Crime in Freshwater and Totland: statistics, rates and trends
488 crimes were recorded in Freshwater and Totland in the 12 months to August 2026, 55.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 22% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Freshwater and Totland at a glance
- Crime trends in Freshwater and Totland
- Types of crime in Freshwater and Totland
- Freshwater and Totland compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Freshwater and Totland
- Streets with the most crime in Freshwater and Totland
- What happened after crimes were reported in Freshwater and Totland
- Demographics of Freshwater and Totland
- Questions about crime in Freshwater and Totland
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (221), anti-social behaviour (65) and public order (56) made up 70% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,038th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Freshwater and Totland | Isle of Wight | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 488 | 11,831 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 55.8 | 83.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -22% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 8,742 | 141,660 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Freshwater and Totland peaked in the year to August 2025 (628 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (433). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 9%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 488 | 55.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 628 | 71.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 578 | 66.1 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 617 | 70.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 575 | 65.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 529 | 60.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 594 | 67.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 433 | 49.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 447 | 51.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 57 |
| July 2026 | 45 |
| June 2026 | 37 |
| May 2026 | 40 |
| April 2026 | 30 |
| March 2026 | 38 |
| February 2026 | 33 |
| January 2026 | 47 |
| December 2025 | 49 |
| November 2025 | 29 |
| October 2025 | 48 |
| September 2025 | 35 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (70% below) and other theft (65% below) were well below it. On the year before, other theft fell from 40 to 20 and criminal damage and arson fell from 64 to 48.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 221 | 25.3 | 34.2 | -24% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 65 | 7.4 | 15.4 | -24% |
| Public order | 56 | 6.4 | 6.7 | -16% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 48 | 5.5 | 6.7 | -25% |
| Shoplifting | 22 | 2.5 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Burglary | 20 | 2.3 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other theft | 20 | 2.3 | 6.4 | -50% |
| Drugs | 12 | 1.4 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 9 | 1.0 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 7 | 0.8 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 6 | 0.7 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Freshwater and Totland; the highest is Newport (Isle of Wight) (125.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Barton on Sea (24.3).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Freshwater and Totland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lymington | 907 | 57.8 | +4% |
| Barton on Sea | 177 | 24.3 | -56% |
| Ashley (New Forest) | 308 | 38.6 | -31% |
| New Milton | 1,021 | 97.7 | +75% |
| Newport (Isle of Wight) | 3,320 | 125.6 | +125% |
| Cowes | 766 | 51.2 | -8% |
| Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) | 2,773 | 58.0 | +4% |
| Blackfield and Langley | 346 | 56.2 | +1% |
Of the 3 areas within Freshwater and Totland, Freshwater South had the highest crime rate (60.6 per 1,000) and Totland & Colwell the lowest (48.2).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater South | Neighbourhood | 4,177 | 253 | 60.6 |
| Freshwater North & Yarmouth | Neighbourhood | 2,549 | 152 | 59.6 |
| Totland & Colwell | Neighbourhood | 3,032 | 146 | 48.2 |
The 10 locations below account for 46% of the crime recorded in Freshwater and Totland over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (53).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 53 |
| On or near Solent Gardens | 32 |
| On or near Collards Close | 21 |
| On or near Colwell Road | 21 |
| On or near Windmill Lane | 19 |
| On or near Supermarket | 17 |
| On or near The Avenue | 17 |
| On or near Longhalves | 15 |
| On or near Roselands | 15 |
| On or near Brookside Close | 14 |
Of the 423 crimes in Freshwater and Totland with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 65 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 192 | 45.4% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 122 | 28.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 30 | 7.1% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 22 | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 18 | 4.3% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 11 | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 9 | 2.1% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 7 | 1.7% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Freshwater and Totland has an estimated population of 8,742 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (41%, against 19%), more retired residents (44%, against 22%) and fewer students (3.1%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Freshwater and Totland average decile 4.1 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Freshwater and Totland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 10.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 41.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 39.5% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 44.4% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.0% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 73.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Freshwater and Totland a safe place to live?
Freshwater and Totland recorded 55.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,038th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Freshwater and Totland?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 221 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (65).
Is crime in Freshwater and Totland going up or down?
Recorded crime in Freshwater and Totland was down 22% on the year before: 488 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 628 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Freshwater and Totland?
About 8,742 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 41% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Freshwater and Totland?
Freshwater and Totland is policed by Hampshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.