Crime in Diss: statistics, rates and trends

728 crimes were recorded in Diss in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.

728 crimes were recorded in Diss in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.5 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 289 reports (40% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Diss has the 719th highest crime rate.

MeasureDissSouth NorfolkEngland and Wales
Crimes, the 12 months to July 20267287,2395,665,700
Crimes per 1,000 residents73.548.896.4
Change on previous 12 months-2%-2%-1%
Population9,911148,44858,797,018

Recorded crime in Diss was highest in the year to July 2021 (855 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (663). Over the whole period it fell 2%, 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.

PeriodCrimesPer 1,000England and Wales per 1,000
Year to July 202672873.596.4
Year to July 202574375.097.1
Year to July 202466366.997.7
Year to July 202371071.65.2
Year to July 202280881.5101.3
Year to July 202185586.3102.1
Year to July 202077578.2101.9
Year to July 201980581.2101.5
Year to July 201874475.1100.6

Month by month

MonthCrimes
July 202689
June 202697
May 202655
April 202670
March 202660
February 202639
January 202659
December 202562
November 202540
October 202559
September 202549
August 202549

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Diss 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, bicycle theft.

The largest increases were in criminal damage and arson (+65%). The largest falls were in other theft (-54%) and anti-social behaviour (-16%).

Crime typeCrimesPer 1,000Index (E&W = 1.00)Change on year
Violence and sexual offences28929.20.85+4%
Shoplifting12512.61.52-12%
Criminal damage and arson818.21.21+65%
Anti-social behaviour626.30.41-16%
Public order494.90.74-16%
Other theft383.80.60-54%
Burglary191.90.54+171%
Other crime181.80.86-5%
Vehicle crime181.80.37+100%
Bicycle theft111.11.35+175%
Theft from the person60.60.36+200%
Possession of weapons50.50.52-50%
Drugs40.40.12-43%
Robbery30.30.22+200%

Violence and sexual offences in Diss

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Diss recorded 289 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (29.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 4% on the year before. It made up 39.7% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Diss

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Diss recorded 125 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 17.2% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Diss

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Diss recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 65% on the year before. It made up 11.1% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Diss

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Diss recorded 62 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 8.5% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Diss

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Diss recorded 49 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Diss

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Diss recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 54% on the year before. It made up 5.2% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Diss

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Diss recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 171% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Diss

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Diss recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Diss

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Diss recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Diss

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Diss recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 175% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Diss

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Diss recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Diss

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Diss recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Diss

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Diss recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Diss

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Diss recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

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

TownCrimesPer 1,000Rate vs Diss
Harleston24946.9-36%
Long Stratton18129.6-60%
Attleborough57550.8-31%
Wymondham (South Norfolk)1,34974.1+1%
Stowmarket1,39063.3-14%
Bungay28555.0-25%
Thetford2,41595.5+30%
Hethersett42653.0-28%

1 areas within Diss, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Diss & Roydon had the highest rate (69.2 per 1,000) and Diss & Roydon the lowest (69.2). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

AreaTypePopulationCrimesPer 1,000
Diss & RoydonNeighbourhood10,92575669.2

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 Diss over the 12 months to July 2026.

LocationCrimes
On or near Parking Area103
On or near Supermarket62
On or near Petrol Station52
On or near Ladbrooke Close25
On or near Willbye Avenue24
On or near Chapel Street19
On or near Blomefield Road18
On or near Beehive Yard18
On or near B107717
On or near Market Hill16

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Diss 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.

OutcomeCrimesShare
Unable to prosecute suspect28639.3%
Investigation complete; no suspect identified16622.8%
Under investigation9112.5%
Not recorded628.5%
Awaiting court outcome385.2%
Local resolution324.4%
Action to be taken by another organisation141.9%
Status update unavailable141.9%
Court result unavailable121.6%
Offender given a caution71.0%
Formal action is not in the public interest30.4%
Further investigation is not in the public interest10.1%

Diss has an estimated population of 9,911. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Diss sits in decile 6.1, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

MeasureDiss
Aged 0 to 1515.4%
Aged 16 to 6457.3%
Aged 65 and over27.3%
Homes owned outright or with a mortgage61.2%
Social rented homes16.8%
Private rented homes21.9%
Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least)6.1

Is Diss a safe place to live?

Diss recorded 73.5 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 Diss?

Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 289 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (125).

Is crime in Diss going up or down?

Recorded crime in Diss was down 2% on the year before: 728 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 743 in the previous 12 months.

Which police force covers Diss?

Diss is policed by Norfolk. 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 Diss. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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

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<a href="https://policestatistics.co.uk/towns/diss">https://policestatistics.co.uk/towns/diss</a>