Crime in Salisbury: statistics, rates and trends

4,713 crimes were recorded in Salisbury in the 12 months to July 2026, 99.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 1% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,615 reports (34% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Salisbury has the 356th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Salisbury was highest in the year to July 2019 (5,225 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2021 (4,522). Over the whole period it fell 7%, 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 Salisbury 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 anti-social behaviour, public order, bicycle theft.

The largest increases were in vehicle crime (+32%) and drugs (+28%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-10%).

Violence and sexual offences in Salisbury

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Salisbury recorded 1,615 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (34.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 34.3% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Salisbury

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Salisbury recorded 988 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (20.9 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 6% on the year before. It made up 21.0% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Salisbury

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Salisbury recorded 439 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 12% on the year before. It made up 9.3% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Salisbury

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Salisbury recorded 398 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (8.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 8.4% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Salisbury

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Salisbury recorded 370 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 7.9% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Salisbury

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Salisbury recorded 268 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.7 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Salisbury

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Salisbury recorded 160 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and up 32% on the year before. It made up 3.4% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Salisbury

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Salisbury recorded 139 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.9 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and up 22% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Salisbury

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Salisbury recorded 96 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and up 28% on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Salisbury

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Salisbury recorded 92 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.0% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Salisbury

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Salisbury recorded 70 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 1.5% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Salisbury

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Salisbury recorded 31 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 almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Salisbury

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Salisbury recorded 29 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Salisbury

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Salisbury recorded 18 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 6% on the year before. It made up 0.4% of all crime in the area.

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

9 areas within Salisbury, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Salisbury St Edmund's had the highest rate (277.2 per 1,000) and Laverstock the lowest (37.1). 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 Salisbury over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Salisbury 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.

Salisbury has an estimated population of 47,234. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Salisbury sits in decile 6.5, close to the middle. 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 Salisbury. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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