Crime in South West: statistics, rates and trends
491,906 crimes were recorded in South West in the 12 months to July 2026, 83.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
491,906 crimes were recorded in South West in the 12 months to July 2026, 83.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 193,684 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 9 regions covered by this site, South West has the 7th highest crime rate.
| Measure | South West | England | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 491,906 | 5,360,756 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 83.5 | 96.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 5,889,695 | 55,610,437 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in South West was highest in the year to July 2026 (491,906 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (457,147). Over the whole period it rose 1%, 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 | 491,906 | 83.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 486,801 | 82.7 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 464,136 | 78.8 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2022 | 458,049 | 77.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 457,147 | 77.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 469,936 | 79.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 477,318 | 81.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 485,086 | 82.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 41,426 |
| June 2026 | 37,072 |
| May 2026 | 37,980 |
| April 2026 | 36,800 |
| March 2026 | 37,479 |
| February 2026 | 33,029 |
| January 2026 | 37,474 |
| December 2025 | 37,850 |
| November 2025 | 40,064 |
| October 2025 | 41,929 |
| September 2025 | 40,108 |
| August 2025 | 42,793 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in South West 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 (+30%) and possession of weapons (+13%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 193,684 | 32.9 | 0.96 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 81,952 | 13.9 | 0.91 | -5% |
| Shoplifting | 40,514 | 6.9 | 0.83 | +1% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 37,882 | 6.4 | 0.95 | +2% |
| Public order | 35,789 | 6.1 | 0.91 | -5% |
| Other theft | 32,181 | 5.5 | 0.85 | +2% |
| Vehicle crime | 18,582 | 3.2 | 0.64 | +3% |
| Burglary | 16,653 | 2.8 | 0.80 | +4% |
| Drugs | 9,980 | 1.7 | 0.52 | -8% |
| Other crime | 9,462 | 1.6 | 0.76 | -1% |
| Robbery | 4,976 | 0.8 | 0.63 | +30% |
| Possession of weapons | 4,227 | 0.7 | 0.74 | +13% |
| Bicycle theft | 3,886 | 0.7 | 0.80 | -2% |
| Theft from the person | 2,138 | 0.4 | 0.21 | +1% |
Violence and sexual offences in South West
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. South West recorded 193,684 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 39.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in South West
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. South West recorded 81,952 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 16.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in South West
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. South West recorded 40,514 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 up 1% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in South West
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. South West recorded 37,882 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 7.7% of all crime in the area.
Public order in South West
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. South West recorded 35,789 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in South West
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. South West recorded 32,181 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 up 2% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in South West
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. South West recorded 18,582 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in South West
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. South West recorded 16,653 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in South West
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. South West recorded 9,980 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 8% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in South West
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. South West recorded 9,462 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in South West
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. South West recorded 4,976 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 30% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in South West
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. South West recorded 4,227 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 13% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in South West
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. South West recorded 3,886 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 2% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in South West
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. South West recorded 2,138 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 up 1% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the regions closest to South West, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to South West.
| Region | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs South West |
|---|---|---|---|
| South East | 784,242 | 81.3 | -3% |
| West Midlands | 577,499 | 93.3 | +12% |
| London | 1,130,928 | 124.4 | +49% |
| East Midlands | 473,524 | 93.5 | +12% |
| East of England | 526,234 | 80.0 | -4% |
| North West | 442,012 | 93.5 | +12% |
| Yorkshire and The Humber | 614,693 | 108.4 | +30% |
| North East | 319,718 | 115.8 | +39% |
15 areas within South West, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Bristol, City of had the highest rate (148.8 per 1,000) and Isles of Scilly the lowest (34.2). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol, City of | District | 494,399 | 73,545 | 148.8 |
| Torbay | District | 140,126 | 15,330 | 109.4 |
| Plymouth | District | 272,067 | 29,674 | 109.1 |
| Somerset | District | 588,328 | 53,466 | 90.9 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | District | 200,028 | 17,881 | 89.4 |
| North Somerset | District | 224,578 | 19,522 | 86.9 |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | District | 408,967 | 35,434 | 86.6 |
| Gloucestershire | County | 669,380 | 55,492 | 82.9 |
| Swindon | District | 243,875 | 19,864 | 81.5 |
| South Gloucestershire | District | 306,332 | 23,957 | 78.2 |
| Cornwall | District | 583,289 | 41,624 | 71.4 |
| Devon | County | 842,313 | 53,509 | 63.5 |
| Wiltshire | District | 523,700 | 31,787 | 60.7 |
| Dorset | District | 389,947 | 20,740 | 53.2 |
| Isles of Scilly | District | 2,366 | 81 | 34.2 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in South West 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 | 153,130 | 33.0% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 112,167 | 24.2% |
| Not recorded | 76,218 | 16.4% |
| Under investigation | 43,761 | 9.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 28,450 | 6.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 16,670 | 3.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 7,953 | 1.7% |
| Local resolution | 7,713 | 1.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6,329 | 1.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5,460 | 1.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 2,431 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1,738 | 0.4% |
South West has an estimated population of 5,889,695. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in South West sits in decile 6.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | South West |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.6% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.8% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 67.0% |
| Social rented homes | 13.3% |
| Private rented homes | 19.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 3.9% |
Is South West a safe place to live?
South West recorded 83.5 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 South West?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 193,684 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (81,952).
Is crime in South West going up or down?
Recorded crime in South West was up 1% on the year before: 491,906 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 486,801 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 South West. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.