Crime in Ross-on-Wye: statistics, rates and trends
832 crimes were recorded in Ross-on-Wye in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 1% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Ross-on-Wye at a glance
- Crime trends in Ross-on-Wye
- Types of crime in Ross-on-Wye
- Ross-on-Wye compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Ross-on-Wye
- Streets with the most crime in Ross-on-Wye
- What happened after crimes were reported in Ross-on-Wye
- Population and deprivation in Ross-on-Wye
- Questions about crime in Ross-on-Wye
- About this data
832 crimes were recorded in Ross-on-Wye in the 12 months to July 2026, 73.2 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 297 reports (36% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Ross-on-Wye has the 725th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Ross-on-Wye | Herefordshire, County of | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 832 | 11,617 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 73.2 | 60.8 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -1% | -3% | -1% |
| Population | 11,369 | 191,047 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Ross-on-Wye was highest in the year to July 2022 (1,325 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2026 (832). Over the whole period it fell 27%, 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 | 832 | 73.2 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 843 | 74.1 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 988 | 86.9 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 1,021 | 89.8 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 1,325 | 116.5 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 1,189 | 104.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 1,232 | 108.4 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 1,247 | 109.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 1,142 | 100.4 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 92 |
| June 2026 | 81 |
| May 2026 | 84 |
| April 2026 | 65 |
| March 2026 | 57 |
| February 2026 | 62 |
| January 2026 | 52 |
| December 2025 | 58 |
| November 2025 | 71 |
| October 2025 | 78 |
| September 2025 | 53 |
| August 2025 | 79 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Ross-on-Wye 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.
The largest increases were in shoplifting (+41%) and criminal damage and arson (+21%). The largest falls were in burglary (-59%) and other crime (-54%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 297 | 26.1 | 0.76 | +7% |
| Shoplifting | 145 | 12.8 | 1.54 | +41% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 110 | 9.7 | 0.63 | -29% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 82 | 7.2 | 1.06 | +21% |
| Public order | 65 | 5.7 | 0.86 | +16% |
| Other theft | 47 | 4.1 | 0.65 | -4% |
| Drugs | 20 | 1.8 | 0.54 | -9% |
| Vehicle crime | 19 | 1.7 | 0.34 | +0% |
| Burglary | 16 | 1.4 | 0.40 | -59% |
| Other crime | 16 | 1.4 | 0.67 | -54% |
| Possession of weapons | 8 | 0.7 | 0.72 | +33% |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.4 | 0.33 | +150% |
| Bicycle theft | 1 | 0.1 | 0.11 | -75% |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 0.05 | -86% |
Violence and sexual offences in Ross-on-Wye
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Ross-on-Wye recorded 297 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (26.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 7% on the year before. It made up 35.7% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Ross-on-Wye
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Ross-on-Wye recorded 145 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 41% on the year before. It made up 17.4% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Ross-on-Wye
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Ross-on-Wye recorded 110 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 29% on the year before. It made up 13.2% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Ross-on-Wye
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Ross-on-Wye recorded 82 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 9.9% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Ross-on-Wye
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Ross-on-Wye recorded 65 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 16% on the year before. It made up 7.8% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Ross-on-Wye
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Ross-on-Wye recorded 47 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 4% on the year before. It made up 5.6% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Ross-on-Wye
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Ross-on-Wye recorded 20 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Ross-on-Wye
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Ross-on-Wye recorded 19 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Ross-on-Wye
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Ross-on-Wye recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 59% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Ross-on-Wye
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Ross-on-Wye recorded 16 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 54% on the year before. It made up 1.9% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Ross-on-Wye
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Ross-on-Wye recorded 8 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 33% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Ross-on-Wye
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Ross-on-Wye recorded 5 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 150% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Ross-on-Wye
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Ross-on-Wye recorded 1 report 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 75% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Ross-on-Wye
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Ross-on-Wye recorded 1 report in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 86% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Ross-on-Wye, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Ross-on-Wye.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Ross-on-Wye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cinderford | 718 | 79.5 | +9% |
| Newent | 426 | 82.7 | +13% |
| Coleford (Forest of Dean) | 512 | 94.1 | +29% |
| Monmouth | 1,006 | 90.8 | +24% |
| Ledbury | 540 | 54.9 | -25% |
| Hereford | 5,582 | 91.8 | +25% |
| Lydney | 788 | 73.6 | +1% |
| Quedgeley and Hardwicke | 1,764 | 75.1 | +3% |
3 areas within Ross-on-Wye, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Ross East had the highest rate (110.8 per 1,000) and Ross West the lowest (53.7). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ross East | Neighbourhood | 3,575 | 396 | 110.8 |
| Ross North | Neighbourhood | 5,316 | 303 | 57.0 |
| Ross West | Neighbourhood | 2,478 | 133 | 53.7 |
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 Ross-on-Wye over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 152 |
| On or near Parking Area | 53 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 39 |
| On or near Market Place | 37 |
| On or near Broad Street | 28 |
| On or near Corpus Christi Lane | 18 |
| On or near Woburn Close | 18 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 18 |
| On or near Cawdor Arch Road | 15 |
| On or near Wood Edge | 15 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Ross-on-Wye 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 | 260 | 31.2% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 182 | 21.9% |
| Under investigation | 132 | 15.9% |
| Not recorded | 110 | 13.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 48 | 5.8% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 36 | 4.3% |
| Local resolution | 25 | 3.0% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 15 | 1.8% |
| Court result unavailable | 14 | 1.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 5 | 0.6% |
| Offender given a caution | 4 | 0.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% |
Ross-on-Wye has an estimated population of 11,369. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Ross-on-Wye sits in decile 6.2, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Ross-on-Wye |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 15.0% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 55.2% |
| Aged 65 and over | 29.7% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 63.9% |
| Social rented homes | 15.5% |
| Private rented homes | 20.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.2 |
Is Ross-on-Wye a safe place to live?
Ross-on-Wye recorded 73.2 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 Ross-on-Wye?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 297 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by shoplifting (145).
Is crime in Ross-on-Wye going up or down?
Recorded crime in Ross-on-Wye was down 1% on the year before: 832 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 843 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Ross-on-Wye?
Ross-on-Wye is policed by West Mercia. 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 Ross-on-Wye. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.