Crime in Benson: statistics, rates and trends
214 crimes were recorded in Benson in the 12 months to August 2026, 31.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 18% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (106), other theft (21) and anti-social behaviour (19) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,368th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest tenth.
| Measure | Benson | South Oxfordshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 214 | 7,440 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 31.3 | 47.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +18% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 6,836 | 156,470 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Benson peaked in the year to August 2023 (240 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (138). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 55%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 214 | 31.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 182 | 26.6 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 213 | 31.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 240 | 35.1 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 229 | 33.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 219 | 32.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 160 | 23.4 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 186 | 27.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 138 | 20.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 13 |
| 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 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and violence and sexual offences (55% below) and other theft (52% below) were well below it. On the year before, violence and sexual offences rose from 58 to 106.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 106 | 15.5 | 34.2 | +83% |
| Other theft | 21 | 3.1 | 6.4 | n/a |
| Anti-social behaviour | 19 | 2.8 | 15.4 | n/a |
| Criminal damage and arson | 15 | 2.2 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Burglary | 12 | 1.8 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 10 | 1.5 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 10 | 1.5 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Public order | 7 | 1.0 | 6.7 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 0.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 4 | 0.6 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallingford | 463 | 53.0 | +69% |
| Didcot | 2,234 | 61.7 | +97% |
| Sonning Common | 209 | 35.0 | +12% |
| Abingdon-on-Thames | 2,257 | 68.5 | +119% |
| Chinnor | 302 | 37.4 | +19% |
| Henley-on-Thames | 758 | 61.0 | +95% |
| Thame | 576 | 53.3 | +70% |
| Oxford | 17,690 | 103.9 | +232% |
Benson & Crowmarsh is the one area listed within Benson, with 31.9 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benson & Crowmarsh | Neighbourhood | 10,062 | 321 | 31.9 |
The 10 locations below account for 54% of the crime recorded in Benson over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Cheneys Piece” (28).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Cheneys Piece | 28 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 18 |
| On or near The Meer | 16 |
| On or near Sands Way | 10 |
| On or near Triggs Mead | 9 |
| On or near Port Hill Road | 8 |
| On or near Potash Mead | 8 |
| On or near Oxford Road | 6 |
| On or near St Helen'S Avenue | 6 |
| On or near The Close | 6 |
Of the 195 crimes in Benson with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 19 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 80 | 41.0% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 56 | 28.7% | 35.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 8.7% | 4.7% |
| Under investigation | 17 | 8.7% | 11.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 4.1% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 3 | 1.5% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 3 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 1.5% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.5% | 0.5% |
Benson has an estimated population of 6,836 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (6.9%, against 23.3%), less social housing (8.2%, against 17.1%) and fewer residents with no qualifications (9.4%, against 18.2%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Benson average decile 8.8 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Benson | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 67.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 1.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 21.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 43.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 9.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 6.9% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 8.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 26.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Benson a safe place to live?
Benson recorded 31.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,368th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Benson?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 106 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by other theft (21).
Is crime in Benson going up or down?
Recorded crime in Benson was up 18% on the year before: 214 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 182 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Benson?
About 6,836 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 19% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Benson?
Benson 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.