Crime in Ashley (New Forest): statistics, rates and trends
308 crimes were recorded in Ashley (New Forest) in the 12 months to August 2026, 38.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 10% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Ashley (New Forest) at a glance
- Crime trends in Ashley (New Forest)
- Types of crime in Ashley (New Forest)
- Ashley (New Forest) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Ashley (New Forest)
- Streets with the most crime in Ashley (New Forest)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Ashley (New Forest)
- Demographics of Ashley (New Forest)
- Questions about crime in Ashley (New Forest)
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (157), anti-social behaviour (24) and public order (21) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,303rd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Ashley (New Forest) | New Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 308 | 10,266 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 38.6 | 58.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -10% | -7% | -1% |
| Population | 7,984 | 176,116 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Ashley (New Forest) of any year here (308 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 9%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 308 | 38.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 341 | 42.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 379 | 47.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 398 | 49.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 492 | 61.6 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 446 | 55.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 424 | 53.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 379 | 47.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 339 | 42.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 27 |
| July 2026 | 37 |
| June 2026 | 29 |
| May 2026 | 31 |
| April 2026 | 22 |
| March 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 19 |
| January 2026 | 27 |
| December 2025 | 27 |
| November 2025 | 23 |
| October 2025 | 22 |
| September 2025 | 20 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and anti-social behaviour (80% below) and public order (61% below) were well below it. On the year before, public order fell from 31 to 21 and anti-social behaviour fell from 34 to 24.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 157 | 19.7 | 34.2 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 24 | 3.0 | 15.4 | -29% |
| Public order | 21 | 2.6 | 6.7 | -32% |
| Vehicle crime | 20 | 2.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 19 | 2.4 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 17 | 2.1 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 16 | 2.0 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Other theft | 14 | 1.8 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 10 | 1.3 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.4 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.3 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Ashley (New Forest); the highest is Bournemouth (108.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Barton on Sea (24.3).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ashley (New Forest) |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Milton | 1,021 | 97.7 | +153% |
| Barton on Sea | 177 | 24.3 | -37% |
| Lymington | 907 | 57.8 | +50% |
| Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) | 2,773 | 58.0 | +50% |
| Freshwater and Totland | 488 | 55.8 | +45% |
| Ringwood | 920 | 71.3 | +85% |
| Ashley Heath | 319 | 39.2 | +2% |
| Bournemouth | 21,896 | 108.0 | +180% |
Ashley, Bashley & Fernhill is the one area listed within Ashley (New Forest), with 44.6 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley, Bashley & Fernhill | Neighbourhood | 7,667 | 342 | 44.6 |
The 10 locations below account for 39% of the crime recorded in Ashley (New Forest) over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Ashtree Close” (30).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Ashtree Close | 30 |
| On or near Summertrees Court | 13 |
| On or near Molyneux Court | 12 |
| On or near Somerton Close | 11 |
| On or near Thornham Road | 11 |
| On or near Franklin Road | 9 |
| On or near Molyneux Road | 9 |
| On or near Ashley Common Road | 8 |
| On or near Vernalls Court | 8 |
| On or near Winchester Road | 8 |
Of the 284 crimes in Ashley (New Forest) with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 24 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 118 | 41.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 82 | 28.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 32 | 11.3% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 20 | 7.0% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 10 | 3.5% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 9 | 3.2% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 1.4% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 1 | 0.4% | 2.5% |
Ashley (New Forest) has an estimated population of 7,984 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (32%, against 19%), more retired residents (34%, against 22%) and fewer households without a car (11%, against 23%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Ashley (New Forest) average decile 6.9 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Ashley (New Forest) | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 13.3% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 31.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 51.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 34.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 10.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 10.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Ashley (New Forest) a safe place to live?
Ashley (New Forest) recorded 38.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,303rd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Ashley (New Forest)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 157 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (24).
Is crime in Ashley (New Forest) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ashley (New Forest) was down 10% on the year before: 308 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 341 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Ashley (New Forest)?
About 7,984 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 32% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Ashley (New Forest)?
Ashley (New Forest) is policed by Hampshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.