Crime in Wellingborough: statistics, rates and trends
6,521 crimes were recorded in Wellingborough in the 12 months to August 2026, 115.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 10% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Wellingborough at a glance
- Crime trends in Wellingborough
- Types of crime in Wellingborough
- Wellingborough compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Wellingborough
- Streets with the most crime in Wellingborough
- What happened after crimes were reported in Wellingborough
- Demographics of Wellingborough
- Questions about crime in Wellingborough
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (2,260), anti-social behaviour (1,500) and shoplifting (424) made up 64% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 205th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest quarter.
| Measure | Wellingborough | North Northamptonshire | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 6,521 | 32,796 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 115.8 | 87.7 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -10% | -4% | -1% |
| Population | 56,328 | 373,871 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Wellingborough of any year here (6,521 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 14%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 6,521 | 115.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 7,264 | 129.0 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 6,845 | 121.5 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 6,985 | 124.0 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 7,124 | 126.5 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 7,723 | 137.1 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 8,390 | 148.9 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 8,001 | 142.0 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 7,595 | 134.8 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 545 |
| July 2026 | 690 |
| June 2026 | 601 |
| May 2026 | 621 |
| April 2026 | 509 |
| March 2026 | 503 |
| February 2026 | 475 |
| January 2026 | 530 |
| December 2025 | 518 |
| November 2025 | 485 |
| October 2025 | 480 |
| September 2025 | 564 |
Compared with England and Wales, Wellingborough recorded notably more possession of weapons (2.0 times the national rate), anti-social behaviour (73% above the national rate) and drugs (69% above the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (78% below). On the year before, robbery rose from 98 to 122, while shoplifting fell from 1,090 to 424 and other theft fell from 378 to 291.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 2,260 | 40.1 | 34.2 | -2% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 1,500 | 26.6 | 15.4 | +7% |
| Shoplifting | 424 | 7.5 | 8.5 | -61% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 406 | 7.2 | 6.7 | +5% |
| Vehicle crime | 402 | 7.1 | 5.0 | -5% |
| Public order | 325 | 5.8 | 6.7 | -8% |
| Drugs | 311 | 5.5 | 3.3 | +2% |
| Other theft | 291 | 5.2 | 6.4 | -23% |
| Burglary | 187 | 3.3 | 3.6 | +4% |
| Other crime | 123 | 2.2 | 2.1 | -19% |
| Robbery | 122 | 2.2 | 1.4 | +24% |
| Possession of weapons | 110 | 2.0 | 1.0 | -2% |
| Bicycle theft | 39 | 0.7 | 0.8 | -22% |
| Theft from the person | 21 | 0.4 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
Wellingborough has a higher crime rate than all 8 of its nearest towns.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wellingborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finedon | 386 | 73.7 | -36% |
| Earls Barton | 329 | 51.4 | -56% |
| Irthlingborough | 703 | 73.7 | -36% |
| Burton Latimer | 482 | 55.9 | -52% |
| Rushden | 3,325 | 113.2 | -2% |
| Higham Ferrers | 765 | 81.3 | -30% |
| Moulton (West Northamptonshire) | 629 | 78.6 | -32% |
| Kettering | 7,067 | 107.3 | -7% |
Of the 4 areas within Wellingborough, Croyland & Swanspool had the highest crime rate (154.0 per 1,000) and Hatton Park the lowest (72.2).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Croyland & Swanspool | Neighbourhood | 13,707 | 2,111 | 154.0 |
| Brickhill & Queensway | Neighbourhood | 16,956 | 2,416 | 142.5 |
| Victoria | Neighbourhood | 11,313 | 1,059 | 93.6 |
| Hatton Park | Neighbourhood | 16,501 | 1,192 | 72.2 |
The 10 locations below account for 23% of the crime recorded in Wellingborough over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Supermarket” (380).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Supermarket | 380 |
| On or near Market Street | 213 |
| On or near Millers Park | 171 |
| On or near Crane Close | 132 |
| On or near Parking Area | 129 |
| On or near Jubilee Crescent | 98 |
| On or near Niort Way | 96 |
| On or near Fulmar Lane | 92 |
| On or near Goldsmith Road | 84 |
| On or near Wordsworth Road | 82 |
Of the 5,021 crimes in Wellingborough with a recorded outcome, 34% 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 1,500 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,767 | 35.2% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 1,730 | 34.5% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 587 | 11.7% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 259 | 5.2% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 243 | 4.8% | 4.7% |
| Local resolution | 137 | 2.7% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 120 | 2.4% | 1.3% |
| Court result unavailable | 74 | 1.5% | 2.5% |
| Offender given a caution | 48 | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 40 | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 13 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Wellingborough has an estimated population of 56,328 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with no qualifications (24%, against 18%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (24%, against 34%) and more social housing (21%, against 17%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Wellingborough average decile 4.8 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Wellingborough | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 19.5% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 16.2% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 61.2% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.5% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 19.1% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.3% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 23.9% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 23.6% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 21.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 57.9% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 21.0% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 21.0% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 4.8 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 10.6% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Wellingborough a safe place to live?
Wellingborough recorded 115.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 205th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were possession of weapons and anti-social behaviour.
What is the most common crime in Wellingborough?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 2,260 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (1,500).
Is crime in Wellingborough going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wellingborough was down 10% on the year before: 6,521 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 7,264 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Wellingborough?
About 56,328 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 16% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Wellingborough?
Wellingborough is policed by Northamptonshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.