Crime in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton): statistics, rates and trends
1,278 crimes were recorded in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) in the 12 months to August 2026, 87.8 per 1,000 residents. That is close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 3% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) at a glance
- Crime trends in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)
- Types of crime in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)
- Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) compared with nearby towns
- Areas within Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)
- Streets with the most crime in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)
- What happened after crimes were reported in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)
- Demographics of Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)
- Questions about crime in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (670), anti-social behaviour (204) and public order (137) made up 79% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 498th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the upper half.
| Measure | Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) | Somerset | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 1,278 | 53,421 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 87.8 | 90.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -3% | +6% | -1% |
| Population | 14,561 | 588,328 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) peaked in the year to August 2025 (1,321 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2021 (888). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it rose 3%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 1,278 | 87.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 1,321 | 90.7 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 1,171 | 80.4 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 1,041 | 71.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 907 | 62.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 888 | 61.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 910 | 62.5 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 1,085 | 74.5 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 1,238 | 85.0 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 122 |
| July 2026 | 103 |
| June 2026 | 107 |
| May 2026 | 116 |
| April 2026 | 112 |
| March 2026 | 85 |
| February 2026 | 122 |
| January 2026 | 95 |
| December 2025 | 98 |
| November 2025 | 109 |
| October 2025 | 97 |
| September 2025 | 112 |
Compared with England and Wales, Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) recorded notably more public order (41% above the national rate) and violence and sexual offences (34% above the national rate), and notably less vehicle crime (67% below) and shoplifting (62% below). On the year before, shoplifting fell from 63 to 47 and other theft fell from 70 to 53.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 670 | 46.0 | 34.2 | +3% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 204 | 14.0 | 15.4 | +3% |
| Public order | 137 | 9.4 | 6.7 | -7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 75 | 5.2 | 6.7 | -14% |
| Other theft | 53 | 3.6 | 6.4 | -24% |
| Shoplifting | 47 | 3.2 | 8.5 | -25% |
| Other crime | 29 | 2.0 | 2.1 | +7% |
| Vehicle crime | 24 | 1.6 | 5.0 | +9% |
| Burglary | 15 | 1.0 | 3.6 | n/a |
| Drugs | 11 | 0.8 | 3.3 | n/a |
| Bicycle theft | 6 | 0.4 | 0.8 | n/a |
| Robbery | 4 | 0.3 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Possession of weapons | 3 | 0.2 | 1.0 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
5 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton); the highest is Taunton (128.0 per 1,000) and the lowest Honiton (56.2).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taunton | 8,305 | 128.0 | +46% |
| Monkton Heathfield | 695 | 108.5 | +24% |
| Cullompton | 851 | 69.5 | -21% |
| North Petherton | 502 | 95.8 | +9% |
| Tiverton | 1,918 | 92.0 | +5% |
| Honiton | 685 | 56.2 | -36% |
| Chard | 1,779 | 121.7 | +39% |
| Ilminster | 396 | 64.1 | -27% |
Of the 2 areas within Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton), Blackdown & Neroche had the highest crime rate (87.7 per 1,000) and Wellington the lowest (73.1).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackdown & Neroche | Neighbourhood | 9,104 | 798 | 87.7 |
| Wellington | Neighbourhood | 14,328 | 1,048 | 73.1 |
The 10 locations below account for 44% of the crime recorded in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Petrol Station” (141).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Petrol Station | 141 |
| On or near Cornhill | 85 |
| On or near Parking Area | 84 |
| On or near Fore Street | 57 |
| On or near Baker'S Lane | 44 |
| On or near Jurston Lane | 38 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 34 |
| On or near Red Lion Court | 28 |
| On or near Priory Gardens | 27 |
| On or near Grooms Orchard | 25 |
Of the 1,074 crimes in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) with a recorded outcome, 19% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.4% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 204 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 525 | 48.9% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 202 | 18.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 129 | 12.0% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 60 | 5.6% | 4.7% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 47 | 4.4% | 0.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 37 | 3.4% | 5.2% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 23 | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| Local resolution | 19 | 1.8% | 3.1% |
| Court result unavailable | 14 | 1.3% | 2.5% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 10 | 0.9% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 6 | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) has an estimated population of 14,561 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has fewer students (4.6%, against 7.9%), fewer households without a car (16%, against 23%) and more retired residents (28%, against 22%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) average decile 6.1 (1 = most deprived), close to the middle.
| Measure | Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 17.7% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 23.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 57.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 27.6% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.6% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 29.3% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 17.5% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 16.3% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 65.1% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 17.9% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 16.7% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 6.1 | 5.5 (England) |
Is Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) a safe place to live?
Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) recorded 87.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, close to the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 498th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest). The categories most above the national rate were public order and violence and sexual offences.
What is the most common crime in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 670 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (204).
Is crime in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) was down 3% on the year before: 1,278 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 1,321 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)?
About 14,561 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 23% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton)?
Wellington (Somerset West and Taunton) is policed by Avon and Somerset.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.