Crime in Diss: statistics, rates and trends
778 crimes were recorded in Diss in the 12 months to August 2026, 78.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 9% on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (294), shoplifting (150) and criminal damage and arson (78) made up 67% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 639th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Diss | South Norfolk | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 778 | 7,321 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 78.5 | 49.3 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +9% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 9,911 | 148,448 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Diss peaked in the year to August 2021 (846 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2023 (689). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 7%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 778 | 78.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 712 | 71.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 698 | 70.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 689 | 69.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 826 | 83.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 846 | 85.4 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 770 | 77.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 797 | 80.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 730 | 73.7 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 99 |
| July 2026 | 89 |
| June 2026 | 97 |
| May 2026 | 55 |
| April 2026 | 70 |
| March 2026 | 60 |
| February 2026 | 39 |
| January 2026 | 59 |
| December 2025 | 62 |
| November 2025 | 40 |
| October 2025 | 59 |
| September 2025 | 49 |
Compared with England and Wales, Diss recorded notably more shoplifting (79% above the national rate), and notably less anti-social behaviour (54% below) and burglary (38% below). On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 51 to 78 and shoplifting rose from 123 to 150, while other theft fell from 69 to 43.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 294 | 29.7 | 34.2 | +4% |
| Shoplifting | 150 | 15.1 | 8.5 | +22% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 78 | 7.9 | 6.7 | +53% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 70 | 7.1 | 15.4 | +4% |
| Public order | 52 | 5.2 | 6.7 | -10% |
| Other theft | 43 | 4.3 | 6.4 | -38% |
| Burglary | 22 | 2.2 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 21 | 2.1 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 19 | 1.9 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.7 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 7 | 0.7 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Drugs | 4 | 0.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
1 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Diss; the highest is Thetford (95.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Long Stratton (28.8).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Diss |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harleston | 274 | 51.6 | -34% |
| Long Stratton | 176 | 28.8 | -63% |
| Attleborough | 603 | 53.3 | -32% |
| Wymondham (South Norfolk) | 1,340 | 73.6 | -6% |
| Stowmarket | 1,412 | 64.3 | -18% |
| Bungay | 280 | 54.0 | -31% |
| Thetford | 2,414 | 95.4 | +22% |
| Hethersett | 445 | 55.4 | -29% |
Diss & Roydon is the one area listed within Diss, with 74.0 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diss & Roydon | Neighbourhood | 10,925 | 808 | 74.0 |
The 10 locations below account for 49% of the crime recorded in Diss over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (109).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 109 |
| On or near Supermarket | 66 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 65 |
| On or near Willbye Avenue | 27 |
| On or near Ladbrooke Close | 25 |
| On or near Beehive Yard | 19 |
| On or near Blomefield Road | 18 |
| On or near Chapel Street | 18 |
| On or near Market Hill | 17 |
| On or near B1077 | 16 |
Of the 708 crimes in Diss with a recorded outcome, 26% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.8% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 70 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 295 | 41.7% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 184 | 26.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 110 | 15.5% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 34 | 4.8% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 33 | 4.7% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 16 | 2.3% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 13 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 12 | 1.7% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.5% |
Diss has an estimated population of 9,911 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.0%, against 7.9%), an older population (27%, against 19%) and more residents with no qualifications (24%, against 18%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Diss average decile 6.1 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Diss | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 56.4% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.5% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 24.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 19.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.2% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 16.8% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Diss a safe place to live?
Diss recorded 78.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 639th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were shoplifting.
What is the most common crime in Diss?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 294 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by shoplifting (150).
Is crime in Diss going up or down?
Recorded crime in Diss was up 9% on the year before: 778 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 712 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Diss?
About 9,911 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 27% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Diss?
Diss is policed by Norfolk.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.