Crime in Cowes: statistics, rates and trends
732 crimes were recorded in Cowes in the 12 months to July 2026, 48.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
732 crimes were recorded in Cowes in the 12 months to July 2026, 48.9 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 382 reports (52% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Cowes has the 1,174th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Cowes | Isle of Wight | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 732 | 11,798 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 48.9 | 83.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -1% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 14,955 | 141,660 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Cowes was highest in the year to July 2020 (895 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (721). Over the whole period it fell 12%, 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 | 732 | 48.9 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 738 | 49.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 721 | 48.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 787 | 52.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 796 | 53.2 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 839 | 56.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 895 | 59.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 724 | 48.4 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 829 | 55.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 87 |
| June 2026 | 60 |
| May 2026 | 65 |
| April 2026 | 68 |
| March 2026 | 54 |
| February 2026 | 48 |
| January 2026 | 62 |
| December 2025 | 59 |
| November 2025 | 52 |
| October 2025 | 45 |
| September 2025 | 51 |
| August 2025 | 81 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Cowes 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 public order (+15%) and burglary (+14%). The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-19%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 382 | 25.5 | 0.75 | -3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 77 | 5.1 | 0.34 | -19% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 68 | 4.5 | 0.67 | +8% |
| Public order | 63 | 4.2 | 0.63 | +15% |
| Other theft | 49 | 3.3 | 0.51 | +2% |
| Burglary | 25 | 1.7 | 0.47 | +14% |
| Shoplifting | 18 | 1.2 | 0.15 | +29% |
| Drugs | 16 | 1.1 | 0.33 | -6% |
| Other crime | 11 | 0.7 | 0.35 | -15% |
| Vehicle crime | 10 | 0.7 | 0.14 | +11% |
| Possession of weapons | 5 | 0.3 | 0.34 | +0% |
| Bicycle theft | 4 | 0.3 | 0.32 | +100% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.3 | 0.16 | +33% |
Violence and sexual offences in Cowes
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Cowes recorded 382 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (25.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 52.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Cowes
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Cowes recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 10.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Cowes
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Cowes recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Cowes
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Cowes recorded 63 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 15% on the year before. It made up 8.6% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Cowes
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Cowes recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Cowes
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Cowes recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 14% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Cowes
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Cowes recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Cowes
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Cowes recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Cowes
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Cowes recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Cowes
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Cowes recorded 10 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Cowes
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Cowes recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Cowes
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Cowes recorded 4 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 100% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Cowes
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Cowes recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Cowes, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Cowes.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Cowes |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Cowes | 652 | 70.2 | +43% |
| Newport (Isle of Wight) | 3,402 | 128.7 | +163% |
| Blackfield and Langley | 347 | 56.4 | +15% |
| Lee-on-the-Solent | 1,137 | 44.2 | -10% |
| Holbury | 471 | 61.0 | +25% |
| Ryde | 2,231 | 93.0 | +90% |
| Locks Heath | 1,926 | 53.5 | +9% |
| Gosport | 5,894 | 85.1 | +74% |
4 areas within Cowes, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Cowes North had the highest rate (78.2 per 1,000) and Cowes South & Northwood the lowest (31.3). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowes North | Neighbourhood | 3,454 | 270 | 78.2 |
| Cowes Medina | Neighbourhood | 4,323 | 217 | 50.2 |
| Cowes West & Gurnard | Neighbourhood | 3,147 | 119 | 37.8 |
| Cowes South & Northwood | Neighbourhood | 4,031 | 126 | 31.3 |
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 Cowes over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Shooters Hill | 25 |
| On or near Park Court | 23 |
| On or near Mountbatten Avenue | 22 |
| On or near B3320 | 22 |
| On or near Police Station | 21 |
| On or near Cockleton Lane | 19 |
| On or near Supermarket | 18 |
| On or near High Street | 18 |
| On or near Rew Street | 17 |
| On or near Fountain Quay | 17 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Cowes 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 | 301 | 41.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 189 | 25.8% |
| Not recorded | 77 | 10.5% |
| Under investigation | 53 | 7.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 28 | 3.8% |
| Local resolution | 23 | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 22 | 3.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 20 | 2.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.4% |
Cowes has an estimated population of 14,955. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Cowes sits in decile 6.4, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Cowes |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.9% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.1% |
| Social rented homes | 7.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.4 |
Is Cowes a safe place to live?
Cowes recorded 48.9 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 Cowes?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 382 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (77).
Is crime in Cowes going up or down?
Recorded crime in Cowes was almost unchanged on the year before: 732 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 738 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Cowes?
Cowes is policed by Hampshire. 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 Cowes. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.