Crime in Swindon (Swindon): statistics, rates and trends
16,566 crimes were recorded in Swindon (Swindon) in the 12 months to July 2026, 86.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime in Swindon (Swindon) at a glance
- Crime trends in Swindon (Swindon)
- Types of crime in Swindon (Swindon)
- Swindon (Swindon) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Swindon (Swindon)
- Streets with the most crime in Swindon (Swindon)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Swindon (Swindon)
- Population and deprivation in Swindon (Swindon)
- Questions about crime in Swindon (Swindon)
- About this data
16,566 crimes were recorded in Swindon (Swindon) in the 12 months to July 2026, 86.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 6,303 reports (38% of the total).
Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Swindon (Swindon) has the 518th highest crime rate.
| Measure | Swindon (Swindon) | Swindon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to July 2026 | 16,566 | 19,864 | 5,665,700 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 86.8 | 81.5 | 96.4 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 190,862 | 243,875 | 58,797,018 |
Recorded crime in Swindon (Swindon) was highest in the year to July 2018 (21,305 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2024 (16,433). Over the whole period it fell 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.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to July 2026 | 16,566 | 86.8 | 96.4 |
| Year to July 2025 | 16,475 | 86.3 | 97.1 |
| Year to July 2024 | 16,433 | 86.1 | 97.7 |
| Year to July 2023 | 17,543 | 91.9 | 5.2 |
| Year to July 2022 | 16,943 | 88.8 | 101.3 |
| Year to July 2021 | 16,722 | 87.6 | 102.1 |
| Year to July 2020 | 18,243 | 95.6 | 101.9 |
| Year to July 2019 | 19,794 | 103.7 | 101.5 |
| Year to July 2018 | 21,305 | 111.6 | 100.6 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| July 2026 | 1,491 |
| June 2026 | 1,273 |
| May 2026 | 1,301 |
| April 2026 | 1,492 |
| March 2026 | 1,499 |
| February 2026 | 1,270 |
| January 2026 | 1,319 |
| December 2025 | 1,292 |
| November 2025 | 1,364 |
| October 2025 | 1,457 |
| September 2025 | 1,389 |
| August 2025 | 1,419 |
The table shows every category of crime recorded in Swindon (Swindon) 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 robbery (+20%) and vehicle crime (+15%). The largest falls were in bicycle theft (-22%) and drugs (-16%).
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Index (E&W = 1.00) | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 6,303 | 33.0 | 0.96 | +2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 3,354 | 17.6 | 1.15 | +3% |
| Public order | 1,357 | 7.1 | 1.07 | +3% |
| Shoplifting | 1,266 | 6.6 | 0.80 | -9% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 1,151 | 6.0 | 0.89 | +0% |
| Other theft | 767 | 4.0 | 0.63 | -0% |
| Vehicle crime | 640 | 3.4 | 0.68 | +15% |
| Drugs | 415 | 2.2 | 0.67 | -16% |
| Other crime | 362 | 1.9 | 0.90 | +0% |
| Burglary | 345 | 1.8 | 0.51 | -4% |
| Bicycle theft | 179 | 0.9 | 1.14 | -22% |
| Possession of weapons | 171 | 0.9 | 0.92 | -3% |
| Robbery | 148 | 0.8 | 0.57 | +20% |
| Theft from the person | 108 | 0.6 | 0.33 | -16% |
Violence and sexual offences in Swindon (Swindon)
Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 6,303 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (33.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 2% on the year before. It made up 38.0% of all crime in the area.
Anti-social behaviour in Swindon (Swindon)
Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 3,354 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (17.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 20.2% of all crime in the area.
Public order in Swindon (Swindon)
Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 1,357 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (7.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.
Shoplifting in Swindon (Swindon)
Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 1,266 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.6 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and down 9% on the year before. It made up 7.6% of all crime in the area.
Criminal damage and arson in Swindon (Swindon)
Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 1,151 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.0 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 6.9% of all crime in the area.
Other theft in Swindon (Swindon)
Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 767 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.0 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and almost unchanged on the year before. It made up 4.6% of all crime in the area.
Vehicle crime in Swindon (Swindon)
Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 640 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 15% on the year before. It made up 3.9% of all crime in the area.
Drugs in Swindon (Swindon)
Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 415 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.2 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 16% on the year before. It made up 2.5% of all crime in the area.
Other crime in Swindon (Swindon)
Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 362 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 2.2% of all crime in the area.
Burglary in Swindon (Swindon)
Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 345 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 down 4% on the year before. It made up 2.1% of all crime in the area.
Bicycle theft in Swindon (Swindon)
Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 179 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 22% on the year before. It made up 1.1% of all crime in the area.
Possession of weapons in Swindon (Swindon)
Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 171 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.9 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and down 3% on the year before. It made up 1.0% of all crime in the area.
Robbery in Swindon (Swindon)
Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 148 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.8 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 20% on the year before. It made up 0.9% of all crime in the area.
Theft from the person in Swindon (Swindon)
Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Swindon (Swindon) recorded 108 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 16% on the year before. It made up 0.7% of all crime in the area.
Crime rates in the towns closest to Swindon (Swindon), for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Swindon (Swindon).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Swindon (Swindon) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratton St Margaret | 1,268 | 61.8 | -29% |
| Broad Blunsdon | 365 | 47.8 | -45% |
| Wroughton | 529 | 55.2 | -36% |
| Royal Wootton Bassett | 776 | 56.5 | -35% |
| Highworth | 395 | 46.8 | -46% |
| Cricklade | 251 | 47.7 | -45% |
| Shrivenham and Watchfield | 329 | 45.0 | -48% |
| Lyneham | 109 | 18.9 | -78% |
15 areas within Swindon (Swindon), ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. Central had the highest rate (209.0 per 1,000) and Haydon Wick the lowest (31.6). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Neighbourhood | 17,403 | 3,638 | 209.0 |
| Eastcott | Neighbourhood | 11,911 | 1,650 | 138.5 |
| Walcot and Park North | Neighbourhood | 12,147 | 1,325 | 109.1 |
| Mannington and Western | Neighbourhood | 12,552 | 1,130 | 90.0 |
| Rodbourne Cheney | Neighbourhood | 13,371 | 1,124 | 84.1 |
| Liden, Eldene and Park South | Neighbourhood | 13,992 | 1,174 | 83.9 |
| Old Town | Neighbourhood | 11,595 | 967 | 83.4 |
| Gorse Hill and Pinehurst | Neighbourhood | 12,933 | 1,054 | 81.5 |
| Lydiard and Freshbrook | Neighbourhood | 11,137 | 835 | 75.0 |
| St Andrews | Neighbourhood | 22,060 | 1,098 | 49.8 |
| Priory Vale | Neighbourhood | 14,271 | 695 | 48.7 |
| Shaw | Neighbourhood | 10,728 | 496 | 46.2 |
| Chiseldon and Lawn | Neighbourhood | 8,724 | 389 | 44.6 |
| Covingham and Dorcan | Neighbourhood | 10,131 | 443 | 43.7 |
| Haydon Wick | Neighbourhood | 9,935 | 314 | 31.6 |
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 Swindon (Swindon) over the 12 months to July 2026.
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 796 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 733 |
| On or near Supermarket | 622 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 251 |
| On or near Regent Circus | 166 |
| On or near Queen Street | 164 |
| On or near Nightclub | 137 |
| On or near College Street | 123 |
| On or near High Street | 115 |
| On or near Markenfield | 94 |
The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Swindon (Swindon) 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 | 4,161 | 25.1% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 3,853 | 23.3% |
| Not recorded | 3,354 | 20.2% |
| Under investigation | 2,290 | 13.8% |
| Status update unavailable | 776 | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 699 | 4.2% |
| Local resolution | 400 | 2.4% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 381 | 2.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 358 | 2.2% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 172 | 1.0% |
| Offender given a caution | 60 | 0.4% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 37 | 0.2% |
Swindon (Swindon) has an estimated population of 190,862. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Swindon (Swindon) sits in decile 6.0, close to the middle. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.
| Measure | Swindon (Swindon) |
|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.5% |
| Aged 16 to 64 | 65.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.1% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.8% |
| Social rented homes | 16.5% |
| Private rented homes | 21.6% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 8.2% |
Is Swindon (Swindon) a safe place to live?
Swindon (Swindon) recorded 86.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to July 2026, close to 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 Swindon (Swindon)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 6,303 reports in the 12 months to July 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (3,354).
Is crime in Swindon (Swindon) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Swindon (Swindon) was almost unchanged on the year before: 16,566 crimes in the 12 months to July 2026 against 16,475 in the previous 12 months.
Which police force covers Swindon (Swindon)?
Swindon (Swindon) is policed by Wiltshire. 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 Swindon (Swindon). Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.
Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.