Crime in Swindon (Swindon): statistics, rates and trends
16,632 crimes were recorded in Swindon (Swindon) in the 12 months to August 2026, 87.1 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and almost unchanged on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- 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)
- Demographics of Swindon (Swindon)
- Questions about crime in Swindon (Swindon)
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (6,287), anti-social behaviour (3,384) and public order (1,355) made up 66% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 511th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Swindon (Swindon) | Swindon | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 16,632 | 19,935 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 87.1 | 81.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +1% | 0% | -1% |
| Population | 190,862 | 243,875 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Swindon (Swindon) peaked in the year to August 2018 (21,082 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2024 (16,408). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 21%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 16,632 | 87.1 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 16,468 | 86.3 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 16,408 | 86.0 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 17,293 | 90.6 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 17,197 | 90.1 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 16,582 | 86.9 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 17,973 | 94.2 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 19,860 | 104.1 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 21,082 | 110.5 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 1,485 |
| 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 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and theft from the person (65% below) and burglary (50% below) were well below it. On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 525 to 661, while bicycle theft fell from 220 to 183.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 6,287 | 32.9 | 34.2 | +1% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 3,384 | 17.7 | 15.4 | +6% |
| Public order | 1,355 | 7.1 | 6.7 | +2% |
| Shoplifting | 1,305 | 6.8 | 8.5 | -5% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 1,148 | 6.0 | 6.7 | +1% |
| Other theft | 784 | 4.1 | 6.4 | +1% |
| Vehicle crime | 661 | 3.5 | 5.0 | +26% |
| Drugs | 425 | 2.2 | 3.3 | -14% |
| Other crime | 341 | 1.8 | 2.1 | -7% |
| Burglary | 336 | 1.8 | 3.6 | -11% |
| Bicycle theft | 183 | 1.0 | 0.8 | -17% |
| Possession of weapons | 166 | 0.9 | 1.0 | -9% |
| Robbery | 145 | 0.8 | 1.4 | +9% |
| Theft from the person | 112 | 0.6 | 1.7 | -12% |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Swindon (Swindon) has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest towns.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Swindon (Swindon) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stratton St Margaret | 1,280 | 62.4 | -28% |
| Broad Blunsdon | 358 | 46.9 | -46% |
| Wroughton | 510 | 53.2 | -39% |
| Royal Wootton Bassett | 805 | 58.6 | -33% |
| Highworth | 400 | 47.4 | -46% |
| Cricklade | 261 | 49.6 | -43% |
| Shrivenham and Watchfield | 335 | 45.8 | -47% |
| Lyneham | 114 | 19.7 | -77% |
Of the 15 areas within Swindon (Swindon), Central had the highest crime rate (212.5 per 1,000) and Haydon Wick the lowest (31.2), 7 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central | Neighbourhood | 17,403 | 3,698 | 212.5 |
| Eastcott | Neighbourhood | 11,911 | 1,687 | 141.6 |
| Walcot and Park North | Neighbourhood | 12,147 | 1,336 | 110.0 |
| Mannington and Western | Neighbourhood | 12,552 | 1,124 | 89.5 |
| Rodbourne Cheney | Neighbourhood | 13,371 | 1,151 | 86.1 |
| Old Town | Neighbourhood | 11,595 | 984 | 84.9 |
| Liden, Eldene and Park South | Neighbourhood | 13,992 | 1,181 | 84.4 |
| Gorse Hill and Pinehurst | Neighbourhood | 12,933 | 1,050 | 81.2 |
| Lydiard and Freshbrook | Neighbourhood | 11,137 | 820 | 73.6 |
| St Andrews | Neighbourhood | 22,060 | 1,085 | 49.2 |
| Priory Vale | Neighbourhood | 14,271 | 677 | 47.4 |
| Covingham and Dorcan | Neighbourhood | 10,131 | 454 | 44.8 |
| Shaw | Neighbourhood | 10,728 | 474 | 44.2 |
| Chiseldon and Lawn | Neighbourhood | 8,724 | 379 | 43.4 |
| Haydon Wick | Neighbourhood | 9,935 | 310 | 31.2 |
The 10 locations below account for 19% of the crime recorded in Swindon (Swindon) over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (779).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 779 |
| On or near Shopping Area | 759 |
| On or near Supermarket | 624 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 247 |
| On or near Regent Circus | 165 |
| On or near Queen Street | 164 |
| On or near Nightclub | 146 |
| On or near College Street | 138 |
| On or near High Street | 120 |
| On or near Wood Street | 99 |
Of the 13,248 crimes in Swindon (Swindon) with a recorded outcome, 29% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 5.2% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 3,384 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 4,096 | 30.9% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 3,840 | 29.0% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 2,361 | 17.8% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 845 | 6.4% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 684 | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Local resolution | 413 | 3.1% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 373 | 2.8% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 359 | 2.7% | 2.5% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 157 | 1.2% | 0.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 62 | 0.5% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 32 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 19 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Swindon (Swindon) has an estimated population of 190,862 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (5.5%, against 7.9%), a younger population (14%, against 19%) and fewer retired residents (17%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Swindon (Swindon) average decile 6.0 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Swindon (Swindon) | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 20.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 14.1% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 64.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.4% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 16.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 5.5% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 27.8% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 21.1% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 61.8% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 16.5% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.6% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.0 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 8.2% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Swindon (Swindon) a safe place to live?
Swindon (Swindon) recorded 87.1 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 511th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in Swindon (Swindon)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 6,287 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (3,384).
Is crime in Swindon (Swindon) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Swindon (Swindon) was almost unchanged on the year before: 16,632 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 16,468 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Swindon (Swindon)?
About 190,862 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 14% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Swindon (Swindon)?
Swindon (Swindon) 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.