Crime in New Milton: statistics, rates and trends
1,004 crimes were recorded in New Milton in the 12 months to July 2026, 96.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in New Milton at a glance
- Crime trends in New Milton
- Types of crime in New Milton
- New Milton compared with nearby towns
- Areas within New Milton
- Streets with the most crime in New Milton
- What happened after crimes were reported in New Milton
- Population and deprivation in New Milton
- Questions about crime in New Milton
- About this data
1,004 crimes were recorded in New Milton in the 12 months to July 2026, 96.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 3% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 395 reports (39% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, New Milton has the 398th highest crime rate.
| Measure | New Milton | New Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 1,004 | 10,252 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 96.1 | 58.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | -8% | -1% |
| Population | 10,450 | 176,116 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in New Milton was highest in the year to July 2023 (1,208 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2019 (938). Over the whole period it fell 12%, 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 | 1,004 | 96.1 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 1,034 | 98.9 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 957 | 91.6 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,208 | 115.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,092 | 104.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 956 | 91.5 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,101 | 105.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 938 | 89.8 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,144 | 109.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 142 |
| June 2026 | 85 |
| May 2026 | 107 |
| April 2026 | 64 |
| March 2026 | 84 |
| February 2026 | 80 |
| January 2026 | 58 |
| December 2025 | 65 |
| November 2025 | 85 |
| October 2025 | 86 |
| September 2025 | 73 |
| August 2025 | 75 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in New Milton 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, burglary, drugs.
The largest increases were in drugs (+48%) and burglary (+29%). The largest falls were in shoplifting (-28%) and criminal damage and arson (-15%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 395 | 37.8 | 1.10 | +6% |
| Shoplifting | 120 | 11.5 | 1.39 | -28% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 88 | 8.4 | 1.24 | -15% |
| Public order | 82 | 7.8 | 1.18 | -13% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 81 | 7.8 | 0.51 | -13% |
| Burglary | 54 | 5.2 | 1.46 | +29% |
| Other theft | 54 | 5.2 | 0.81 | +0% |
| Drugs | 43 | 4.1 | 1.26 | +48% |
| Vehicle crime | 33 | 3.2 | 0.64 | +10% |
| Other crime | 19 | 1.8 | 0.86 | -10% |
| Robbery | 14 | 1.3 | 0.99 | +56% |
| Possession of weapons | 11 | 1.1 | 1.08 | +57% |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.6 | 0.70 | +0% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.4 | 0.23 | -33% |
Violence and sexual offences in New Milton
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. New Milton recorded 395 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (37.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 6% on the year before. It made up 39.3% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in New Milton
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. New Milton recorded 120 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (11.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 12.0% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in New Milton
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. New Milton recorded 88 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 8.8% of all crime in the area.
Public order in New Milton
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. New Milton recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in New Milton
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. New Milton recorded 81 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in New Milton
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. New Milton recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 29% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in New Milton
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. New Milton recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in New Milton
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. New Milton recorded 43 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 48% on the year before. It made up 4.3% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in New Milton
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. New Milton recorded 33 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 10% on the year before. It made up 3.3% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in New Milton
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. New Milton recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in New Milton
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. New Milton recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 56% on the year before. It made up 1.4% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in New Milton
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. New Milton recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 57% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in New Milton
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. New Milton recorded 6 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in New Milton
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. New Milton recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 33% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to New Milton, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to New Milton.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs New Milton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barton on Sea | 178 | 24.5 | -75% |
| Ashley (New Forest) | 313 | 39.2 | -59% |
| Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) | 2,754 | 57.6 | -40% |
| Lymington | 908 | 57.9 | -40% |
| Freshwater and Totland | 490 | 56.1 | -42% |
| Ringwood | 913 | 70.8 | -26% |
| Bournemouth | 21,650 | 106.8 | +11% |
| Ashley Heath | 329 | 40.4 | -58% |
2 areas within New Milton, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Milton had the highest rate (102.2 per 1,000) and Ballard the lowest (86.6). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.
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 New Milton over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 95 |
| On or near Nelson Close | 58 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 37 |
| On or near B3058 | 31 |
| On or near Howe Close | 30 |
| On or near Avenue Road | 29 |
| On or near Old Milton | 27 |
| On or near Mendip Close | 24 |
| On or near Stannington Close | 24 |
| On or near Station Road | 24 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in New Milton 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 | 293 | 29.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 291 | 29.0% |
| Under investigation | 142 | 14.1% |
| Not recorded | 81 | 8.1% |
| Local resolution | 54 | 5.4% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 45 | 4.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 34 | 3.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 20 | 2.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 16 | 1.6% |
| Court result unavailable | 15 | 1.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 7 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.6% |
New Milton has an estimated population of 10,450. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in New Milton sits in decile 5.7, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | New Milton |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 53.8% |
| Aged 65 and over | 31.2% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.1% |
| Social rented homes | 15.5% |
| Private rented homes | 19.4% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.7 |
Is New Milton a safe place to live?
New Milton recorded 96.1 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 New Milton?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 395 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (120).
Is crime in New Milton going up or down?
Recorded crime in New Milton was down 3% on the year before: 1,004 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 1,034 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers New Milton?
New Milton is policed by Hampshire. 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 New Milton. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.