Crime in Bracknell: statistics, rates and trends
6,556 crimes were recorded in Bracknell in the 12 months to August 2026, 79.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Bracknell at a glance
- Crime trends in Bracknell
- Types of crime in Bracknell
- Bracknell compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Bracknell
- Streets with the most crime in Bracknell
- What happened after crimes were reported in Bracknell
- Demographics of Bracknell
- Questions about crime in Bracknell
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (2,490), anti-social behaviour (837) and shoplifting (634) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 628th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Bracknell | Bracknell Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 6,556 | 8,590 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 79.2 | 65.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +3% | +1% | -1% |
| Population | 82,768 | 130,806 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Bracknell peaked in the year to August 2024 (7,064 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (4,935). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 33%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 6,556 | 79.2 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 6,373 | 77.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 7,064 | 85.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 6,980 | 84.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 6,534 | 78.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 6,032 | 72.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 5,389 | 65.1 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 5,146 | 62.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 4,935 | 59.6 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 614 |
| July 2026 | 671 |
| June 2026 | 584 |
| May 2026 | 615 |
| April 2026 | 552 |
| March 2026 | 535 |
| February 2026 | 482 |
| January 2026 | 491 |
| December 2025 | 430 |
| November 2025 | 511 |
| October 2025 | 512 |
| September 2025 | 559 |
Compared with England and Wales, Bracknell recorded notably more bicycle theft (27% above the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (76% below) and possession of weapons (56% below). On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 346 to 422 and drugs rose from 185 to 224, while theft from the person fell from 49 to 33 and bicycle theft fell from 119 to 87.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 2,490 | 30.1 | 34.2 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 837 | 10.1 | 15.4 | -10% |
| Shoplifting | 634 | 7.7 | 8.5 | +16% |
| Other theft | 530 | 6.4 | 6.4 | +20% |
| Public order | 463 | 5.6 | 6.7 | -3% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 456 | 5.5 | 6.7 | +6% |
| Vehicle crime | 422 | 5.1 | 5.0 | +22% |
| Drugs | 224 | 2.7 | 3.3 | +21% |
| Burglary | 158 | 1.9 | 3.6 | -22% |
| Other crime | 127 | 1.5 | 2.1 | -9% |
| Bicycle theft | 87 | 1.1 | 0.8 | -27% |
| Robbery | 60 | 0.7 | 1.4 | -6% |
| Possession of weapons | 35 | 0.4 | 1.0 | +3% |
| Theft from the person | 33 | 0.4 | 1.7 | -33% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Bracknell; the highest is Bagshot (83.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Sandhurst (Bracknell Forest) (36.4).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Bracknell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crowthorne | 789 | 49.4 | -38% |
| Ascot | 1,079 | 42.5 | -46% |
| Wokingham | 2,115 | 39.9 | -50% |
| Bagshot | 531 | 83.6 | +6% |
| Sandhurst (Bracknell Forest) | 731 | 36.4 | -54% |
| Camberley | 2,607 | 68.9 | -13% |
| Blackwater (Hart) | 268 | 36.8 | -54% |
| Lightwater | 342 | 50.5 | -36% |
Of the 10 areas within Bracknell, Town Centre & The Parks had the highest crime rate (247.3 per 1,000) and Whitegrove the lowest (24.7), 10 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Town Centre & The Parks | Neighbourhood | 5,553 | 1,373 | 247.3 |
| Priestwood & Garth | Neighbourhood | 9,273 | 890 | 96.0 |
| Easthampstead & Wildridings | Neighbourhood | 9,589 | 912 | 95.1 |
| Hanworth | Neighbourhood | 7,986 | 646 | 80.9 |
| Harmans Water & Crown Wood | Neighbourhood | 10,229 | 768 | 75.1 |
| Bullbrook | Neighbourhood | 7,365 | 450 | 61.1 |
| Great Hollands | Neighbourhood | 9,716 | 577 | 59.4 |
| Binfield South & Jennett's Park | Neighbourhood | 12,023 | 581 | 48.3 |
| Swinley Forest | Neighbourhood | 5,015 | 214 | 42.7 |
| Whitegrove | Neighbourhood | 7,078 | 175 | 24.7 |
The 10 locations below account for 26% of the crime recorded in Bracknell over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (482).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 482 |
| On or near Supermarket | 265 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 207 |
| On or near Lingwood | 141 |
| On or near Clintons Green | 135 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 114 |
| On or near Market Street | 96 |
| On or near Wayland Close | 94 |
| On or near Police Station | 84 |
| On or near A329 | 76 |
Of the 5,719 crimes in Bracknell with a recorded outcome, 33% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 837 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,879 | 32.9% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,875 | 32.8% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 858 | 15.0% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 305 | 5.3% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 229 | 4.0% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 204 | 3.6% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 142 | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 135 | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 41 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 34 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 11 | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 3 | 0.1% | 0.1% |
Bracknell has an estimated population of 82,768 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (14%, against 23%), fewer students (4.9%, against 7.9%) and a younger population (14%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Bracknell average decile 7.2 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Bracknell | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 68.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 16.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.9% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 33.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 13.8% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 13.7% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.0% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.4% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.2 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Bracknell a safe place to live?
Bracknell recorded 79.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 628th 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 Bracknell?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 2,490 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (837).
Is crime in Bracknell going up or down?
Recorded crime in Bracknell was up 3% on the year before: 6,556 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 6,373 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Bracknell?
About 82,768 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 14% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Bracknell?
Bracknell 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.