Crime in Dereham: statistics, rates and trends

1,714 crimes were recorded in Dereham in the 12 months to July 2026, 79.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 4% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 696 reports (41% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Dereham has the 627th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Dereham was highest in the year to July 2022 (2,049 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (1,669). Over the whole period it fell 11%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Dereham 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. Rates were well above the national level for shoplifting, possession of weapons.

The largest increases were in drugs (+62%) and other theft (+43%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-32%) and criminal damage and arson (-17%).

Violence and sexual offences in Dereham

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Dereham recorded 696 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 40.6% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Dereham

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Dereham recorded 231 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 32% on the year before. It made up 13.5% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Dereham

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Dereham recorded 224 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 13.1% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Dereham

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Dereham recorded 126 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 7.4% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Dereham

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Dereham recorded 118 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 up 26% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Dereham

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Dereham recorded 99 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 43% on the year before. It made up 5.8% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Dereham

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Dereham recorded 68 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 62% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Dereham

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Dereham recorded 50 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Dereham

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Dereham recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 142% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Dereham

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Dereham recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Dereham

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Dereham recorded 25 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Dereham

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Dereham recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 160% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Dereham

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Dereham recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Dereham

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Dereham recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Dereham, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Dereham.

3 areas within Dereham, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Dereham Neatherd had the highest rate (139.9 per 1,000) and Dereham Toftwood the lowest (42.7). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Dereham over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Dereham 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.

Dereham has an estimated population of 21,555. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Dereham sits in decile 5.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Dereham. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.