Crime in Ash and Ash Vale: statistics, rates and trends

1,377 crimes were recorded in Ash and Ash Vale in the 12 months to July 2026, 48.7 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 8% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 481 reports (35% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Ash and Ash Vale has the 1,179th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Ash and Ash Vale was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,722 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (1,377). Over the whole period it fell 9%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Ash and Ash Vale 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 drugs (+116%) and criminal damage and arson (+21%).

The largest falls were in burglary (-43%) and violence and sexual offences (-17%).

Violence and sexual offences in Ash and Ash Vale

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 481 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 34.9% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Ash and Ash Vale

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 223 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 16.2% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Ash and Ash Vale

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 148 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 10.7% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Ash and Ash Vale

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 126 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Ash and Ash Vale

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 105 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Ash and Ash Vale

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 90 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Ash and Ash Vale

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 69 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 116% on the year before. It made up 5.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Ash and Ash Vale

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 45 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 up 7% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Ash and Ash Vale

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Ash and Ash Vale

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Ash and Ash Vale

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 44% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Ash and Ash Vale

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Ash and Ash Vale

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Ash and Ash Vale

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Ash and Ash Vale recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 83% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Ash and Ash Vale, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Ash and Ash Vale.

5 areas within Ash and Ash Vale, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Ash Wharf had the highest rate (58.6 per 1,000) and Ash South the lowest (34.9). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

Police.uk records each crime at an approximate location, usually the centre of a nearby street or a landmark, to protect victims' privacy. These are the locations with the most reports in Ash and Ash Vale over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Ash and Ash Vale 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.

Ash and Ash Vale has an estimated population of 28,267. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Ash and Ash Vale sits in decile 7.7, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Ash and Ash Vale. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.