Crime in Louth: statistics, rates and trends
2,005 crimes were recorded in Louth in the 12 months to August 2026, 110.5 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (714), anti-social behaviour (596) and shoplifting (172) made up 74% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 255th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Louth | East Lindsey | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,005 | 14,298 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 110.5 | 98.5 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | 0% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 18,152 | 145,183 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Louth peaked in the year to August 2025 (2,015 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2018 (1,638). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 22%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,005 | 110.5 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,015 | 111.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,696 | 93.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,702 | 93.8 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 1,885 | 103.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,811 | 99.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,837 | 101.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,937 | 106.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,638 | 90.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 163 |
| 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 |
Compared with England and Wales, Louth recorded notably more anti-social behaviour (2.1 times the national rate), and notably less drugs (65% below) and vehicle crime (49% below). On the year before, vehicle crime fell from 56 to 46.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 714 | 39.3 | 34.2 | -1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 596 | 32.8 | 15.4 | +3% |
| Shoplifting | 172 | 9.5 | 8.5 | -9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 153 | 8.4 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Public order | 95 | 5.2 | 6.7 | +12% |
| Other theft | 93 | 5.1 | 6.4 | -11% |
| Burglary | 47 | 2.6 | 3.6 | -6% |
| Other crime | 46 | 2.5 | 2.1 | +7% |
| Vehicle crime | 46 | 2.5 | 5.0 | -18% |
| Drugs | 21 | 1.2 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 10 | 0.6 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.3 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 6 | 0.3 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Louth; the highest is Grimsby (167.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Waltham (30.9).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Louth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mablethorpe | 865 | 134.2 | +21% |
| Waltham | 212 | 30.9 | -72% |
| Humberston and New Waltham | 872 | 54.3 | -51% |
| Horncastle | 500 | 85.1 | -23% |
| Cleethorpes | 4,612 | 157.2 | +42% |
| Grimsby | 14,486 | 167.6 | +52% |
| Immingham | 992 | 93.9 | -15% |
| Coningsby and Tattershall | 604 | 77.8 | -30% |
Of the 6 areas within Louth, Priory & St James' had the highest crime rate (165.0 per 1,000) and St Mary's the lowest (59.7).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Priory & St James' | Neighbourhood | 4,874 | 804 | 165.0 |
| North Holme | Neighbourhood | 2,946 | 388 | 131.7 |
| Trinity | Neighbourhood | 2,556 | 253 | 99.0 |
| St Margaret's | Neighbourhood | 3,023 | 233 | 77.1 |
| St Michael's | Neighbourhood | 2,776 | 209 | 75.3 |
| St Mary's | Neighbourhood | 1,977 | 118 | 59.7 |
The 10 locations below account for 23% of the crime recorded in Louth over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (96).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 96 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 62 |
| On or near Burnt Hill Lane | 48 |
| On or near Supermarket | 47 |
| On or near Belvoir Way | 38 |
| On or near Jubilee Crescent | 37 |
| On or near Badminton Way | 35 |
| On or near Leake'S Row | 35 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 32 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 32 |
Of the 1,409 crimes in Louth with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.7% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 596 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 689 | 48.9% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 403 | 28.6% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 123 | 8.7% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 52 | 3.7% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 36 | 2.6% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 30 | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 25 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 19 | 1.3% | 0.5% |
| Local resolution | 15 | 1.1% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 10 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.5% | 0.3% |
Louth has an estimated population of 18,152 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.4%, against 7.9%), more retired residents (30%, against 22%) and an older population (26%, against 19%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Louth average decile 4.1 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Louth | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.8% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.6% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 51.0% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.9% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 29.7% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 26.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 20.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 21.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Louth a safe place to live?
Louth recorded 110.5 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 255th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Louth?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 714 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (596).
Is crime in Louth going up or down?
Recorded crime in Louth was almost unchanged on the year before: 2,005 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,015 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Louth?
About 18,152 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 26% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Louth?
Louth is policed by Lincolnshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.