Crime in Sleaford: statistics, rates and trends

1,339 crimes were recorded in Sleaford in the 12 months to July 2026, 78.1 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and down 6% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 490 reports (37% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Sleaford has the 650th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Sleaford was highest in the year to July 2019 (1,526 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2018 (1,098). Over the whole period it rose 22%, 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 Sleaford 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 public order (+11%) and other theft (+10%).

The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-47%) and criminal damage and arson (-21%).

Violence and sexual offences in Sleaford

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Sleaford recorded 490 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (28.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and down 10% on the year before. It made up 36.6% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Sleaford

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Sleaford recorded 293 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 21.9% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Sleaford

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Sleaford recorded 173 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (10.1 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 8% on the year before. It made up 12.9% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Sleaford

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Sleaford recorded 109 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 11% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Sleaford

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Sleaford recorded 74 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.3 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 5.5% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Sleaford

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Sleaford recorded 54 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (3.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and up 10% on the year before. It made up 4.0% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Sleaford

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Sleaford recorded 38 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 21% on the year before. It made up 2.8% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Sleaford

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Sleaford recorded 31 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 2.3% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Sleaford

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Sleaford recorded 28 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Sleaford

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Sleaford recorded 18 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 47% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Sleaford

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Sleaford recorded 11 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 120% on the year before. It made up 0.8% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Sleaford

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Sleaford recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and up 80% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Sleaford

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Sleaford recorded 9 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 80% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Sleaford

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Sleaford recorded 2 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and up 100% on the year before. It made up 0.1% of all crime in the area.

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

5 areas within Sleaford, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Sleaford Westholme had the highest rate (155.0 per 1,000) and Sleaford Quarrington & Mareham the lowest (51.7). 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 Sleaford over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Sleaford 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.

Sleaford has an estimated population of 17,151. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Sleaford sits in decile 6.6, less 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 Sleaford. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

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