Crime in Penzance: statistics, rates and trends

2,109 crimes were recorded in Penzance in the 12 months to July 2026, 129.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 5% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 829 reports (39% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Penzance has the 125th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Penzance was highest in the year to July 2018 (2,669 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (1,827). Over the whole period it fell 21%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Penzance 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 violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and arson.

The largest increases were in public order (+34%) and other crime (+12%). The largest falls were in possession of weapons (-51%) and vehicle crime (-20%).

Violence and sexual offences in Penzance

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Penzance recorded 829 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (51.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 39.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Penzance

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Penzance recorded 389 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (23.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 18.4% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Penzance

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Penzance recorded 219 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (13.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 10.4% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Penzance

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Penzance recorded 176 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 15% on the year before. It made up 8.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Penzance

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Penzance recorded 154 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 34% on the year before. It made up 7.3% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Penzance

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Penzance recorded 118 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Penzance

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Penzance recorded 56 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 2.7% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Penzance

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Penzance recorded 41 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Penzance

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Penzance recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Penzance

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Penzance recorded 37 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 20% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Penzance

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Penzance recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 157% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Penzance

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Penzance recorded 17 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 51% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Penzance

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Penzance recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 78% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Penzance

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Penzance recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 87% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Penzance, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Penzance.

3 areas within Penzance, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Penzance East had the highest rate (183.9 per 1,000) and Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval & Heamoor the lowest (63.8). 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 Penzance over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Penzance 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.

Penzance has an estimated population of 16,247. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Penzance sits in decile 2.9, more deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Penzance. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.