Crime in the Gloucestershire Police area: statistics, rates and trends
55,492 crimes were recorded in the Gloucestershire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the Gloucestershire Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the Gloucestershire Police area
- Types of crime in the Gloucestershire Police area
- The Gloucestershire Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the Gloucestershire Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the Gloucestershire Police area
- Population and deprivation in the Gloucestershire Police area
- Questions about crime in the Gloucestershire Police area
- About this data
55,492 crimes were recorded in the Gloucestershire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 19,932 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the Gloucestershire Police area has the 28th highest crime rate.
| Measure | the Gloucestershire Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 55,492 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 82.9 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 669,380 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the Gloucestershire Police area was highest in the year to July 2020 (61,115 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (51,922). Over the whole period it rose 3%, 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 | 55,492 | 82.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 56,630 | 84.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 58,921 | 88.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 59,772 | 89.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 58,991 | 88.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 58,473 | 87.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 61,115 | 91.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 51,922 | 77.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 53,944 | 80.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | 4,298 |
| December 2025 | 4,273 |
| November 2025 | 4,566 |
| October 2025 | 4,747 |
| September 2025 | 4,603 |
| August 2025 | 5,103 |
| July 2025 | 5,162 |
| June 2025 | 5,214 |
| May 2025 | 5,234 |
| April 2025 | 4,660 |
| March 2025 | 5,074 |
| February 2025 | 4,132 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the Gloucestershire Police area 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. The largest increases were in robbery (+53%) and possession of weapons (+26%). The largest falls were in public order (-13%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 19,932 | 29.8 | 0.87 | -2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 11,468 | 17.1 | 1.12 | -6% |
| Shoplifting | 4,718 | 7.0 | 0.85 | +12% |
| Public order | 3,596 | 5.4 | 0.81 | -13% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 3,568 | 5.3 | 0.79 | +0% |
| Other theft | 3,304 | 4.9 | 0.77 | -4% |
| Burglary | 2,266 | 3.4 | 0.96 | +5% |
| Vehicle crime | 2,192 | 3.3 | 0.66 | -4% |
| Other crime | 1,378 | 2.1 | 0.97 | -5% |
| Drugs | 1,146 | 1.7 | 0.52 | -4% |
| Robbery | 612 | 0.9 | 0.68 | +53% |
| Bicycle theft | 580 | 0.9 | 1.05 | -5% |
| Possession of weapons | 524 | 0.8 | 0.81 | +26% |
| Theft from the person | 208 | 0.3 | 0.18 | +13% |
Violence and sexual offences in the Gloucestershire Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 19,932 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 35.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the Gloucestershire Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 11,468 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 20.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the Gloucestershire Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 4,718 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the Gloucestershire Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 3,596 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the Gloucestershire Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 3,568 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the Gloucestershire Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 3,304 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the Gloucestershire Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 2,266 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 4.1% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the Gloucestershire Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 2,192 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the Gloucestershire Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 1,378 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the Gloucestershire Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 1,146 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the Gloucestershire Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 612 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 53% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the Gloucestershire Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 580 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the Gloucestershire Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 524 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 26% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the Gloucestershire Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 208 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 13% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the Gloucestershire Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the Gloucestershire Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the Gloucestershire Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiltshire | 51,651 | 67.3 | -19% |
| Gwent | 70,783 | 117.6 | +42% |
| West Mercia | 96,563 | 72.0 | -13% |
| Avon and Somerset | 188,371 | 103.9 | +25% |
| Warwickshire | 51,918 | 82.1 | -1% |
| West Midlands | 322,332 | 106.1 | +28% |
| Thames Valley | 193,968 | 73.5 | -11% |
| South Wales | 124,335 | 91.2 | +10% |
6 areas within the Gloucestershire Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Gloucester had the highest rate (132.7 per 1,000) and Forest of Dean the lowest (56.6). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucester | District | 138,598 | 18,390 | 132.7 |
| Cheltenham | District | 121,739 | 12,806 | 105.2 |
| Stroud | District | 125,680 | 7,940 | 63.2 |
| Cotswold | District | 91,661 | 5,406 | 59.0 |
| Tewkesbury | District | 101,949 | 5,868 | 57.6 |
| Forest of Dean | District | 89,753 | 5,082 | 56.6 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the Gloucestershire Police area 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 | 7,494 | 27.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 6,275 | 22.6% |
| Not recorded | 5,734 | 20.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 5,598 | 20.2% |
| Local resolution | 798 | 2.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 724 | 2.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 354 | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 260 | 0.9% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 188 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 119 | 0.4% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 106 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 51 | 0.2% |
The Gloucestershire Police area has an estimated population of 669,380. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the Gloucestershire Police area sits in decile 6.7, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the Gloucestershire Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 69.2% |
| Social rented homes | 13.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.7 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 3.1% |
Is the Gloucestershire Police area a safe place to live?
The Gloucestershire Police area recorded 82.9 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, lower 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 the Gloucestershire Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 19,932 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (11,468).
Is crime in the Gloucestershire Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the Gloucestershire Police area was down 2% on the year before: 55,492 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 56,630 in the previous 12 months.
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 the Gloucestershire Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.