Crime in Royal Wootton Bassett: statistics, rates and trends
805 crimes were recorded in Royal Wootton Bassett in the 12 months to August 2026, 58.6 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 20% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Royal Wootton Bassett at a glance
- Crime trends in Royal Wootton Bassett
- Types of crime in Royal Wootton Bassett
- Royal Wootton Bassett compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Royal Wootton Bassett
- Streets with the most crime in Royal Wootton Bassett
- What happened after crimes were reported in Royal Wootton Bassett
- Demographics of Royal Wootton Bassett
- Questions about crime in Royal Wootton Bassett
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (360), anti-social behaviour (136) and criminal damage and arson (118) made up 76% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 981st of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lower half.
| Measure | Royal Wootton Bassett | Wiltshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 805 | 31,724 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 58.6 | 60.6 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +20% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 13,734 | 523,700 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Royal Wootton Bassett peaked in the year to August 2019 (814 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (664). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 6%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 805 | 58.6 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 670 | 48.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 664 | 48.3 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 756 | 55.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 768 | 55.9 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 787 | 57.3 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 755 | 55.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 814 | 59.3 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 761 | 55.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 73 |
| July 2026 | 72 |
| June 2026 | 57 |
| May 2026 | 75 |
| April 2026 | 54 |
| March 2026 | 72 |
| February 2026 | 50 |
| January 2026 | 77 |
| December 2025 | 69 |
| November 2025 | 90 |
| October 2025 | 61 |
| September 2025 | 55 |
Compared with England and Wales, Royal Wootton Bassett recorded notably more criminal damage and arson (27% above the national rate), and notably less burglary (57% below) and other theft (55% below). On the year before, other theft rose from 24 to 40 and criminal damage and arson rose from 80 to 118.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 360 | 26.2 | 34.2 | +41% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 136 | 9.9 | 15.4 | -6% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 118 | 8.6 | 6.7 | +48% |
| Public order | 54 | 3.9 | 6.7 | -13% |
| Other theft | 40 | 2.9 | 6.4 | +67% |
| Burglary | 21 | 1.5 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 21 | 1.5 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Other crime | 16 | 1.2 | 2.1 | n/a |
| Shoplifting | 14 | 1.0 | 8.5 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 11 | 0.8 | 1.0 | n/a |
| Vehicle crime | 6 | 0.4 | 5.0 | n/a |
| Robbery | 5 | 0.4 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 2 | 0.1 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 1 | 0.1 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
2 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Royal Wootton Bassett; the highest is Swindon (Swindon) (87.1 per 1,000) and the lowest Lyneham (19.7).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Royal Wootton Bassett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyneham | 114 | 19.7 | -66% |
| Wroughton | 510 | 53.2 | -9% |
| Swindon (Swindon) | 16,632 | 87.1 | +49% |
| Broad Blunsdon | 358 | 46.9 | -20% |
| Stratton St Margaret | 1,280 | 62.4 | +6% |
| Cricklade | 261 | 49.6 | -15% |
| Calne | 1,148 | 54.2 | -8% |
| Malmesbury | 375 | 44.2 | -25% |
Of the 3 areas within Royal Wootton Bassett, Royal Wootton Bassett North had the highest crime rate (71.4 per 1,000) and Royal Wootton Bassett East the lowest (29.6).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Wootton Bassett North | Neighbourhood | 5,522 | 394 | 71.4 |
| Royal Wootton Bassett South & West | Neighbourhood | 6,814 | 379 | 55.6 |
| Royal Wootton Bassett East | Neighbourhood | 4,192 | 124 | 29.6 |
The 10 locations below account for 31% of the crime recorded in Royal Wootton Bassett over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Manor House Close” (37).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Manor House Close | 37 |
| On or near Coxstalls | 35 |
| On or near Tanners Close | 33 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 25 |
| On or near A3102 | 22 |
| On or near Nightclub | 22 |
| On or near The Maltings | 22 |
| On or near Lime Kiln | 21 |
| On or near Supermarket | 18 |
| On or near B4042 | 17 |
Of the 669 crimes in Royal Wootton Bassett with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 2.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 136 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 230 | 34.4% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 193 | 28.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 121 | 18.1% | 11.5% |
| Local resolution | 35 | 5.2% | 3.1% |
| Status update unavailable | 35 | 5.2% | 4.7% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 18 | 2.7% | 1.3% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 16 | 2.4% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 9 | 1.3% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.9% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 3 | 0.4% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 1 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Royal Wootton Bassett has an estimated population of 13,734 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer households without a car (14%, against 23%), fewer students (5.0%, against 7.9%) and less private renting (15%, against 20%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Royal Wootton Bassett average decile 7.8 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | Royal Wootton Bassett | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.4% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 59.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.2% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 26.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.0% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 31.0% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 15.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 13.6% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 71.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 13.2% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 15.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 7.8 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Royal Wootton Bassett a safe place to live?
Royal Wootton Bassett recorded 58.6 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 981st of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were criminal damage and arson.
What is the most common crime in Royal Wootton Bassett?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 360 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (136).
Is crime in Royal Wootton Bassett going up or down?
Recorded crime in Royal Wootton Bassett was up 20% on the year before: 805 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 670 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Royal Wootton Bassett?
About 13,734 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Royal Wootton Bassett?
Royal Wootton Bassett is policed by Wiltshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.