Crime in Denbigh: statistics, rates and trends
680 crimes were recorded in Denbigh in the 12 months to August 2026, 82.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 9% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (305), anti-social behaviour (129) and criminal damage and arson (52) made up 71% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 567th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Denbigh | Denbighshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 680 | 10,876 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 82.5 | 110.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -9% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 8,246 | 98,202 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Denbigh of any year here (680 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 23%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 680 | 82.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 746 | 90.5 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 836 | 101.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 930 | 112.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,130 | 137.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 898 | 108.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 824 | 99.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 909 | 110.2 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 888 | 107.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 65 |
| July 2026 | 51 |
| June 2026 | 60 |
| May 2026 | 59 |
| April 2026 | 48 |
| March 2026 | 74 |
| February 2026 | 45 |
| January 2026 | 61 |
| December 2025 | 49 |
| November 2025 | 56 |
| October 2025 | 56 |
| September 2025 | 56 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (34% below) and other theft (32% below) were well below it. On the year before, shoplifting fell from 59 to 46 and anti-social behaviour fell from 162 to 129.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 305 | 37.0 | 34.2 | -3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 129 | 15.6 | 15.4 | -20% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 52 | 6.3 | 6.7 | +8% |
| Public order | 50 | 6.1 | 6.7 | -9% |
| Shoplifting | 46 | 5.6 | 8.5 | -22% |
| Other theft | 36 | 4.4 | 6.4 | +6% |
| Other crime | 20 | 2.4 | 2.1 | 0% |
| Burglary | 14 | 1.7 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 11 | 1.3 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.7 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 4 | 0.5 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 2 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Denbigh; the highest is Rhyl (200.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Abergele (81.5).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Denbigh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruthin | 498 | 84.5 | +2% |
| Kinmel Bay | 1,000 | 105.7 | +28% |
| Rhyl | 5,492 | 200.6 | +143% |
| Holywell (Flintshire) | 963 | 110.8 | +34% |
| Abergele | 746 | 81.5 | -1% |
| Prestatyn | 1,361 | 83.9 | +2% |
| Bagillt | 475 | 87.1 | +6% |
| Mold | 1,194 | 116.1 | +41% |
Of the 2 areas within Denbigh, Denbigh Caledfryn Henllan had the highest crime rate (140.6 per 1,000) and Denbigh Lower the lowest (41.4), 3 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Denbigh Caledfryn Henllan | Neighbourhood | 5,207 | 732 | 140.6 |
| Denbigh Lower | Neighbourhood | 4,688 | 194 | 41.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 39% of the crime recorded in Denbigh over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (48).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 48 |
| On or near High Street | 38 |
| On or near Supermarket | 30 |
| On or near Pen Y Graig | 28 |
| On or near Myddelton Avenue | 26 |
| On or near Maes Mathonwy | 20 |
| On or near Maes Y Dre | 20 |
| On or near A543 | 19 |
| On or near B5382 | 19 |
| On or near Ael-Y-Bryn | 17 |
Of the 551 crimes in Denbigh with a recorded outcome, 17% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.3% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 129 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 235 | 42.6% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 95 | 17.2% | 11.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 94 | 17.1% | 35.3% |
| Status update unavailable | 33 | 6.0% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 29 | 5.3% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 26 | 4.7% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 17 | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 13 | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 4 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 2 | 0.4% | 0.0% |
Denbigh has an estimated population of 8,246 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (5.8%, against 7.9%). On the Wales WIMD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Denbigh average decile 6.5 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Denbigh | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.9% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.1% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.8% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 33.2% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 20.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 64.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 17.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.5 | 5.5 (Wales) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 16.5% | 9.5% (Wales) |
Is Denbigh a safe place to live?
Denbigh recorded 82.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 567th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Denbigh?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 305 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (129).
Is crime in Denbigh going up or down?
Recorded crime in Denbigh was down 9% on the year before: 680 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 746 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Denbigh?
About 8,246 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Denbigh?
Denbigh is policed by North Wales.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.