Crime in Skegness: statistics, rates and trends

4,525 crimes were recorded in Skegness in the 12 months to July 2026, 210.1 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,586 reports (35% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Skegness has the 8th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Skegness was highest in the year to July 2026 (4,525 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (3,804). Over the whole period it rose 19%, 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 Skegness 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 violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, shoplifting.

The largest increases were in public order (+54%) and robbery (+40%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-53%) and vehicle crime (-48%).

Violence and sexual offences in Skegness

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Skegness recorded 1,586 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (73.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 1% on the year before. It made up 35.0% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Skegness

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Skegness recorded 891 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (41.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 19.7% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Skegness

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Skegness recorded 655 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (30.4 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 2% on the year before. It made up 14.5% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Skegness

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Skegness recorded 324 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (15.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 7.2% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Skegness

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Skegness recorded 314 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (14.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 54% on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Skegness

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Skegness recorded 259 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (12.0 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 5% on the year before. It made up 5.7% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Skegness

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Skegness recorded 109 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 17% on the year before. It made up 2.4% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Skegness

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Skegness recorded 102 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 12% on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Skegness

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Skegness recorded 80 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.7 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 27% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Skegness

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Skegness recorded 75 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 48% on the year before. It made up 1.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Skegness

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Skegness recorded 60 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 40% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Skegness

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Skegness recorded 35 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Skegness

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Skegness recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 91% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Skegness

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Skegness recorded 14 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 53% on the year before. It made up 0.3% of all crime in the area.

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

3 areas within Skegness, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Scarbrough & Seacroft had the highest rate (261.2 per 1,000) and St Clement's the lowest (148.4). 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 Skegness over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Skegness 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.

Skegness has an estimated population of 21,536. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Skegness sits in decile 2.1, more deprived than average. 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 Skegness. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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