Crime in Benson: statistics, rates and trends
216 crimes were recorded in Benson in the 12 months to July 2026, 31.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 19% on the year before.
Table of Contents
216 crimes were recorded in Benson in the 12 months to July 2026, 31.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 19% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 109 reports (50% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Benson has the 1,385th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Benson | South Oxfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 216 | 7,327 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 31.6 | 46.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +19% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 6,836 | 156,470 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Benson was highest in the year to July 2023 (243 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (131). Over the whole period it rose 65%, 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 | 216 | 31.6 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 181 | 26.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 222 | 32.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 243 | 35.5 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 238 | 34.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 207 | 30.3 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 146 | 21.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 192 | 28.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 131 | 19.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 18 |
| June 2026 | 13 |
| May 2026 | 20 |
| April 2026 | 13 |
| March 2026 | 16 |
| February 2026 | 26 |
| January 2026 | 17 |
| December 2025 | 11 |
| November 2025 | 27 |
| October 2025 | 18 |
| September 2025 | 22 |
| August 2025 | 15 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Benson 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 violence and sexual offences (+98%).
The largest falls were in criminal damage and arson (-41%) and anti-social behaviour (-32%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 109 | 15.9 | 0.47 | +98% |
| Other theft | 22 | 3.2 | 0.50 | +29% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 17 | 2.5 | 0.16 | -32% |
| Burglary | 14 | 2.0 | 0.58 | -7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 13 | 1.9 | 0.28 | -41% |
| Shoplifting | 11 | 1.6 | 0.19 | -8% |
| Other crime | 9 | 1.3 | 0.62 | +29% |
| Public order | 7 | 1.0 | 0.15 | -50% |
| Vehicle crime | 7 | 1.0 | 0.21 | -36% |
| Drugs | 3 | 0.4 | 0.13 | +200% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.3 | 0.36 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 0.11 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.09 | +0% |
Violence and sexual offences in Benson
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Benson recorded 109 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 98% on the year before. It made up 50.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Benson
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Benson recorded 22 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 up 29% on the year before. It made up 10.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Benson
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Benson recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Benson
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Benson recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Benson
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Benson recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 41% on the year before. It made up 6.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Benson
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Benson recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Benson
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Benson recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 4.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Benson
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Benson recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Benson
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Benson recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Benson
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Benson recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Benson
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Benson recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Benson
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Benson recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Benson
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Benson recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Benson, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Benson.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallingford | 470 | 53.8 | +70% |
| Didcot | 2,222 | 61.4 | +94% |
| Sonning Common | 207 | 34.7 | +10% |
| Abingdon-on-Thames | 2,287 | 69.4 | +120% |
| Chinnor | 301 | 37.3 | +18% |
| Henley-on-Thames | 749 | 60.2 | +91% |
| Thame | 552 | 51.1 | +62% |
| Oxford | 17,654 | 103.7 | +228% |
1 areas within Benson, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Benson & Crowmarsh had the highest rate (32.1 per 1,000) and Benson & Crowmarsh the lowest (32.1). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benson & Crowmarsh | Neighbourhood | 10,062 | 323 | 32.1 |
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 Benson over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cheneys Piece | 29 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 17 |
| On or near The Meer | 17 |
| On or near Triggs Mead | 10 |
| On or near Sands Way | 9 |
| On or near Potash Mead | 8 |
| On or near Port Hill Road | 7 |
| On or near Oxford Road | 6 |
| On or near The Close | 6 |
| On or near Walnut Acre | 6 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Benson 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 | 78 | 36.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 57 | 26.4% |
| Under investigation | 24 | 11.1% |
| Not recorded | 17 | 7.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 16 | 7.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 9 | 4.2% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 4 | 1.9% |
| Local resolution | 4 | 1.9% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 1.4% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 1.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% |
Benson has an estimated population of 6,836. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Benson sits in decile 8.8, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Benson |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.9% |
| Social rented homes | 8.2% |
| Private rented homes | 26.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.8 |
Is Benson a safe place to live?
Benson recorded 31.6 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 Benson?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 109 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by other theft (22).
Is crime in Benson going up or down?
Recorded crime in Benson was up 19% on the year before: 216 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 181 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Benson?
Benson is policed by Thames Valley. Non-emergency crimes can be reported online to the force or by calling 101; in an emergency call 999.
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 Benson. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.