Crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden: statistics, rates and trends
342 crimes were recorded in Prestwood and Great Missenden in the 12 months to August 2026, 48.3 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden at a glance
- Crime trends in Prestwood and Great Missenden
- Types of crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden
- Prestwood and Great Missenden compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Prestwood and Great Missenden
- Streets with the most crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden
- What happened after crimes were reported in Prestwood and Great Missenden
- Demographics of Prestwood and Great Missenden
- Questions about crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (124), anti-social behaviour (43) and criminal damage and arson (39) made up 60% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,183rd of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | Prestwood and Great Missenden | Buckinghamshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 342 | 35,812 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 48.3 | 61.9 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -1% | -2% | -1% |
| Population | 7,082 | 578,772 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden peaked in the year to August 2024 (410 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2019 (288). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 11%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 342 | 48.3 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 345 | 48.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 410 | 57.9 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 314 | 44.3 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 310 | 43.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 295 | 41.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 313 | 44.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 288 | 40.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 307 | 43.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 22 |
| July 2026 | 23 |
| June 2026 | 39 |
| May 2026 | 36 |
| April 2026 | 32 |
| March 2026 | 20 |
| February 2026 | 29 |
| January 2026 | 34 |
| December 2025 | 31 |
| November 2025 | 33 |
| October 2025 | 23 |
| September 2025 | 20 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (65% below) and anti-social behaviour (60% below) were well below it. On the year before, criminal damage and arson rose from 28 to 39 and anti-social behaviour rose from 33 to 43, while shoplifting fell from 31 to 21 and public order fell from 35 to 27.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 124 | 17.5 | 34.2 | -12% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 43 | 6.1 | 15.4 | +30% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 39 | 5.5 | 6.7 | +39% |
| Public order | 27 | 3.8 | 6.7 | -23% |
| Vehicle crime | 25 | 3.5 | 5.0 | 0% |
| Other theft | 21 | 3.0 | 6.4 | -9% |
| Shoplifting | 21 | 3.0 | 8.5 | -32% |
| Burglary | 17 | 2.4 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Other crime | 11 | 1.6 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Drugs | 6 | 0.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.7 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 1 | 0.1 | 1.0 | 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 Prestwood and Great Missenden; the highest is High Wycombe (93.4 per 1,000) and the lowest Hazlemere (34.0).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Prestwood and Great Missenden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hazlemere | 656 | 34.0 | -30% |
| Princes Risborough | 420 | 47.4 | -2% |
| Wendover | 389 | 40.2 | -17% |
| High Wycombe | 8,456 | 93.4 | +93% |
| Chesham | 1,622 | 72.2 | +49% |
| Amersham | 761 | 44.2 | -9% |
| Stoke Mandeville | 202 | 37.7 | -22% |
| Flackwell Heath and Wooburn Green | 770 | 59.1 | +22% |
The Missendens is the one area listed within Prestwood and Great Missenden, with 39.4 crimes per 1,000 residents.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Missendens | Neighbourhood | 17,594 | 694 | 39.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 46% of the crime recorded in Prestwood and Great Missenden over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (22).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 22 |
| On or near Wright'S Lane | 20 |
| On or near Misbourne Drive | 19 |
| On or near Parking Area | 18 |
| On or near Fair Acres | 16 |
| On or near Nairdwood Lane | 15 |
| On or near Hazell Road | 14 |
| On or near Abbey Walk | 13 |
| On or near Chequers Drive | 10 |
| On or near Hobbshill Road | 9 |
Of the 299 crimes in Prestwood and Great Missenden with a recorded outcome, 36% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.0% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 43 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 108 | 36.1% | 35.3% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 108 | 36.1% | 34.5% |
| Under investigation | 32 | 10.7% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 17 | 5.7% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 15 | 5.0% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 9 | 3.0% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 6 | 2.0% | 3.1% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 2 | 0.7% | 0.6% |
Prestwood and Great Missenden has an estimated population of 7,082 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (9.3%, against 23.3%), an older population (28%, against 19%) and less private renting (11%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Prestwood and Great Missenden average decile 8.5 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Prestwood and Great Missenden | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 27.7% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 58.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 28.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.4% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 45.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 11.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 9.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 76.3% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 12.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 11.5% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.5 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Prestwood and Great Missenden a safe place to live?
Prestwood and Great Missenden recorded 48.3 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,183rd of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 124 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (43).
Is crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden going up or down?
Recorded crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden was almost unchanged on the year before: 342 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 345 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Prestwood and Great Missenden?
About 7,082 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 28% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Prestwood and Great Missenden?
Prestwood and Great Missenden is policed by Thames Valley.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.