Crime in the Hampshire Police area: statistics, rates and trends
165,842 crimes were recorded in the Hampshire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 80.4 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 Hampshire Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the Hampshire Police area
- Types of crime in the Hampshire Police area
- The Hampshire Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the Hampshire Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the Hampshire Police area
- Population and deprivation in the Hampshire Police area
- Questions about crime in the Hampshire Police area
- About this data
165,842 crimes were recorded in the Hampshire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 80.4 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 72,344 reports (44% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the Hampshire Police area has the 30th highest crime rate.
| Measure | the Hampshire Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 165,842 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 80.4 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 2,062,619 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the Hampshire Police area was highest in the year to July 2022 (199,015 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (165,842). Over the whole period it fell 14%, 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 | 165,842 | 80.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 169,507 | 82.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 170,702 | 82.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 187,253 | 90.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 199,015 | 96.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 182,473 | 88.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 183,771 | 89.1 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 171,953 | 83.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 192,791 | 93.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 16,554 |
| June 2026 | 14,632 |
| May 2026 | 15,110 |
| April 2026 | 13,667 |
| March 2026 | 14,053 |
| February 2026 | 12,104 |
| January 2026 | 12,614 |
| December 2025 | 12,318 |
| November 2025 | 12,918 |
| October 2025 | 13,689 |
| September 2025 | 13,594 |
| August 2025 | 14,589 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the Hampshire 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. Rates were well above the national level for possession of weapons.
The largest increases were in robbery (+47%) and possession of weapons (+34%). The largest falls were in theft from the person (-20%) and vehicle crime (-16%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 72,344 | 35.1 | 1.02 | +5% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 18,738 | 9.1 | 0.59 | -0% |
| Shoplifting | 14,150 | 6.9 | 0.83 | -10% |
| Public order | 13,067 | 6.3 | 0.95 | -11% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 11,164 | 5.4 | 0.80 | -11% |
| Other theft | 9,971 | 4.8 | 0.76 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 6,428 | 3.1 | 0.63 | -16% |
| Drugs | 5,234 | 2.5 | 0.78 | +0% |
| Burglary | 5,193 | 2.5 | 0.71 | -15% |
| Other crime | 3,040 | 1.5 | 0.70 | -9% |
| Possession of weapons | 2,631 | 1.3 | 1.31 | +34% |
| Robbery | 1,624 | 0.8 | 0.58 | +47% |
| Bicycle theft | 1,454 | 0.7 | 0.86 | -12% |
| Theft from the person | 804 | 0.4 | 0.23 | -20% |
Violence and sexual offences in the Hampshire Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Hampshire Police area recorded 72,344 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (35.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 43.6% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the Hampshire Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Hampshire Police area recorded 18,738 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 11.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the Hampshire Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Hampshire Police area recorded 14,150 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the Hampshire Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Hampshire Police area recorded 13,067 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the Hampshire Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Hampshire Police area recorded 11,164 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the Hampshire Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Hampshire Police area recorded 9,971 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the Hampshire Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Hampshire Police area recorded 6,428 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the Hampshire Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Hampshire Police area recorded 5,234 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the Hampshire Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Hampshire Police area recorded 5,193 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 3.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the Hampshire Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Hampshire Police area recorded 3,040 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the Hampshire Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Hampshire Police area recorded 2,631 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the Hampshire Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Hampshire Police area recorded 1,624 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 47% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the Hampshire Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Hampshire Police area recorded 1,454 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the Hampshire Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The Hampshire Police area recorded 804 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the Hampshire Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the Hampshire Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the Hampshire Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 87,826 | 70.3 | -13% |
| Dorset | 56,174 | 70.3 | -13% |
| Wiltshire | 51,651 | 67.3 | -16% |
| Sussex | 161,306 | 91.7 | +14% |
| Thames Valley | 193,968 | 73.5 | -9% |
| Metropolitan Police | 1,121,123 | 123.5 | +54% |
| City of London | 9,805 | 648.9 | +707% |
| Avon and Somerset | 188,371 | 103.9 | +29% |
14 areas within the Hampshire Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Southampton had the highest rate (131.6 per 1,000) and Hart the lowest (44.3). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Southampton | District | 259,424 | 34,149 | 131.6 |
| Portsmouth | District | 214,321 | 26,665 | 124.4 |
| Havant | District | 126,985 | 11,044 | 87.0 |
| Isle of Wight | District | 141,660 | 11,798 | 83.3 |
| Gosport | District | 82,921 | 6,538 | 78.8 |
| Rushmoor | District | 105,751 | 8,239 | 77.9 |
| Basingstoke and Deane | District | 193,110 | 13,432 | 69.6 |
| Eastleigh | District | 142,933 | 9,302 | 65.1 |
| Winchester | District | 135,632 | 8,532 | 62.9 |
| Fareham | District | 115,428 | 6,986 | 60.5 |
| Test Valley | District | 135,201 | 8,166 | 60.4 |
| New Forest | District | 176,116 | 10,252 | 58.2 |
| East Hampshire | District | 129,975 | 6,164 | 47.4 |
| Hart | District | 103,162 | 4,575 | 44.3 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the Hampshire 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 | 54,752 | 33.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 47,277 | 28.5% |
| Not recorded | 18,738 | 11.3% |
| Under investigation | 15,063 | 9.1% |
| Local resolution | 7,454 | 4.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 7,323 | 4.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 6,197 | 3.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 2,924 | 1.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2,305 | 1.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 1,485 | 0.9% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1,219 | 0.7% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 878 | 0.5% |
The Hampshire Police area has an estimated population of 2,062,619. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the Hampshire Police area sits in decile 6.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the Hampshire Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 61.5% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.3% |
| Social rented homes | 15.0% |
| Private rented homes | 18.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.5 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 4.1% |
Is the Hampshire Police area a safe place to live?
The Hampshire Police area recorded 80.4 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 Hampshire Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 72,344 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (18,738).
Is crime in the Hampshire Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the Hampshire Police area was down 2% on the year before: 165,842 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 169,507 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 Hampshire Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.