Crime in Ringwood: statistics, rates and trends
913 crimes were recorded in Ringwood in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Ringwood at a glance
- Crime trends in Ringwood
- Types of crime in Ringwood
- Ringwood compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Ringwood
- Streets with the most crime in Ringwood
- What happened after crimes were reported in Ringwood
- Population and deprivation in Ringwood
- Questions about crime in Ringwood
- About this data
913 crimes were recorded in Ringwood in the 12 months to July 2026, 70.8 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 366 reports (40% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Ringwood has the 779th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Ringwood | New Forest | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 913 | 10,252 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 70.8 | 58.2 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -8% | -1% |
| Population | 12,904 | 176,116 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Ringwood was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,062 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (904). Over the whole period it fell 6%, 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 | 913 | 70.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 935 | 72.5 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 904 | 70.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 924 | 71.6 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,062 | 82.3 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 975 | 75.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,057 | 81.9 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 979 | 75.9 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 974 | 75.5 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 91 |
| June 2026 | 76 |
| May 2026 | 82 |
| April 2026 | 77 |
| March 2026 | 70 |
| February 2026 | 75 |
| January 2026 | 72 |
| December 2025 | 86 |
| November 2025 | 70 |
| October 2025 | 66 |
| September 2025 | 60 |
| August 2025 | 88 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Ringwood 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 anti-social behaviour (+32%) and criminal damage and arson (+25%). The largest falls were in burglary (-48%) and shoplifting (-40%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 366 | 28.4 | 0.83 | +16% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 120 | 9.3 | 0.61 | +32% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 95 | 7.4 | 1.09 | +25% |
| Shoplifting | 71 | 5.5 | 0.66 | -40% |
| Vehicle crime | 64 | 5.0 | 1.01 | +7% |
| Public order | 54 | 4.2 | 0.63 | -36% |
| Other theft | 52 | 4.0 | 0.63 | -27% |
| Burglary | 32 | 2.5 | 0.70 | -48% |
| Robbery | 15 | 1.2 | 0.86 | +400% |
| Other crime | 14 | 1.1 | 0.51 | -7% |
| Possession of weapons | 12 | 0.9 | 0.96 | +50% |
| Bicycle theft | 8 | 0.6 | 0.75 | -27% |
| Drugs | 6 | 0.5 | 0.14 | -60% |
| Theft from the person | 4 | 0.3 | 0.18 | -43% |
Violence and sexual offences in Ringwood
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Ringwood recorded 366 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 40.1% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Ringwood
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Ringwood recorded 120 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 13.1% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Ringwood
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Ringwood recorded 95 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 25% on the year before. It made up 10.4% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Ringwood
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Ringwood recorded 71 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Ringwood
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Ringwood recorded 64 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 7.0% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Ringwood
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Ringwood recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 36% on the year before. It made up 5.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Ringwood
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Ringwood recorded 52 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Ringwood
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Ringwood recorded 32 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 48% on the year before. It made up 3.5% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Ringwood
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Ringwood recorded 15 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 400% on the year before. It made up 1.6% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Ringwood
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Ringwood recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Ringwood
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Ringwood recorded 12 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 50% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Ringwood
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Ringwood recorded 8 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 down 27% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Ringwood
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Ringwood recorded 6 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 60% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Ringwood
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Ringwood recorded 4 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Ringwood, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Ringwood.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ringwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley Heath | 329 | 40.4 | -43% |
| Verwood | 510 | 35.6 | -50% |
| West Moors | 421 | 40.2 | -43% |
| Fordingbridge | 413 | 76.1 | +8% |
| Ferndown | 538 | 39.1 | -45% |
| Christchurch (Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole) | 2,754 | 57.6 | -19% |
| New Milton | 1,004 | 96.1 | +36% |
| Bournemouth | 21,650 | 106.8 | +51% |
2 areas within Ringwood, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Ringwood South had the highest rate (94.6 per 1,000) and Ringwood North & Ellingham the lowest (39.6). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ringwood South | Neighbourhood | 8,149 | 771 | 94.6 |
| Ringwood North & Ellingham | Neighbourhood | 7,398 | 293 | 39.6 |
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 Ringwood over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 110 |
| On or near Parking Area | 53 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 33 |
| On or near Crow Arch Lane | 29 |
| On or near High Street | 26 |
| On or near Poulner Park | 24 |
| On or near Whitehart Fields | 20 |
| On or near Kingsbury'S Lane | 17 |
| On or near Mansfield Road | 17 |
| On or near Chaffey Close | 16 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Ringwood 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 | 309 | 33.8% |
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 252 | 27.6% |
| Not recorded | 120 | 13.1% |
| Under investigation | 94 | 10.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 41 | 4.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 37 | 4.1% |
| Local resolution | 31 | 3.4% |
| Court result unavailable | 10 | 1.1% |
| Offender given a caution | 7 | 0.8% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 6 | 0.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 5 | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Ringwood has an estimated population of 12,904. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Ringwood sits in decile 7.4, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Ringwood |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.1% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 57.4% |
| Aged 65 and over | 25.5% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 70.9% |
| Social rented homes | 11.0% |
| Private rented homes | 18.0% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.4 |
Is Ringwood a safe place to live?
Ringwood recorded 70.8 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 Ringwood?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 366 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (120).
Is crime in Ringwood going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ringwood was down 2% on the year before: 913 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 935 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Ringwood?
Ringwood 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 Ringwood. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.