Crime in Windermere and Ambleside: statistics, rates and trends
741 crimes were recorded in Windermere and Ambleside in the 12 months to August 2026, 74.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Windermere and Ambleside at a glance
- Crime trends in Windermere and Ambleside
- Types of crime in Windermere and Ambleside
- Windermere and Ambleside compared with nearby neighbourhoods
- Streets with the most crime in Windermere and Ambleside
- What happened after crimes were reported in Windermere and Ambleside
- Demographics of Windermere and Ambleside
- Questions about crime in Windermere and Ambleside
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (345), criminal damage and arson (84) and other theft (70) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 2,040th of the 3,911 neighbourhoods covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Windermere and Ambleside | Westmorland and Furness | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 741 | 16,568 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 74.6 | 72.0 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 9,931 | 230,185 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Windermere and Ambleside peaked in the year to August 2020 (885 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (647). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 15%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 741 | 74.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 719 | 72.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 666 | 67.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 663 | 66.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 717 | 72.2 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 847 | 85.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 885 | 89.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 769 | 77.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 647 | 65.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 71 |
| July 2026 | 59 |
| June 2026 | 67 |
| May 2026 | 75 |
| April 2026 | 69 |
| March 2026 | 59 |
| February 2026 | 57 |
| January 2026 | 62 |
| December 2025 | 47 |
| November 2025 | 47 |
| October 2025 | 67 |
| September 2025 | 61 |
Compared with England and Wales, Windermere and Ambleside recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (25% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (80% below) and shoplifting (45% below). On the year before, drugs rose from 27 to 38 and other theft rose from 54 to 70, while shoplifting fell from 56 to 46.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 345 | 34.7 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 84 | 8.5 | 6.7 | +9% |
| Other theft | 70 | 7.0 | 6.4 | +30% |
| Public order | 59 | 5.9 | 6.7 | -8% |
| Shoplifting | 46 | 4.6 | 8.5 | -18% |
| Drugs | 38 | 3.8 | 3.3 | +41% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 30 | 3.0 | 15.4 | -6% |
| Burglary | 28 | 2.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 14 | 1.4 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 10 | 1.0 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 3 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest neighbourhoods have a higher crime rate than Windermere and Ambleside; the highest is Kendal Strickland and Fell (132.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Kendal Castle (22.9).
| Neighbourhood | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Windermere and Ambleside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Kent | 154 | 37.3 | -50% |
| Bowness and Lyth | 400 | 103.3 | +38% |
| Kendal Strickland and Fell | 887 | 132.1 | +77% |
| Kendal Highgate | 482 | 81.0 | +9% |
| Kendal Nether | 591 | 91.3 | +22% |
| Kendal Castle | 133 | 22.9 | -69% |
| Kendal South | 439 | 58.5 | -22% |
| Levens and Crooklands | 152 | 35.8 | -52% |
The 10 locations below account for 33% of the crime recorded in Windermere and Ambleside over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (65).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 65 |
| On or near Supermarket | 43 |
| On or near King Street | 20 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 20 |
| On or near Bridge Lane | 18 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 17 |
| On or near Woodland Close | 17 |
| On or near Cheapside | 16 |
| On or near Cross Street | 16 |
| On or near Queen'S Drive | 16 |
Of the 711 crimes in Windermere and Ambleside with a recorded outcome, 27% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 30 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 241 | 33.9% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 194 | 27.3% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 110 | 15.5% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 47 | 6.6% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 40 | 5.6% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 34 | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 21 | 3.0% | 0.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 7 | 1.0% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 0.8% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.7% | 0.3% |
Windermere and Ambleside has an estimated population of 9,931 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (27%, against 19%), fewer children (11%, against 18%) and more retired residents (29%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Windermere and Ambleside average decile 7.0 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Windermere and Ambleside | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 11.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.7% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.0% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.5% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 36.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 14.1% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 57.4% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 22.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.0 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Windermere and Ambleside a safe place to live?
Windermere and Ambleside recorded 74.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 2,040th 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.
What is the most common crime in Windermere and Ambleside?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 345 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by criminal damage and arson (84).
Is crime in Windermere and Ambleside going up or down?
Recorded crime in Windermere and Ambleside was up 3% on the year before: 741 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 719 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Windermere and Ambleside?
About 9,931 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 27% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Windermere and Ambleside?
Windermere and Ambleside is policed by Cumbria.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.