Crime in Market Harborough: statistics, rates and trends
1,560 crimes were recorded in Market Harborough in the 12 months to July 2026, 61.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Market Harborough at a glance
- Crime trends in Market Harborough
- Types of crime in Market Harborough
- Market Harborough compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Market Harborough
- Streets with the most crime in Market Harborough
- What happened after crimes were reported in Market Harborough
- Population and deprivation in Market Harborough
- Questions about crime in Market Harborough
- About this data
1,560 crimes were recorded in Market Harborough in the 12 months to July 2026, 61.0 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 561 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Market Harborough has the 946th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Market Harborough | Harborough | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,560 | 5,331 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 61.0 | 50.9 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -1% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 25,593 | 104,713 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Market Harborough was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,832 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2023 (1,413). Over the whole period it fell 5%, 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 | 1,560 | 61.0 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,575 | 61.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 1,543 | 60.3 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,413 | 55.2 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,565 | 61.1 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,521 | 59.4 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,517 | 59.3 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,832 | 71.6 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,649 | 64.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 138 |
| June 2026 | 150 |
| May 2026 | 127 |
| April 2026 | 117 |
| March 2026 | 145 |
| February 2026 | 128 |
| January 2026 | 107 |
| December 2025 | 120 |
| November 2025 | 123 |
| October 2025 | 138 |
| September 2025 | 131 |
| August 2025 | 136 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Market Harborough 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. The largest increases were in criminal damage and arson (+38%) and drugs (+29%).
The largest falls were in anti-social behaviour (-26%) and shoplifting (-15%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 561 | 21.9 | 0.64 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 193 | 7.5 | 0.91 | -15% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 173 | 6.8 | 0.44 | -26% |
| Public order | 139 | 5.4 | 0.82 | -4% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 138 | 5.4 | 0.80 | +38% |
| Other theft | 104 | 4.1 | 0.64 | -4% |
| Burglary | 70 | 2.7 | 0.77 | -7% |
| Vehicle crime | 70 | 2.7 | 0.56 | -7% |
| Drugs | 31 | 1.2 | 0.37 | +29% |
| Other crime | 26 | 1.0 | 0.48 | +37% |
| Possession of weapons | 17 | 0.7 | 0.68 | +70% |
| Bicycle theft | 16 | 0.6 | 0.76 | +60% |
| Theft from the person | 14 | 0.5 | 0.32 | +56% |
| Robbery | 8 | 0.3 | 0.23 | -20% |
Violence and sexual offences in Market Harborough
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Market Harborough recorded 561 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (21.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 36.0% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Market Harborough
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Market Harborough recorded 193 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.5 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 12.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Market Harborough
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Market Harborough recorded 173 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 26% on the year before. It made up 11.1% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Market Harborough
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Market Harborough recorded 139 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 8.9% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Market Harborough
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Market Harborough recorded 138 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 38% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Market Harborough
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Market Harborough recorded 104 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 6.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Market Harborough
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Market Harborough recorded 70 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Market Harborough
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Market Harborough recorded 70 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 4.5% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Market Harborough
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Market Harborough recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Market Harborough
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Market Harborough recorded 26 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 37% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Market Harborough
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Market Harborough recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 70% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Market Harborough
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Market Harborough recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 60% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Market Harborough
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Market Harborough recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 56% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Market Harborough
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Market Harborough recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Market Harborough, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Market Harborough.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Market Harborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desborough | 890 | 75.0 | +23% |
| Kibworth Beauchamp and Kibworth Harcourt | 236 | 30.9 | -49% |
| Rothwell (North Northamptonshire) | 681 | 73.3 | +20% |
| Fleckney | 294 | 53.9 | -12% |
| Great Glen | 237 | 41.2 | -32% |
| Corby | 6,696 | 95.0 | +56% |
| Kettering | 7,072 | 107.4 | +76% |
| Oadby | 1,302 | 51.1 | -16% |
4 areas within Market Harborough, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Market Harborough-Logan had the highest rate (73.4 per 1,000) and Market Harborough-Welland the lowest (46.4). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Market Harborough-Logan | Neighbourhood | 4,770 | 350 | 73.4 |
| Market Harborough-Great Bowden & Arden | Neighbourhood | 6,330 | 458 | 72.4 |
| Market Harborough-Little Bowden | Neighbourhood | 6,351 | 336 | 52.9 |
| Market Harborough-Welland | Neighbourhood | 10,410 | 483 | 46.4 |
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 Market Harborough over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 147 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 141 |
| On or near Church Street | 79 |
| On or near Supermarket | 63 |
| On or near Rockingham Road | 59 |
| On or near Nightclub | 45 |
| On or near A4304 | 35 |
| On or near Andrew Macdonald Close | 30 |
| On or near Naseby Square | 29 |
| On or near Adam And Eve Street | 26 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Market Harborough 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 | 569 | 36.5% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 377 | 24.2% |
| Under investigation | 181 | 11.6% |
| Not recorded | 173 | 11.1% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 74 | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 51 | 3.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 33 | 2.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 31 | 2.0% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 18 | 1.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 17 | 1.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 12 | 0.8% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 12 | 0.8% |
Market Harborough has an estimated population of 25,593. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Market Harborough sits in decile 8.5, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Market Harborough |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 16.7% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 60.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.0% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 72.9% |
| Social rented homes | 10.2% |
| Private rented homes | 16.8% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.5 |
Is Market Harborough a safe place to live?
Market Harborough recorded 61.0 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 Market Harborough?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 561 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (193).
Is crime in Market Harborough going up or down?
Recorded crime in Market Harborough was almost unchanged on the year before: 1,560 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,575 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Market Harborough?
Market Harborough is policed by Leicestershire. 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 Market Harborough. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.