Crime in Lightwater: statistics, rates and trends
339 crimes were recorded in Lightwater in the 12 months to July 2026, 50.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 42% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Lightwater at a glance
- Crime trends in Lightwater
- Types of crime in Lightwater
- Lightwater compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Lightwater
- Streets with the most crime in Lightwater
- What happened after crimes were reported in Lightwater
- Population and deprivation in Lightwater
- Questions about crime in Lightwater
- About this data
339 crimes were recorded in Lightwater in the 12 months to July 2026, 50.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 42% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 79 reports (23% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Lightwater has the 1,152nd highest crime rate.
| Measure | Lightwater | Surrey Heath | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 339 | 5,751 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 50.1 | 60.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +42% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 6,770 | 94,492 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Lightwater was highest in the year to July 2020 (405 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (173). Over the whole period it rose 1%, 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 | 339 | 50.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 239 | 35.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 179 | 26.4 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 173 | 25.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 251 | 37.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 389 | 57.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 405 | 59.8 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 346 | 51.1 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 335 | 49.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 20 |
| June 2026 | 24 |
| May 2026 | 32 |
| April 2026 | 30 |
| March 2026 | 41 |
| February 2026 | 20 |
| January 2026 | 25 |
| December 2025 | 33 |
| November 2025 | 24 |
| October 2025 | 33 |
| September 2025 | 34 |
| August 2025 | 23 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Lightwater 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 shoplifting, other theft.
The largest increases were in other theft (+181%) and shoplifting (+74%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 79 | 11.7 | 0.34 | +7% |
| Shoplifting | 75 | 11.1 | 1.34 | +74% |
| Other theft | 59 | 8.7 | 1.36 | +181% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 44 | 6.5 | 0.42 | +33% |
| Vehicle crime | 22 | 3.2 | 0.66 | +69% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 15 | 2.2 | 0.33 | -12% |
| Public order | 13 | 1.9 | 0.29 | -7% |
| Burglary | 12 | 1.8 | 0.50 | -20% |
| Drugs | 11 | 1.6 | 0.50 | +1000% |
| Other crime | 7 | 1.0 | 0.49 | +75% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.18 | n/a |
| Robbery | 1 | 0.1 | 0.11 | -50% |
Violence and sexual offences in Lightwater
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Lightwater recorded 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 23.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Lightwater
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Lightwater recorded 75 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 74% on the year before. It made up 22.1% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Lightwater
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Lightwater recorded 59 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 181% on the year before. It made up 17.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Lightwater
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Lightwater recorded 44 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 13.0% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Lightwater
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Lightwater recorded 22 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 69% on the year before. It made up 6.5% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Lightwater
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Lightwater recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 4.4% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Lightwater
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Lightwater recorded 13 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 3.8% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Lightwater
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Lightwater recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Lightwater
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Lightwater recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 1000% on the year before. It made up 3.2% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Lightwater
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Lightwater recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 75% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Lightwater
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Lightwater recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and with no comparable figure for the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Lightwater
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Lightwater recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 50% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Lightwater, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Lightwater.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Lightwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagshot | 530 | 83.5 | +67% |
| West End and Chobham | 555 | 54.6 | +9% |
| Camberley | 2,552 | 67.4 | +35% |
| Frimley | 916 | 55.9 | +12% |
| Ascot | 1,044 | 41.1 | -18% |
| Woking | 6,040 | 81.7 | +63% |
| Sandhurst (Bracknell Forest) | 741 | 36.9 | -26% |
| Blackwater (Hart) | 286 | 39.2 | -22% |
1 areas within Lightwater, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Lightwater had the highest rate (50.1 per 1,000) and Lightwater the lowest (50.1). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lightwater | Neighbourhood | 6,770 | 339 | 50.1 |
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 Lightwater over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 119 |
| On or near Catena Rise | 12 |
| On or near Badger Drive | 11 |
| On or near Coyne Close | 11 |
| On or near Riverside Avenue | 10 |
| On or near Hammond Way | 9 |
| On or near Ivy Drive | 9 |
| On or near The Close | 9 |
| On or near Denly Way | 8 |
| On or near Alsford Close | 7 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Lightwater 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 147 | 43.4% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 72 | 21.2% |
| Not recorded | 44 | 13.0% |
| Under investigation | 32 | 9.4% |
| Status update unavailable | 18 | 5.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 9 | 2.7% |
| Local resolution | 7 | 2.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 4 | 1.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.9% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 2 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 1 | 0.3% |
Lightwater has an estimated population of 6,770. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Lightwater sits in decile 9.8, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Lightwater |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.3% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 58.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 26.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 84.1% |
| Social rented homes | 4.4% |
| Private rented homes | 11.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 9.8 |
Is Lightwater a safe place to live?
Lightwater recorded 50.1 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 Lightwater?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 79 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (75).
Is crime in Lightwater going up or down?
Recorded crime in Lightwater was up 42% on the year before: 339 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 239 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Lightwater?
Lightwater is policed by Surrey. 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 Lightwater. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.