Crime in Newquay: statistics, rates and trends
2,666 crimes were recorded in Newquay in the 12 months to August 2026, 108.6 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 7% on the year before.
Table of Contents
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,198), anti-social behaviour (366) and criminal damage and arson (241) made up 68% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 271st of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Newquay | Cornwall | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,666 | 41,480 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 108.6 | 71.1 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -7% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 24,556 | 583,289 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Newquay peaked in the year to August 2025 (2,859 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2020 (1,980). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it was almost unchanged, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,666 | 108.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,859 | 116.4 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,608 | 106.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,425 | 98.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 2,222 | 90.5 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 1,980 | 80.6 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,548 | 103.8 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,690 | 109.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 285 |
| July 2026 | 269 |
| June 2026 | 256 |
| May 2026 | 254 |
| April 2026 | 247 |
| March 2026 | 204 |
| February 2026 | 204 |
| January 2026 | 197 |
| December 2025 | 207 |
| November 2025 | 162 |
| October 2025 | 163 |
| September 2025 | 218 |
Compared with England and Wales, Newquay recorded notably more other theft (50% above the national rate), criminal damage and arson (45% above the national rate) and violence and sexual offences (43% above the national rate), and notably less shoplifting (55% below) and vehicle crime (39% below). On the year before, burglary rose from 48 to 56, while shoplifting fell from 220 to 94 and other crime fell from 58 to 45.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,198 | 48.8 | 34.2 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 366 | 14.9 | 15.4 | -18% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 241 | 9.8 | 6.7 | -4% |
| Other theft | 238 | 9.7 | 6.4 | -1% |
| Public order | 161 | 6.6 | 6.7 | -9% |
| Drugs | 111 | 4.5 | 3.3 | -4% |
| Shoplifting | 94 | 3.8 | 8.5 | -57% |
| Vehicle crime | 74 | 3.0 | 5.0 | 0% |
| Burglary | 56 | 2.3 | 3.6 | +17% |
| Other crime | 45 | 1.8 | 2.1 | -22% |
| Possession of weapons | 31 | 1.3 | 1.0 | +3% |
| Theft from the person | 18 | 0.7 | 1.7 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 17 | 0.7 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 16 | 0.7 | 1.4 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Newquay; the highest is Truro (128.6 per 1,000) and the lowest Indian Queens, Fraddon and St Columb Road (62.7).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Newquay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Queens, Fraddon and St Columb Road | 375 | 62.7 | -42% |
| Truro | 2,962 | 128.6 | +18% |
| Wadebridge | 398 | 76.7 | -29% |
| St Austell | 2,582 | 106.1 | -2% |
| Redruth | 1,193 | 98.7 | -9% |
| Pool and Illogan | 1,078 | 108.4 | 0% |
| Bodmin | 2,090 | 118.9 | +10% |
| St Blazey | 484 | 69.1 | -36% |
Of the 4 areas within Newquay, Newquay Central & Pentire had the highest crime rate (248.6 per 1,000) and Newquay Porth & Tretherras the lowest (58.4), 4 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newquay Central & Pentire | Neighbourhood | 5,210 | 1,295 | 248.6 |
| Newquay Trenance | Neighbourhood | 7,174 | 546 | 76.1 |
| St Columb Minor & Colan | Neighbourhood | 7,127 | 491 | 68.9 |
| Newquay Porth & Tretherras | Neighbourhood | 7,156 | 418 | 58.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 33% of the crime recorded in Newquay over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (140).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 140 |
| On or near Gover Lane | 128 |
| On or near Supermarket | 124 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 115 |
| On or near Station Approach | 84 |
| On or near Watergate Road | 62 |
| On or near Nightclub | 60 |
| On or near Theatre/Concert Hall | 59 |
| On or near Cliff Road | 56 |
| On or near Conference/Exhibition Centre | 47 |
Of the 2,300 crimes in Newquay with a recorded outcome, 24% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.5% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 366 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,020 | 44.3% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 549 | 23.9% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 352 | 15.3% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 103 | 4.5% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 100 | 4.3% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 52 | 2.3% | 0.5% |
| Court result unavailable | 42 | 1.8% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 40 | 1.7% | 3.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 16 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 13 | 0.6% | 1.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 10 | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Newquay has an estimated population of 24,556 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (5.1%, against 7.9%), less social housing (11%, against 17%) and more private renting (26%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Newquay average decile 5.5 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Newquay | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 19.8% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 23.2% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 30.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.4% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 18.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 62.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 11.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 26.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 5.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Newquay a safe place to live?
Newquay recorded 108.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 271st of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were other theft and criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Newquay?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,198 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (366).
Is crime in Newquay going up or down?
Recorded crime in Newquay was down 7% on the year before: 2,666 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,859 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Newquay?
About 24,556 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 20% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Newquay?
Newquay is policed by Devon & Cornwall.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.