Crime in West Dulwich: statistics, rates and trends

720 crimes were recorded in West Dulwich in the 12 months to July 2026, 89.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before.

720 crimes were recorded in West Dulwich in the 12 months to July 2026, 89.2 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 152 reports (21% of the total).

Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, West Dulwich has the 1,525th highest crime rate.

MeasureWest DulwichLambethEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to July 202672048,5595,665,700
Crimes per 1,000 residents89.2153.296.4
Change on previous 12 months+1%+2%-1%
Population8,072316,92058,797,018

Recorded crime in West Dulwich was highest in the year to July 2026 (720 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (591). Over the whole period it rose 20%, 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.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to July 202672089.296.4
Year to July 202571088.097.1
Year to July 202464479.897.7
Year to July 202364479.85.2
Year to July 202259273.3101.3
Year to July 202160174.5102.1
Year to July 202068484.7101.9
Year to July 201959173.2101.5
Year to July 201860174.5100.6

Month by month

MonthCrimes
July 202669
June 202663
May 202667
April 202676
March 202650
February 202652
January 202652
December 202565
November 202571
October 202553
September 202552
August 202550

The table shows every category of crime recorded in West Dulwich 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 vehicle crime, other theft, burglary.

The largest increases were in other theft (+89%) and burglary (+38%). The largest falls were in robbery (-52%) and criminal damage and arson (-45%).

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000Index (E&W = 1.00)Change on year
Violence and sexual offences15218.80.55+10%
Anti-social behaviour13116.21.06-5%
Vehicle crime12115.03.04-28%
Other theft10412.92.01+89%
Burglary546.71.89+38%
Public order313.80.58+11%
Drugs243.00.91+20%
Shoplifting232.80.34+35%
Criminal damage and arson222.70.40-45%
Bicycle theft192.42.86+58%
Theft from the person172.11.25-6%
Robbery111.41.01-52%
Other crime60.70.35-33%
Possession of weapons50.60.64+0%

Violence and sexual offences in West Dulwich

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. West Dulwich recorded 152 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (18.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 21.1% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in West Dulwich

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. West Dulwich recorded 131 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (16.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 18.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in West Dulwich

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. West Dulwich recorded 121 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 16.8% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in West Dulwich

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. West Dulwich recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 89% on the year before. It made up 14.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in West Dulwich

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. West Dulwich recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.

Public order in West Dulwich

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. West Dulwich recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in West Dulwich

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. West Dulwich recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in West Dulwich

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. West Dulwich recorded 23 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 35% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in West Dulwich

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. West Dulwich recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 45% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in West Dulwich

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. West Dulwich recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 58% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in West Dulwich

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. West Dulwich recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in West Dulwich

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. West Dulwich recorded 11 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 down 52% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in West Dulwich

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. West Dulwich recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in West Dulwich

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. West Dulwich recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to West Dulwich, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to West Dulwich.

NeighbourhoodCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs West Dulwich
St Martin's1,443118.1+32%
Knight's Hill1,522105.2+18%
Gipsy Hill1,22999.3+11%
Streatham Hill East1,14694.3+6%
Brixton Rush Common1,40091.2+2%
Streatham Wells65867.9-24%
Brixton Windrush3,877358.1+301%
Herne Hill & Loughborough Junction2,337149.6+68%

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 West Dulwich over the 12 months to July 2026.

LocationCrimes
On or near Guernsey Grove109
On or near Hawarden Grove47
On or near Peabody Hill39
On or near Park Hall Road33
On or near Lairdale Close31
On or near Culzean Close29
On or near Charles Nex Mews28
On or near Dalkeith Road28
On or near A219923
On or near Chestnut Road21

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in West Dulwich 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.

OutcomeCrimesShare
Investigation complete; no suspect identified34547.9%
Not recorded13118.2%
Unable to prosecute suspect13018.1%
Under investigation517.1%
Status update unavailable304.2%
Awaiting court outcome182.5%
Court result unavailable71.0%
Local resolution40.6%
Formal action is not in the public interest30.4%
Action to be taken by another organisation10.1%

West Dulwich has an estimated population of 8,072. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in West Dulwich sits in decile 5.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

MeasureWest Dulwich
Aged 0 to 1518.4%
Aged 16 to 6465.7%
Aged 65 and over15.9%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage50.5%
Social rented homes27.0%
Private rented homes22.4%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)5.8

Is West Dulwich a safe place to live?

West Dulwich recorded 89.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 West Dulwich?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 152 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (131).

Is crime in West Dulwich going up or down?

Recorded crime in West Dulwich was up 1% on the year before: 720 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 710 in the previous 12 months.

Which police force covers West Dulwich?

West Dulwich 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 West Dulwich. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.

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<a href="https://policestatistics.co.uk/neighbourhoods/west-dulwich">https://policestatistics.co.uk/neighbourhoods/west-dulwich</a>