Crime in Westminster: statistics, rates and trends
879 crimes were recorded in Westminster in the 12 months to July 2026, 127.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 12% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Westminster at a glance
- Crime trends in Westminster
- Types of crime in Westminster
- Westminster compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Westminster
- What happened after crimes were reported in Westminster
- Population and deprivation in Westminster
- Questions about crime in Westminster
- About this data
879 crimes were recorded in Westminster in the 12 months to July 2026, 127.5 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 12% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 437 reports (50% of the total).
Of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site, Westminster has the 721st highest crime rate.
| Measure | Westminster | Cheshire West and Chester | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 879 | 27,080 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 127.5 | 72.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +12% | +2% | -1% |
| Population | 6,896 | 371,652 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Westminster was highest in the year to July 2022 (954 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (718). Over the whole period it fell 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 | 879 | 127.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 787 | 114.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 718 | 104.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 830 | 120.4 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 954 | 138.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 885 | 128.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 845 | 122.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 896 | 129.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 936 | 135.7 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 92 |
| June 2026 | 78 |
| May 2026 | 77 |
| April 2026 | 70 |
| March 2026 | 87 |
| February 2026 | 73 |
| January 2026 | 68 |
| December 2025 | 70 |
| November 2025 | 64 |
| October 2025 | 80 |
| September 2025 | 53 |
| August 2025 | 67 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Westminster 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, public order, drugs.
The largest increases were in other theft (+34%) and public order (+30%). The largest falls were in burglary (-34%) and vehicle crime (-33%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 437 | 63.4 | 1.85 | +10% |
| Public order | 91 | 13.2 | 1.99 | +30% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 80 | 11.6 | 0.76 | +21% |
| Drugs | 65 | 9.4 | 2.88 | +30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 58 | 8.4 | 1.24 | +26% |
| Other theft | 47 | 6.8 | 1.07 | +34% |
| Other crime | 24 | 3.5 | 1.65 | +0% |
| Burglary | 21 | 3.0 | 0.86 | -34% |
| Shoplifting | 21 | 3.0 | 0.37 | -16% |
| Vehicle crime | 18 | 2.6 | 0.53 | -33% |
| Possession of weapons | 10 | 1.5 | 1.49 | +43% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.6 | 0.70 | -20% |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.4 | 0.32 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Westminster
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Westminster recorded 437 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (63.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 49.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Westminster
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Westminster recorded 91 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 10.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Westminster
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Westminster recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 9.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Westminster
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Westminster recorded 65 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 30% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Westminster
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Westminster recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Westminster
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Westminster recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 5.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Westminster
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Westminster recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Westminster
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Westminster recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 34% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Westminster
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Westminster recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Westminster
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Westminster recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Westminster
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Westminster recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 43% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Westminster
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Westminster recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Westminster
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Westminster recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the neighbourhoods closest to Westminster, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Westminster.
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Westminster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central & Grange | 1,926 | 121.3 | -5% |
| Netherpool | 272 | 55.3 | -57% |
| Whitby Park | 443 | 76.9 | -40% |
| Wolverham | 1,131 | 249.9 | +96% |
| Sutton Villages | 849 | 80.8 | -37% |
| Whitby Groves | 328 | 75.3 | -41% |
| Ledsham & Manor | 333 | 31.0 | -76% |
| Strawberry | 140 | 29.5 | -77% |
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 Westminster over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Venables Way | 58 |
| On or near John Nicholas Crescent | 58 |
| On or near Parking Area | 46 |
| On or near Grosvenor Wharf Road | 37 |
| On or near Shephard Close | 34 |
| On or near Westminster Grove | 34 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 27 |
| On or near Egerton Street | 25 |
| On or near Bateman Close | 24 |
| On or near Cook Street | 24 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Westminster 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 | 370 | 42.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 152 | 17.3% |
| Under investigation | 87 | 9.9% |
| Not recorded | 80 | 9.1% |
| Local resolution | 65 | 7.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 55 | 6.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 32 | 3.6% |
| Status update unavailable | 16 | 1.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 1.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.3% |
Westminster has an estimated population of 6,896. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Westminster sits in decile 3.0, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Westminster |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.9% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 67.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 10.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 40.9% |
| Social rented homes | 34.5% |
| Private rented homes | 24.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 20.6% |
Is Westminster a safe place to live?
Westminster recorded 127.5 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 Westminster?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 437 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by public order (91).
Is crime in Westminster going up or down?
Recorded crime in Westminster was up 12% on the year before: 879 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 787 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Westminster?
Westminster is policed by Cheshire. 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 Westminster. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.