Crime in Western: statistics, rates and trends
2,424 crimes were recorded in Western in the 12 months to August 2026, 116.9 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,025), criminal damage and arson (318) and anti-social behaviour (252) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 872nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Western | Leicester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,424 | 47,488 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 116.9 | 122.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -7% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 20,727 | 388,348 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Western of any year here (2,424 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 17%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,424 | 116.9 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,611 | 126.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,843 | 137.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,958 | 142.7 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,903 | 140.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 3,029 | 146.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,668 | 128.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,756 | 133.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,938 | 141.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 231 |
| July 2026 | 226 |
| June 2026 | 198 |
| May 2026 | 222 |
| April 2026 | 172 |
| March 2026 | 194 |
| February 2026 | 156 |
| January 2026 | 211 |
| December 2025 | 163 |
| November 2025 | 192 |
| October 2025 | 231 |
| September 2025 | 228 |
Compared with England and Wales, Western recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (2.3 times the national rate), public order (58% above the national rate) and violence and sexual offences (44% above the national rate), and notably less robbery (29% below) and anti-social behaviour (21% below). On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 264 to 318, while other crime fell from 68 to 48 and other theft fell from 153 to 113.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,025 | 49.5 | 34.2 | -5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 318 | 15.3 | 6.7 | +20% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 252 | 12.2 | 15.4 | -15% |
| Public order | 218 | 10.5 | 6.7 | -10% |
| Shoplifting | 151 | 7.3 | 8.5 | -8% |
| Other theft | 113 | 5.5 | 6.4 | -26% |
| Vehicle crime | 90 | 4.3 | 5.0 | -24% |
| Burglary | 79 | 3.8 | 3.6 | -2% |
| Drugs | 62 | 3.0 | 3.3 | -3% |
| Other crime | 48 | 2.3 | 2.1 | -29% |
| Possession of weapons | 20 | 1.0 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 20 | 1.0 | 1.4 | -26% |
| Theft from the person | 16 | 0.8 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 12 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
6 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Western; the highest is Castle, Leicester (443.9 per 1,000) and the lowest Wycliffe (68.6).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Western |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fosse | 2,447 | 141.9 | +21% |
| Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields | 2,598 | 121.8 | +4% |
| Westcotes | 2,405 | 134.5 | +15% |
| Beaumont Leys | 2,813 | 126.2 | +8% |
| Abbey | 2,783 | 120.0 | +3% |
| Castle | 11,764 | 443.9 | +280% |
| Belgrave | 1,502 | 74.6 | -36% |
| Wycliffe | 1,112 | 68.6 | -41% |
The 10 locations below account for 33% of the crime recorded in Western over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Groby Road Gardens” (207).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Groby Road Gardens | 207 |
| On or near Supermarket | 121 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 78 |
| On or near Glengarry Way | 72 |
| On or near Tatlow Road | 59 |
| On or near Greencoat Road | 56 |
| On or near Aikman Avenue | 53 |
| On or near Perth Avenue | 51 |
| On or near Yew Tree Drive | 51 |
| On or near Mulberry Avenue | 50 |
Of the 2,172 crimes in Western with a recorded outcome, 32% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 252 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 802 | 36.9% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 704 | 32.4% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 255 | 11.7% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 82 | 3.8% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 79 | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 73 | 3.4% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 45 | 2.1% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 43 | 2.0% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 30 | 1.4% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 28 | 1.3% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 19 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 12 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
Western has an estimated population of 20,727 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more social housing (36%, against 17%), more residents with no qualifications (26%, against 18%) and more children (25%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Western average decile 2.9 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Western | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 24.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 13.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 4.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 15.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 8.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 25.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 26.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 29.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 49.7% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 36.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.9 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 52.8% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Western a safe place to live?
Western recorded 116.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 872nd of the 3,911 neighbourhoods on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were criminal damage and arson and public order.
What is the most common crime in Western?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,025 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (318).
Is crime in Western going up or down?
Recorded crime in Western was down 7% on the year before: 2,424 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,611 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Western?
About 20,727 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 13% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Western?
Western is policed by Leicestershire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.