Crime in Chesham: statistics, rates and trends
1,648 crimes were recorded in Chesham in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Chesham at a glance
- Crime trends in Chesham
- Types of crime in Chesham
- Chesham compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Chesham
- Streets with the most crime in Chesham
- What happened after crimes were reported in Chesham
- Population and deprivation in Chesham
- Questions about crime in Chesham
- About this data
1,648 crimes were recorded in Chesham in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 658 reports (40% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Chesham has the 722nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Chesham | Buckinghamshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,648 | 36,056 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 73.3 | 62.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 22,474 | 578,772 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Chesham was highest in the year to July 2021 (1,788 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (1,505). Over the whole period it rose 6%, 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 | 1,648 | 73.3 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,562 | 69.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,505 | 67.0 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,666 | 74.1 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,616 | 71.9 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,788 | 79.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,693 | 75.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,619 | 72.0 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,554 | 69.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 166 |
| June 2026 | 152 |
| May 2026 | 153 |
| April 2026 | 124 |
| March 2026 | 146 |
| February 2026 | 133 |
| January 2026 | 110 |
| December 2025 | 124 |
| November 2025 | 132 |
| October 2025 | 151 |
| September 2025 | 104 |
| August 2025 | 153 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Chesham 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 (+23%) and other theft (+10%). The largest falls were in other crime (-24%) and burglary (-18%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 658 | 29.3 | 0.86 | +23% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 223 | 9.9 | 0.65 | -9% |
| Other theft | 138 | 6.1 | 0.96 | +10% |
| Public order | 124 | 5.5 | 0.83 | -7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 120 | 5.3 | 0.79 | +2% |
| Vehicle crime | 108 | 4.8 | 0.98 | -9% |
| Shoplifting | 104 | 4.6 | 0.56 | +8% |
| Burglary | 60 | 2.7 | 0.75 | -18% |
| Drugs | 45 | 2.0 | 0.61 | +0% |
| Other crime | 28 | 1.2 | 0.59 | -24% |
| Robbery | 17 | 0.8 | 0.56 | -15% |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 0.4 | 0.37 | +14% |
| Theft from the person | 8 | 0.4 | 0.21 | +0% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.3 | 0.38 | +133% |
Violence and sexual offences in Chesham
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Chesham recorded 658 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 39.9% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Chesham
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Chesham recorded 223 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 13.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Chesham
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Chesham recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Chesham
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Chesham recorded 124 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Chesham
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Chesham recorded 120 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Chesham
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Chesham recorded 108 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 6.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Chesham
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Chesham recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Chesham
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Chesham recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 3.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Chesham
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Chesham recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Chesham
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Chesham recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Chesham
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Chesham recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Chesham
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Chesham recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Chesham
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Chesham recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 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.
Bicycle theft in Chesham
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Chesham recorded 7 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 up 133% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Chesham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Chesham.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Chesham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amersham | 781 | 45.3 | -38% |
| Bovingdon | 325 | 53.7 | -27% |
| Little Chalfont | 378 | 51.5 | -30% |
| Berkhamsted | 1,258 | 57.0 | -22% |
| Prestwood and Great Missenden | 340 | 48.0 | -35% |
| Hazlemere | 663 | 34.4 | -53% |
| Chorleywood | 522 | 36.5 | -50% |
| Tring | 737 | 56.5 | -23% |
2 areas within Chesham, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Chesham South had the highest rate (69.0 per 1,000) and Chesham North the lowest (65.7). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chesham South | Neighbourhood | 14,742 | 1,017 | 69.0 |
| Chesham North | Neighbourhood | 13,872 | 911 | 65.7 |
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 Chesham over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 103 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 58 |
| On or near William Moulder Court | 53 |
| On or near Parking Area | 45 |
| On or near Harries Close | 35 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 34 |
| On or near Springfield Road | 34 |
| On or near Chalk Hill | 30 |
| On or near Upper Gladstone Road | 29 |
| On or near Essex Road | 28 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Chesham 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 | 519 | 31.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 474 | 28.8% |
| Not recorded | 223 | 13.5% |
| Under investigation | 194 | 11.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 72 | 4.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 49 | 3.0% |
| Local resolution | 48 | 2.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 36 | 2.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 20 | 1.2% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.4% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.3% |
| Offender given penalty notice | 1 | 0.1% |
Chesham has an estimated population of 22,474. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Chesham sits in decile 6.4, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Chesham |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.4% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 62.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 17.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.4% |
| Social rented homes | 20.9% |
| Private rented homes | 14.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.4 |
Is Chesham a safe place to live?
Chesham recorded 73.3 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 Chesham?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 658 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (223).
Is crime in Chesham going up or down?
Recorded crime in Chesham was up 6% on the year before: 1,648 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,562 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Chesham?
Chesham 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 Chesham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.