Crime in West Thornton: statistics, rates and trends
2,829 crimes were recorded in West Thornton in the 12 months to July 2026, 140.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in West Thornton at a glance
- Crime trends in West Thornton
- Types of crime in West Thornton
- West Thornton compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in West Thornton
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Thornton
- Population and deprivation in West Thornton
- Questions about crime in West Thornton
- About this data
2,829 crimes were recorded in West Thornton in the 12 months to July 2026, 140.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 944 reports (33% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, West Thornton has the 523rd highest crime rate.
| Measure | West Thornton | Croydon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 2,829 | 42,591 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 140.7 | 104.0 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 20,109 | 409,342 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in West Thornton was highest in the year to July 2021 (3,299 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (2,209). Over the whole period it rose 28%, 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 | 2,829 | 140.7 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,658 | 132.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 2,703 | 134.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 2,462 | 122.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 2,823 | 140.4 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 3,299 | 164.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 2,966 | 147.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 2,390 | 118.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 2,209 | 109.9 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 293 |
| June 2026 | 248 |
| May 2026 | 262 |
| April 2026 | 230 |
| March 2026 | 252 |
| February 2026 | 207 |
| January 2026 | 206 |
| December 2025 | 221 |
| November 2025 | 242 |
| October 2025 | 226 |
| September 2025 | 201 |
| August 2025 | 241 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in West Thornton 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 violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, vehicle crime.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+39%) and other theft (+34%). The largest falls were in drugs (-31%) and possession of weapons (-30%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 944 | 46.9 | 1.37 | +5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 594 | 29.5 | 1.93 | +20% |
| Vehicle crime | 248 | 12.3 | 2.50 | +6% |
| Other theft | 215 | 10.7 | 1.67 | +34% |
| Public order | 210 | 10.4 | 1.57 | +10% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 130 | 6.5 | 0.95 | -13% |
| Burglary | 111 | 5.5 | 1.56 | -11% |
| Shoplifting | 111 | 5.5 | 0.67 | +39% |
| Drugs | 103 | 5.1 | 1.57 | -31% |
| Theft from the person | 56 | 2.8 | 1.65 | +14% |
| Robbery | 55 | 2.7 | 2.02 | -5% |
| Other crime | 27 | 1.3 | 0.64 | -23% |
| Possession of weapons | 14 | 0.7 | 0.72 | -30% |
| Bicycle theft | 11 | 0.5 | 0.66 | +10% |
Violence and sexual offences in West Thornton
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. West Thornton recorded 944 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (46.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 33.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in West Thornton
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. West Thornton recorded 594 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 21.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in West Thornton
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. West Thornton recorded 248 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in West Thornton
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. West Thornton recorded 215 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in West Thornton
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. West Thornton recorded 210 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in West Thornton
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. West Thornton recorded 130 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in West Thornton
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. West Thornton recorded 111 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in West Thornton
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. West Thornton recorded 111 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 39% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in West Thornton
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. West Thornton recorded 103 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in West Thornton
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. West Thornton recorded 56 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in West Thornton
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. West Thornton recorded 55 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 down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in West Thornton
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. West Thornton recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 23% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in West Thornton
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. West Thornton recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in West Thornton
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. West Thornton recorded 11 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 up 10% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to West Thornton, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to West Thornton.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bensham Manor | 1,534 | 85.7 | -39% |
| Broad Green | 3,895 | 177.5 | +26% |
| Selhurst | 1,729 | 144.2 | +2% |
| Norbury & Pollards Hill | 1,495 | 106.2 | -25% |
| Thornton Heath | 1,959 | 108.0 | -23% |
| Fairfield | 5,568 | 315.9 | +125% |
| Norbury Park | 604 | 64.2 | -54% |
| Addiscombe West | 1,636 | 95.0 | -32% |
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 Thornton over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hospital | 301 |
| On or near London Road | 164 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 149 |
| On or near Thornton Row | 102 |
| On or near Campbell Road | 101 |
| On or near Wingate Crescent | 80 |
| On or near Crossland Road | 77 |
| On or near Headcorn Place | 66 |
| On or near Mayday Road | 64 |
| On or near Thornton Road | 63 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in West Thornton 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 | 835 | 29.5% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 715 | 25.3% |
| Not recorded | 594 | 21.0% |
| Under investigation | 339 | 12.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 126 | 4.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 94 | 3.3% |
| Local resolution | 40 | 1.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 35 | 1.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 27 | 1.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 9 | 0.3% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 7 | 0.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.1% |
West Thornton has an estimated population of 20,109. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in West Thornton sits in decile 3.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | West Thornton |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 23.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 66.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 46.9% |
| Social rented homes | 20.0% |
| Private rented homes | 32.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 21.1% |
Is West Thornton a safe place to live?
West Thornton recorded 140.7 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 West Thornton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 944 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (594).
Is crime in West Thornton going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Thornton was up 6% on the year before: 2,829 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,658 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers West Thornton?
West Thornton 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 Thornton. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.