Crime in Leicester: statistics, rates and trends

49,048 crimes were recorded in Leicester in the 12 months to July 2026, 115.7 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 17,576 reports (36% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Leicester has the 210th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Leicester was highest in the year to July 2023 (53,978 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2020 (47,131). Over the whole period it fell 4%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Leicester 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 public order, criminal damage and arson, drugs.

The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-30%) and vehicle crime (-25%).

Violence and sexual offences in Leicester

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Leicester recorded 17,576 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (41.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 35.8% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Leicester

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Leicester recorded 6,528 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 1% on the year before. It made up 13.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Leicester

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Leicester recorded 5,001 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 10.2% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Leicester

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Leicester recorded 4,500 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 9.2% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Leicester

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Leicester recorded 3,549 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 down 12% on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Leicester

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Leicester recorded 3,051 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 6.2% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Leicester

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Leicester recorded 2,392 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 25% on the year before. It made up 4.9% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Leicester

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Leicester recorded 1,815 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 3.7% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Leicester

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Leicester recorded 1,674 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Leicester

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Leicester recorded 818 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Leicester

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Leicester recorded 594 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Leicester

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Leicester recorded 580 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 30% on the year before. It made up 1.2% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Leicester

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Leicester recorded 498 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Leicester

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Leicester recorded 472 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.

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

28 areas within Leicester, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Castle had the highest rate (442.3 per 1,000) and Glen Parva the lowest (42.3). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Leicester over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Leicester 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.

Leicester has an estimated population of 424,069. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Leicester sits in decile 3.5, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Leicester. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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