Crime in Launceston: statistics, rates and trends
841 crimes were recorded in Launceston in the 12 months to August 2026, 102.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 10% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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
- Demographics of Launceston
- Questions about crime in Launceston
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (407), anti-social behaviour (103) and criminal damage and arson (93) made up 72% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 329th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Launceston | Cornwall | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 841 | 41,480 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 102.1 | 71.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +10% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 8,234 | 583,289 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the most recorded crime in Launceston of any year here (841 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 31%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 841 | 102.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 765 | 92.9 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 744 | 90.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 453 | 55.0 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 519 | 63.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 496 | 60.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 543 | 65.9 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 643 | 78.1 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 70 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Launceston recorded notably more other crime (72% above the national rate), criminal damage and arson (67% above the national rate) and violence and sexual offences (44% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (64% below). On the year before, other theft rose from 47 to 71 and criminal damage and arson rose from 63 to 93, while shoplifting fell from 47 to 25 and anti-social behaviour fell from 136 to 103.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 407 | 49.4 | 34.2 | +20% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 103 | 12.5 | 15.4 | -24% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 93 | 11.3 | 6.7 | +48% |
| Other theft | 71 | 8.6 | 6.4 | +51% |
| Public order | 55 | 6.7 | 6.7 | +10% |
| Other crime | 30 | 3.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 25 | 3.0 | 8.5 | -47% |
| Burglary | 19 | 2.3 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 18 | 2.2 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Drugs | 8 | 1.0 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 4 | 0.5 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.5 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.2 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 2 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Launceston; the highest is Bodmin (118.9 per 1,000) and the lowest Tavistock (57.3).
Of the 2 areas within Launceston, Launceston South had the highest crime rate (91.5 per 1,000) and Launceston North & North Petherwin the lowest (65.8).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launceston South | Neighbourhood | 7,238 | 662 | 91.5 |
| Launceston North & North Petherwin | Neighbourhood | 5,852 | 385 | 65.8 |
The 10 locations below account for 35% of the crime recorded in Launceston over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (63).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 63 |
| On or near Hurdon Way | 34 |
| On or near Broad Street | 30 |
| On or near Town Mills Close | 29 |
| On or near Parking Area | 28 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 26 |
| On or near Prince Philip Road | 25 |
| On or near Trecarrell Close | 24 |
| On or near Conference/Exhibition Centre | 21 |
| On or near Hendra Park | 18 |
Of the 738 crimes in Launceston with a recorded outcome, 26% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 1.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 103 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 318 | 43.1% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 189 | 25.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 121 | 16.4% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 40 | 5.4% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 16 | 2.2% | 0.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 14 | 1.9% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 8 | 1.1% | 1.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 6 | 0.8% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
Launceston has an estimated population of 8,234 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (5.0%, against 7.9%), more private renting (27%, against 20%) and fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (24%, against 34%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Launceston average decile 3.6 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Launceston | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 22.4% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 53.8% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 25.0% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 19.8% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 52.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 20.1% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 26.9% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 3.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Launceston a safe place to live?
Launceston recorded 102.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 329th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other crime and criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Launceston?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 407 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (103).
Is crime in Launceston going up or down?
Recorded crime in Launceston was up 10% on the year before: 841 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 765 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Launceston?
About 8,234 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 22% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Launceston?
Launceston is policed by Devon & Cornwall.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.