Crime in East Cowes: statistics, rates and trends
652 crimes were recorded in East Cowes in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.2 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
- Crime in East Cowes at a glance
- Crime trends in East Cowes
- Types of crime in East Cowes
- East Cowes compared with nearby towns
- Areas within East Cowes
- Streets with the most crime in East Cowes
- What happened after crimes were reported in East Cowes
- Population and deprivation in East Cowes
- Questions about crime in East Cowes
- About this data
652 crimes were recorded in East Cowes in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.2 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 281 reports (43% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, East Cowes has the 786th highest crime rate.
| Measure | East Cowes | Isle of Wight | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 652 | 11,798 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 70.2 | 83.3 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -0% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 9,285 | 141,660 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in East Cowes was highest in the year to July 2022 (724 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (484). Over the whole period it rose 35%, 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 | 652 | 70.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 653 | 70.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 552 | 59.5 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 702 | 75.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 724 | 78.0 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 586 | 63.1 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 534 | 57.5 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 498 | 53.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 484 | 52.1 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 68 |
| June 2026 | 51 |
| May 2026 | 46 |
| April 2026 | 57 |
| March 2026 | 67 |
| February 2026 | 37 |
| January 2026 | 52 |
| December 2025 | 47 |
| November 2025 | 57 |
| October 2025 | 48 |
| September 2025 | 65 |
| August 2025 | 57 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in East 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 anti-social behaviour (+94%) and shoplifting (+34%).
The largest falls were in violence and sexual offences (-16%) and other theft (-14%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 281 | 30.3 | 0.88 | -16% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 95 | 10.2 | 0.67 | +94% |
| Shoplifting | 78 | 8.4 | 1.01 | +34% |
| Public order | 58 | 6.2 | 0.94 | -11% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 47 | 5.1 | 0.75 | -11% |
| Other theft | 24 | 2.6 | 0.40 | -14% |
| Other crime | 16 | 1.7 | 0.82 | -11% |
| Burglary | 14 | 1.5 | 0.43 | -7% |
| Drugs | 13 | 1.4 | 0.43 | -19% |
| Vehicle crime | 11 | 1.2 | 0.24 | +83% |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.6 | 0.79 | +200% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.6 | 0.67 | +50% |
| Theft from the person | 3 | 0.3 | 0.19 | +200% |
Violence and sexual offences in East Cowes
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. East Cowes recorded 281 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 43.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in East Cowes
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. East Cowes recorded 95 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 94% on the year before. It made up 14.6% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in East Cowes
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. East Cowes recorded 78 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 12.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in East Cowes
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. East Cowes recorded 58 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in East Cowes
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. East Cowes recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in East Cowes
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. East Cowes recorded 24 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 14% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in East Cowes
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. East Cowes recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 11% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in East Cowes
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. East Cowes recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in East Cowes
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. East Cowes recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 19% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in East Cowes
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. East Cowes recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 83% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in East Cowes
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. East Cowes recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in East Cowes
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. East Cowes recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in East Cowes
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. East Cowes recorded 3 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 200% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to East Cowes, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to East Cowes.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs East Cowes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowes | 732 | 48.9 | -30% |
| Newport (Isle of Wight) | 3,402 | 128.7 | +83% |
| Lee-on-the-Solent | 1,137 | 44.2 | -37% |
| Ryde | 2,231 | 93.0 | +32% |
| Blackfield and Langley | 347 | 56.4 | -20% |
| Gosport | 5,894 | 85.1 | +21% |
| Holbury | 471 | 61.0 | -13% |
| Locks Heath | 1,926 | 53.5 | -24% |
2 areas within East Cowes, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. East Cowes had the highest rate (80.4 per 1,000) and Osborne the lowest (54.5). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Cowes | Neighbourhood | 5,631 | 453 | 80.4 |
| Osborne | Neighbourhood | 3,654 | 199 | 54.5 |
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 East Cowes over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Castle Street | 52 |
| On or near Supermarket | 43 |
| On or near Yarborough Road | 33 |
| On or near Anchorage Way | 25 |
| On or near Hospital Road | 21 |
| On or near Albert Way | 20 |
| On or near Albany Road | 18 |
| On or near Minerva Road | 16 |
| On or near Parking Area | 14 |
| On or near Orchard Road | 13 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in East 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 | 256 | 39.3% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 125 | 19.2% |
| Not recorded | 95 | 14.6% |
| Under investigation | 46 | 7.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 45 | 6.9% |
| Local resolution | 24 | 3.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 20 | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 11 | 1.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 1.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 8 | 1.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 7 | 1.1% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 4 | 0.6% |
East Cowes has an estimated population of 9,285. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in East Cowes sits in decile 4.5, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | East Cowes |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.1% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.9% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.2% |
| Social rented homes | 14.1% |
| Private rented homes | 20.7% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.5 |
Is East Cowes a safe place to live?
East Cowes recorded 70.2 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 East Cowes?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 281 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (95).
Is crime in East Cowes going up or down?
Recorded crime in East Cowes was almost unchanged on the year before: 652 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 653 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers East Cowes?
East 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 East Cowes. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.