Crime in Abingdon-on-Thames: statistics, rates and trends
2,257 crimes were recorded in Abingdon-on-Thames in the 12 months to August 2026, 68.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Abingdon-on-Thames at a glance
- Crime trends in Abingdon-on-Thames
- Types of crime in Abingdon-on-Thames
- Abingdon-on-Thames compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Abingdon-on-Thames
- Streets with the most crime in Abingdon-on-Thames
- What happened after crimes were reported in Abingdon-on-Thames
- Demographics of Abingdon-on-Thames
- Questions about crime in Abingdon-on-Thames
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (888), anti-social behaviour (317) and public order (216) made up 63% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 803rd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Abingdon-on-Thames | Vale of White Horse | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,257 | 7,947 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 68.5 | 53.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 32,953 | 149,347 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Abingdon-on-Thames peaked in the year to August 2022 (2,719 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (2,069). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 7%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,257 | 68.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,307 | 70.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,393 | 72.6 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,398 | 72.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,719 | 82.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,509 | 76.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 2,393 | 72.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,069 | 62.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,114 | 64.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 182 |
| July 2026 | 221 |
| June 2026 | 196 |
| May 2026 | 204 |
| April 2026 | 196 |
| March 2026 | 186 |
| February 2026 | 147 |
| January 2026 | 178 |
| December 2025 | 170 |
| November 2025 | 183 |
| October 2025 | 207 |
| September 2025 | 187 |
Compared with England and Wales, Abingdon-on-Thames recorded notably more bicycle theft (69% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (71% below) and burglary (54% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 119 to 162 and burglary rose from 42 to 54, while criminal damage and arson fell from 218 to 172.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 888 | 26.9 | 34.2 | -6% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 317 | 9.6 | 15.4 | +7% |
| Public order | 216 | 6.6 | 6.7 | +2% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 172 | 5.2 | 6.7 | -21% |
| Shoplifting | 162 | 4.9 | 8.5 | +36% |
| Other theft | 148 | 4.5 | 6.4 | -4% |
| Drugs | 104 | 3.2 | 3.3 | -10% |
| Other crime | 58 | 1.8 | 2.1 | +26% |
| Burglary | 54 | 1.6 | 3.6 | +29% |
| Vehicle crime | 47 | 1.4 | 5.0 | +12% |
| Bicycle theft | 46 | 1.4 | 0.8 | -15% |
| Possession of weapons | 18 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 14 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 13 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Abingdon-on-Thames; the highest is Oxford (103.9 per 1,000) and the lowest Benson (31.3).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Abingdon-on-Thames |
|---|---|---|---|
| Didcot | 2,234 | 61.7 | -10% |
| Oxford | 17,690 | 103.9 | +52% |
| Grove (Vale of White Horse) | 597 | 55.4 | -19% |
| Wallingford | 463 | 53.0 | -23% |
| Wantage | 884 | 64.4 | -6% |
| Eynsham | 298 | 43.9 | -36% |
| Benson | 214 | 31.3 | -54% |
| Kidlington | 937 | 58.8 | -14% |
Of the 5 areas within Abingdon-on-Thames, Abingdon Fitzharris had the highest crime rate (134.2 per 1,000) and Abingdon Peachcroft the lowest (21.8), 6 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abingdon Fitzharris | Neighbourhood | 5,663 | 760 | 134.2 |
| Abingdon Abbey Northcourt | Neighbourhood | 6,383 | 799 | 125.2 |
| Abingdon Caldecott | Neighbourhood | 8,380 | 394 | 47.0 |
| Abingdon Dunmore | Neighbourhood | 6,102 | 164 | 26.9 |
| Abingdon Peachcroft | Neighbourhood | 6,425 | 140 | 21.8 |
The 10 locations below account for 33% of the crime recorded in Abingdon-on-Thames over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Thornley Close” (199).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Thornley Close | 199 |
| On or near Parking Area | 110 |
| On or near High Street | 83 |
| On or near The Square | 70 |
| On or near Regal Close | 60 |
| On or near Stratton Way | 52 |
| On or near Supermarket | 48 |
| On or near Brampton Close | 42 |
| On or near Finmore Close | 42 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 42 |
Of the 1,940 crimes in Abingdon-on-Thames with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 317 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 649 | 33.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 557 | 28.7% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 249 | 12.8% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 118 | 6.1% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 117 | 6.0% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 104 | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 58 | 3.0% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 58 | 3.0% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 16 | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 11 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Abingdon-on-Thames has an estimated population of 32,953 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.8%, against 7.9%), more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (44%, against 34%) and fewer households without a car (17%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Abingdon-on-Thames average decile 7.8 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Abingdon-on-Thames | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 21.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 63.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 23.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 43.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 66.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 15.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Abingdon-on-Thames a safe place to live?
Abingdon-on-Thames recorded 68.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 803rd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were bicycle theft.
What is the most common crime in Abingdon-on-Thames?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 888 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (317).
Is crime in Abingdon-on-Thames going up or down?
Recorded crime in Abingdon-on-Thames was down 2% on the year before: 2,257 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,307 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Abingdon-on-Thames?
About 32,953 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 21% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Abingdon-on-Thames?
Abingdon-on-Thames is policed by Thames Valley.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.