Crime in Louth: statistics, rates and trends
1,987 crimes were recorded in Louth in the 12 months to July 2026, 109.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
1,987 crimes were recorded in Louth in the 12 months to July 2026, 109.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 712 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Louth has the 268th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Louth | East Lindsey | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,987 | 14,146 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 109.5 | 97.4 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | +5% | -1% |
| Population | 18,152 | 145,183 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Louth was highest in the year to July 2025 (2,018 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (1,583). Over the whole period it rose 26%, 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 | 1,987 | 109.5 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 2,018 | 111.2 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,701 | 93.7 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,754 | 96.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,824 | 100.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,867 | 102.9 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,816 | 100.0 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,935 | 106.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,583 | 87.2 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 213 |
| June 2026 | 178 |
| May 2026 | 196 |
| April 2026 | 222 |
| March 2026 | 171 |
| February 2026 | 158 |
| January 2026 | 133 |
| December 2025 | 140 |
| November 2025 | 113 |
| October 2025 | 164 |
| September 2025 | 154 |
| August 2025 | 145 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Louth 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 anti-social behaviour. The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-31%) and burglary (-15%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 712 | 39.2 | 1.15 | -0% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 594 | 32.7 | 2.13 | +3% |
| Shoplifting | 176 | 9.7 | 1.17 | -9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 149 | 8.2 | 1.21 | +1% |
| Other theft | 92 | 5.1 | 0.79 | -10% |
| Public order | 92 | 5.1 | 0.76 | +3% |
| Other crime | 46 | 2.5 | 1.20 | +10% |
| Burglary | 45 | 2.5 | 0.70 | -15% |
| Vehicle crime | 38 | 2.1 | 0.43 | -31% |
| Drugs | 19 | 1.0 | 0.32 | +19% |
| Robbery | 11 | 0.6 | 0.45 | +120% |
| Bicycle theft | 7 | 0.4 | 0.47 | -12% |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.3 | 0.34 | -54% |
Violence and sexual offences in Louth
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Louth recorded 712 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (39.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 35.8% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Louth
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Louth recorded 594 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (32.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 29.9% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Louth
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Louth recorded 176 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Louth
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Louth recorded 149 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.5% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Louth
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Louth recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Louth
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Louth recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Louth
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Louth recorded 46 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Louth
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Louth recorded 45 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Louth
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Louth recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 31% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Louth
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Louth recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 19% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Louth
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Louth recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 120% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Louth
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Louth recorded 7 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Louth
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Louth recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 54% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Louth, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Louth.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Louth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mablethorpe | 852 | 132.2 | +21% |
| Waltham | 202 | 29.5 | -73% |
| Humberston and New Waltham | 862 | 53.7 | -51% |
| Horncastle | 489 | 83.3 | -24% |
| Cleethorpes | 4,646 | 158.3 | +45% |
| Grimsby | 14,481 | 167.5 | +53% |
| Immingham | 986 | 93.3 | -15% |
| Coningsby and Tattershall | 602 | 77.5 | -29% |
6 areas within Louth, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Priory & St James' had the highest rate (160.4 per 1,000) and St Mary's the lowest (55.6). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priory & St James' | Neighbourhood | 4,874 | 782 | 160.4 |
| North Holme | Neighbourhood | 2,946 | 394 | 133.7 |
| Trinity | Neighbourhood | 2,556 | 263 | 102.9 |
| St Michael's | Neighbourhood | 2,776 | 212 | 76.4 |
| St Margaret's | Neighbourhood | 3,023 | 226 | 74.8 |
| St Mary's | Neighbourhood | 1,977 | 110 | 55.6 |
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 Louth over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 86 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 61 |
| On or near Supermarket | 46 |
| On or near Burnt Hill Lane | 43 |
| On or near Belvoir Way | 41 |
| On or near Jubilee Crescent | 40 |
| On or near Badminton Way | 37 |
| On or near Leake'S Row | 37 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 33 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 33 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Louth 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 | 672 | 33.8% |
| Not recorded | 594 | 29.9% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 391 | 19.7% |
| Under investigation | 148 | 7.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 58 | 2.9% |
| Status update unavailable | 32 | 1.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 26 | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 24 | 1.2% |
| Local resolution | 15 | 0.8% |
| Offender given a caution | 10 | 0.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 10 | 0.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.4% |
Louth has an estimated population of 18,152. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Louth sits in decile 4.1, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Louth |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.8% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.6% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.6% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.1% |
| Social rented homes | 17.2% |
| Private rented homes | 21.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.1 |
Is Louth a safe place to live?
Louth recorded 109.5 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 Louth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 712 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (594).
Is crime in Louth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Louth was down 2% on the year before: 1,987 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 2,018 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Louth?
Louth is policed by Lincolnshire. 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 Louth. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.