Crime in Ludlow: statistics, rates and trends
880 crimes were recorded in Ludlow in the 12 months to August 2026, 79.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 8% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (301), anti-social behaviour (151) and criminal damage and arson (112) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 629th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Ludlow | Shropshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 880 | 19,214 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 79.1 | 57.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -8% | -5% | -1% |
| Population | 11,127 | 332,455 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Ludlow of any year here (880 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 26%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 880 | 79.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 960 | 86.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,068 | 96.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 911 | 81.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 900 | 80.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 1,077 | 96.8 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,038 | 93.3 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,097 | 98.6 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,193 | 107.2 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 97 |
| July 2026 | 79 |
| June 2026 | 73 |
| May 2026 | 68 |
| April 2026 | 68 |
| March 2026 | 59 |
| February 2026 | 107 |
| January 2026 | 65 |
| December 2025 | 82 |
| November 2025 | 73 |
| October 2025 | 59 |
| September 2025 | 50 |
Compared with England and Wales, Ludlow recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (49% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (51% below) and public order (45% below). On the year before, shoplifting rose from 78 to 105, while public order fell from 60 to 41 and violence and sexual offences fell from 364 to 301.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 301 | 27.1 | 34.2 | -17% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 151 | 13.6 | 15.4 | -13% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 112 | 10.1 | 6.7 | -15% |
| Shoplifting | 105 | 9.4 | 8.5 | +35% |
| Other theft | 45 | 4.0 | 6.4 | -15% |
| Public order | 41 | 3.7 | 6.7 | -32% |
| Burglary | 40 | 3.6 | 3.6 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 27 | 2.4 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Other crime | 18 | 1.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 17 | 1.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 14 | 1.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 7 | 0.6 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
3 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Ludlow; the highest is Kidderminster (100.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Bayston Hill (30.5).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ludlow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leominster | 1,150 | 95.7 | +21% |
| Bridgnorth | 875 | 74.9 | -5% |
| Bewdley | 680 | 60.6 | -23% |
| Stourport-on-Severn | 1,190 | 62.5 | -21% |
| Broseley | 324 | 53.6 | -32% |
| Kidderminster | 5,648 | 100.1 | +27% |
| Bayston Hill | 157 | 30.5 | -61% |
| Hereford | 5,673 | 93.3 | +18% |
Of the 3 areas within Ludlow, Ludlow North had the highest crime rate (105.8 per 1,000) and Ludlow South the lowest (46.6).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ludlow North | Neighbourhood | 3,669 | 388 | 105.8 |
| Ludlow East | Neighbourhood | 3,849 | 294 | 76.4 |
| Ludlow South | Neighbourhood | 4,875 | 227 | 46.6 |
The 10 locations below account for 31% of the crime recorded in Ludlow over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Hospital” (41).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Hospital | 41 |
| On or near Parking Area | 37 |
| On or near Bull Ring | 30 |
| On or near Tower Street | 28 |
| On or near Supermarket | 27 |
| On or near Duncow Road | 26 |
| On or near Sandpits Road | 25 |
| On or near Steventon Road | 22 |
| On or near Castle Street | 20 |
| On or near Corve Street | 20 |
Of the 729 crimes in Ludlow with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.9% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 151 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 279 | 38.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 220 | 30.2% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 129 | 17.7% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 36 | 4.9% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 28 | 3.8% | 2.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 21 | 2.9% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 13 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.3% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Ludlow has an estimated population of 11,127 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has an older population (33%, against 19%), more retired residents (35%, against 22%) and fewer students (3.6%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Ludlow average decile 5.6 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Ludlow | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 14.1% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 33.0% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 49.3% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 34.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 3.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 19.7% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 20.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 18.2% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.6 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Ludlow a safe place to live?
Ludlow recorded 79.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 629th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Ludlow?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 301 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (151).
Is crime in Ludlow going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ludlow was down 8% on the year before: 880 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 960 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Ludlow?
About 11,127 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 33% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Ludlow?
Ludlow is policed by West Mercia.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.