Crime in Launceston: statistics, rates and trends
851 crimes were recorded in Launceston in the 12 months to July 2026, 103.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 14% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Launceston at a glance
- Crime trends in Launceston
- Types of crime in Launceston
- Launceston compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Launceston
- Streets with the most crime in Launceston
- What happened after crimes were reported in Launceston
- Population and deprivation in Launceston
- Questions about crime in Launceston
- About this data
851 crimes were recorded in Launceston in the 12 months to July 2026, 103.4 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 14% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 424 reports (50% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Launceston has the 320th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Launceston | Cornwall | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 851 | 41,624 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 103.4 | 71.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +14% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 8,234 | 583,289 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Launceston was highest in the year to July 2026 (851 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2022 (454). Over the whole period it rose 29%, 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 | 851 | 103.4 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 746 | 90.6 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 726 | 88.2 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2022 | 454 | 55.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 516 | 62.7 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 519 | 63.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 539 | 65.5 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 661 | 80.3 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 76 |
| June 2026 | 55 |
| May 2026 | 74 |
| April 2026 | 73 |
| March 2026 | 77 |
| February 2026 | 77 |
| January 2026 | 75 |
| December 2025 | 46 |
| November 2025 | 76 |
| October 2025 | 77 |
| September 2025 | 65 |
| August 2025 | 80 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Launceston 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 violence and sexual offences, criminal damage and arson, other theft.
The largest increases were in other theft (+55%) and criminal damage and arson (+47%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-55%) and anti-social behaviour (-24%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 424 | 51.5 | 1.50 | +34% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 108 | 13.1 | 0.86 | -24% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 85 | 10.3 | 1.52 | +47% |
| Other theft | 73 | 8.9 | 1.39 | +55% |
| Public order | 52 | 6.3 | 0.95 | +6% |
| Other crime | 27 | 3.3 | 1.55 | +42% |
| Shoplifting | 21 | 2.6 | 0.31 | -55% |
| Burglary | 20 | 2.4 | 0.69 | -20% |
| Vehicle crime | 18 | 2.2 | 0.44 | +100% |
| Drugs | 9 | 1.1 | 0.33 | -40% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.7 | 0.75 | -40% |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.5 | 0.36 | +300% |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.30 | -33% |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.2 | 0.14 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Launceston
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Launceston recorded 424 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (51.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 49.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Launceston
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Launceston recorded 108 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 24% on the year before. It made up 12.7% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Launceston
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Launceston recorded 85 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 47% on the year before. It made up 10.0% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Launceston
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Launceston recorded 73 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 55% on the year before. It made up 8.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Launceston
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Launceston recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 6.1% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Launceston
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Launceston recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 42% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Launceston
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Launceston recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 55% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Launceston
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Launceston recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Launceston
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Launceston recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Launceston
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Launceston recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Launceston
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Launceston recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Launceston
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Launceston recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 300% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Launceston
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Launceston recorded 2 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 33% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Launceston
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Launceston recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.2% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Launceston, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Launceston.
2 areas within Launceston, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Launceston South had the highest rate (90.5 per 1,000) and Launceston North & North Petherwin the lowest (68.9). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston South | Neighbourhood | 7,238 | 655 | 90.5 |
| Launceston North & North Petherwin | Neighbourhood | 5,852 | 403 | 68.9 |
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 Launceston over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 62 |
| On or near Town Mills Close | 34 |
| On or near Hurdon Way | 32 |
| On or near Prince Philip Road | 30 |
| On or near Broad Street | 28 |
| On or near Conference/Exhibition Centre | 25 |
| On or near Parking Area | 24 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 24 |
| On or near Prince Charles Close | 22 |
| On or near Trecarrell Close | 22 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Launceston 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 | 335 | 39.4% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 184 | 21.6% |
| Under investigation | 112 | 13.2% |
| Not recorded | 108 | 12.7% |
| Status update unavailable | 37 | 4.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 17 | 2.0% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 13 | 1.5% |
| Local resolution | 12 | 1.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 11 | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 1.1% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.7% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.6% |
Launceston has an estimated population of 8,234. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Launceston sits in decile 3.6, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Launceston |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.2% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 59.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.4% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 52.8% |
| Social rented homes | 20.1% |
| Private rented homes | 26.9% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.6 |
Is Launceston a safe place to live?
Launceston recorded 103.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Launceston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 424 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (108).
Is crime in Launceston going up or down?
Recorded crime in Launceston was up 14% on the year before: 851 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 746 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Launceston?
Launceston is policed by Devon & Cornwall. 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 Launceston. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.