Crime in Burnham-on-Sea: statistics, rates and trends
1,565 crimes were recorded in Burnham-on-Sea in the 12 months to August 2026, 92.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 20% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Burnham-on-Sea at a glance
- Crime trends in Burnham-on-Sea
- Types of crime in Burnham-on-Sea
- Burnham-on-Sea compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Burnham-on-Sea
- Streets with the most crime in Burnham-on-Sea
- What happened after crimes were reported in Burnham-on-Sea
- Demographics of Burnham-on-Sea
- Questions about crime in Burnham-on-Sea
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (679), anti-social behaviour (302) and criminal damage and arson (120) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 440th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Burnham-on-Sea | Somerset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,565 | 53,421 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 92.4 | 90.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +20% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 16,939 | 588,328 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Burnham-on-Sea of any year here (1,565 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 14%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,565 | 92.4 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,308 | 77.2 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,439 | 85.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,347 | 79.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,377 | 81.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,215 | 71.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,499 | 88.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,420 | 83.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,373 | 81.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 168 |
| July 2026 | 144 |
| June 2026 | 135 |
| May 2026 | 200 |
| April 2026 | 140 |
| March 2026 | 132 |
| February 2026 | 135 |
| January 2026 | 96 |
| December 2025 | 108 |
| November 2025 | 92 |
| October 2025 | 115 |
| September 2025 | 100 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and vehicle crime (66% below) and shoplifting (43% below) were well below it. On the year before, anti-social behaviour rose from 190 to 302 and criminal damage and arson rose from 78 to 120.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 679 | 40.1 | 34.2 | +9% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 302 | 17.8 | 15.4 | +59% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 120 | 7.1 | 6.7 | +54% |
| Public order | 111 | 6.6 | 6.7 | -2% |
| Other theft | 102 | 6.0 | 6.4 | +20% |
| Shoplifting | 81 | 4.8 | 8.5 | +9% |
| Burglary | 50 | 3.0 | 3.6 | +28% |
| Other crime | 33 | 1.9 | 2.1 | +3% |
| Vehicle crime | 29 | 1.7 | 5.0 | +7% |
| Robbery | 25 | 1.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 12 | 0.7 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 11 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
4 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Burnham-on-Sea; the highest is Bridgwater (173.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Winscombe and Sandford (42.0).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Burnham-on-Sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgwater | 9,040 | 173.7 | +88% |
| Weston-super-Mare | 10,745 | 122.3 | +32% |
| Winscombe and Sandford | 221 | 42.0 | -55% |
| Cheddar | 457 | 79.8 | -14% |
| North Petherton | 502 | 95.8 | +4% |
| Yatton | 524 | 49.9 | -46% |
| Street | 859 | 66.6 | -28% |
| Glastonbury | 1,502 | 164.3 | +78% |
Burnham on Sea North is the one area listed within Burnham-on-Sea, with 89.1 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burnham on Sea North | Neighbourhood | 10,793 | 962 | 89.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 33% of the crime recorded in Burnham-on-Sea over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (131).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 131 |
| On or near Gulliford Close | 60 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 57 |
| On or near Atlantic Crescent | 51 |
| On or near Burnham Road | 42 |
| On or near Oxford Street | 38 |
| On or near Highburn Close | 36 |
| On or near South Street | 35 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 34 |
| On or near Supermarket | 31 |
Of the 1,263 crimes in Burnham-on-Sea with a recorded outcome, 28% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 302 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 540 | 42.8% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 356 | 28.2% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 152 | 12.0% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 73 | 5.8% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 53 | 4.2% | 5.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 26 | 2.1% | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 23 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 14 | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 0.6% | 3.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Burnham-on-Sea has an estimated population of 16,939 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (32%, against 19%), more retired residents (36%, against 22%) and fewer students (3.8%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Burnham-on-Sea average decile 5.1 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Burnham-on-Sea | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 32.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 48.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 35.9% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 22.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 21.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 17.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 9.7% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.1 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 10.4% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Burnham-on-Sea a safe place to live?
Burnham-on-Sea recorded 92.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 440th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Burnham-on-Sea?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 679 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (302).
Is crime in Burnham-on-Sea going up or down?
Recorded crime in Burnham-on-Sea was up 20% on the year before: 1,565 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,308 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Burnham-on-Sea?
About 16,939 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 32% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Burnham-on-Sea?
Burnham-on-Sea is policed by Avon and Somerset.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.