Crime in the Leicestershire Police area: statistics, rates and trends
100,423 crimes were recorded in the Leicestershire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 85.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in the Leicestershire Police area at a glance
- Crime trends in the Leicestershire Police area
- Types of crime in the Leicestershire Police area
- The Leicestershire Police area compared with nearby police force areas
- Areas within the Leicestershire Police area
- What happened after crimes were reported in the Leicestershire Police area
- Population and deprivation in the Leicestershire Police area
- Questions about crime in the Leicestershire Police area
- About this data
100,423 crimes were recorded in the Leicestershire Police area in the 12 months to July 2026, 85.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 35,956 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 42 police force areas covered by this site, the Leicestershire Police area has the 26th highest crime rate.
| Measure | the Leicestershire Police area | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 100,423 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 85.4 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -4% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 1,175,364 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in the Leicestershire Police area was highest in the year to July 2023 (109,701 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2020 (95,026). Over the whole period it fell 0%, 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 | 100,423 | 85.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 104,705 | 89.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 103,817 | 88.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 109,701 | 93.3 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 108,207 | 92.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 96,452 | 82.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 95,026 | 80.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 100,698 | 85.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 100,473 | 85.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 9,270 |
| June 2026 | 9,116 |
| May 2026 | 8,860 |
| April 2026 | 8,039 |
| March 2026 | 8,598 |
| February 2026 | 7,336 |
| January 2026 | 7,917 |
| December 2025 | 7,462 |
| November 2025 | 7,668 |
| October 2025 | 8,786 |
| September 2025 | 8,222 |
| August 2025 | 9,149 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in the Leicestershire 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 falls were in vehicle crime (-21%) and bicycle theft (-19%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 35,956 | 30.6 | 0.89 | -2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 14,010 | 11.9 | 0.78 | +1% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 9,265 | 7.9 | 1.16 | +4% |
| Public order | 8,960 | 7.6 | 1.15 | -6% |
| Shoplifting | 7,983 | 6.8 | 0.82 | -8% |
| Other theft | 6,494 | 5.5 | 0.86 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 5,153 | 4.4 | 0.89 | -21% |
| Burglary | 4,179 | 3.6 | 1.01 | -8% |
| Drugs | 2,901 | 2.5 | 0.75 | +1% |
| Other crime | 2,046 | 1.7 | 0.82 | -14% |
| Bicycle theft | 982 | 0.8 | 1.02 | -19% |
| Robbery | 862 | 0.7 | 0.54 | +3% |
| Possession of weapons | 840 | 0.7 | 0.74 | +1% |
| Theft from the person | 792 | 0.7 | 0.40 | -4% |
Violence and sexual offences in the Leicestershire Police area
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 35,956 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 35.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in the Leicestershire Police area
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 14,010 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 14.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in the Leicestershire Police area
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 9,265 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in the Leicestershire Police area
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 8,960 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in the Leicestershire Police area
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 7,983 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in the Leicestershire Police area
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 6,494 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in the Leicestershire Police area
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 5,153 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in the Leicestershire Police area
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 4,179 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in the Leicestershire Police area
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 2,901 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 up 1% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in the Leicestershire Police area
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 2,046 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in the Leicestershire Police area
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 982 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in the Leicestershire Police area
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 862 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in the Leicestershire Police area
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 840 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in the Leicestershire Police area
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. The Leicestershire Police area recorded 792 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the police force areas closest to the Leicestershire Police area, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to the Leicestershire Police area.
| Police force area | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs the Leicestershire Police area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warwickshire | 51,918 | 82.1 | -4% |
| Nottinghamshire | 124,757 | 105.0 | +23% |
| Northamptonshire | 73,391 | 90.2 | +6% |
| Derbyshire | 102,878 | 93.8 | +10% |
| West Midlands | 322,332 | 106.1 | +24% |
| Staffordshire | 106,686 | 90.6 | +6% |
| Lincolnshire | 72,075 | 91.3 | +7% |
| Cambridgeshire | 82,360 | 88.2 | +3% |
9 areas within the Leicestershire Police area, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Leicester had the highest rate (122.5 per 1,000) and Rutland the lowest (46.9). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester | District | 388,348 | 47,587 | 122.5 |
| Charnwood | District | 188,385 | 15,116 | 80.2 |
| North West Leicestershire | District | 111,881 | 7,873 | 70.4 |
| Blaby | District | 108,165 | 7,528 | 69.6 |
| Hinckley and Bosworth | District | 116,682 | 7,748 | 66.4 |
| Melton | District | 54,052 | 3,582 | 66.3 |
| Oadby and Wigston | District | 61,695 | 3,715 | 60.2 |
| Harborough | District | 104,713 | 5,331 | 50.9 |
| Rutland | District | 41,443 | 1,943 | 46.9 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in the Leicestershire 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 34,154 | 34.0% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 26,088 | 26.0% |
| Not recorded | 14,010 | 14.0% |
| Under investigation | 8,999 | 9.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 4,735 | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 3,068 | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 2,303 | 2.3% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2,033 | 2.0% |
| Status update unavailable | 1,855 | 1.8% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1,278 | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 810 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 570 | 0.6% |
The Leicestershire Police area has an estimated population of 1,175,364. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in the Leicestershire Police area sits in decile 5.8, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | the Leicestershire Police area |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 63.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.5% |
| Social rented homes | 14.2% |
| Private rented homes | 19.2% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.8 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 7.0% |
Is the Leicestershire Police area a safe place to live?
The Leicestershire Police area recorded 85.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Leicestershire Police area?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 35,956 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (14,010).
Is crime in the Leicestershire Police area going up or down?
Recorded crime in the Leicestershire Police area was down 4% on the year before: 100,423 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 104,705 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 Leicestershire Police area. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.