| On or near B5063 | 13 |
| On or near Cordwell Park | 13 |
Of the 490 crimes in Wem, Shropshire with a recorded outcome, 16% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 75 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 258 | 52.7% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 90 | 18.4% | 11.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 79 | 16.1% | 35.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 33 | 6.7% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 9 | 1.8% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 8 | 1.6% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 1.2% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 4 | 0.8% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.5% |
Wem, Shropshire has an estimated population of 9,629 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (13%, against 23%), an older population (27%, against 19%) and less social housing (11%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Wem, Shropshire average decile 5.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Wem, Shropshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.6% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.6% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.7% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 28.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 16.9% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 12.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Wem, Shropshire a safe place to live?
Wem, Shropshire recorded 58.7 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,663rd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Wem, Shropshire?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 284 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (75).
Is crime in Wem, Shropshire going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wem, Shropshire was up 14% on the year before: 565 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 495 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Wem, Shropshire?
About 9,629 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 27% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Wem, Shropshire?
Wem, Shropshire is policed by West Mercia.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.