Crime in West Molesey: statistics, rates and trends
2,388 crimes were recorded in West Molesey in the 12 months to August 2026, 49.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and up 6% on the year before.
Table of Contents
- Crime map
- Crime in West Molesey at a glance
- Crime trends in West Molesey
- Types of crime in West Molesey
- West Molesey compared with nearby towns
- Areas within West Molesey
- Streets with the most crime in West Molesey
- What happened after crimes were reported in West Molesey
- Demographics of West Molesey
- Questions about crime in West Molesey
- About this data
Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (913), anti-social behaviour (342) and vehicle crime (200) made up 61% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 1,164th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the lowest quarter.
| Measure | West Molesey | Elmbridge | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 2,388 | 8,690 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 49.4 | 61.2 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | +6% | +4% | -1% |
| Population | 48,326 | 141,926 | 58,127,638 |
Recorded crime in West Molesey peaked in the year to August 2021 (3,127 crimes) and was lowest in the year to August 2025 (2,261). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 18%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 2,388 | 49.4 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 2,261 | 46.8 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 2,569 | 53.2 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 2,730 | 56.5 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 2,721 | 56.3 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 3,127 | 64.7 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 3,043 | 63.0 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 2,824 | 58.4 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 2,918 | 60.4 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 183 |
| July 2026 | 224 |
| June 2026 | 203 |
| May 2026 | 233 |
| April 2026 | 204 |
| March 2026 | 196 |
| February 2026 | 189 |
| January 2026 | 190 |
| December 2025 | 173 |
| November 2025 | 182 |
| October 2025 | 196 |
| September 2025 | 215 |
No category with at least 20 crimes was notably above the England and Wales rate, and shoplifting (82% below) and drugs (61% below) were well below it. On the year before, vehicle crime rose from 152 to 200 and bicycle theft rose from 25 to 31, while possession of weapons fell from 28 to 21 and drugs fell from 77 to 61.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 913 | 18.9 | 34.2 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 342 | 7.1 | 15.4 | +17% |
| Vehicle crime | 200 | 4.1 | 5.0 | +32% |
| Other theft | 198 | 4.1 | 6.4 | +18% |
| Public order | 195 | 4.0 | 6.7 | -8% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 176 | 3.6 | 6.7 | +5% |
| Burglary | 100 | 2.1 | 3.6 | +1% |
| Shoplifting | 74 | 1.5 | 8.5 | -5% |
| Drugs | 61 | 1.3 | 3.3 | -21% |
| Other crime | 58 | 1.2 | 2.1 | +21% |
| Bicycle theft | 31 | 0.6 | 0.8 | +24% |
| Possession of weapons | 21 | 0.4 | 1.0 | -25% |
| Robbery | 11 | 0.2 | 1.4 | n/a |
| Theft from the person | 8 | 0.2 | 1.7 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
7 of the 8 nearest towns have a higher crime rate than West Molesey; the highest is Kingston upon Thames (87.7 per 1,000) and the lowest Hersham (47.2).
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs West Molesey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Esher | 564 | 60.1 | +22% |
| Walton-on-Thames | 2,252 | 81.6 | +65% |
| Kingston upon Thames | 15,017 | 87.7 | +78% |
| Hersham | 683 | 47.2 | -4% |
| Sunbury-on-Thames | 1,823 | 84.2 | +70% |
| Shepperton | 384 | 75.5 | +53% |
| Cobham (Elmbridge) | 1,324 | 71.0 | +44% |
| Ewell | 2,517 | 76.8 | +55% |
Of the 6 areas within West Molesey, Molesey East had the highest crime rate (61.5 per 1,000) and Hinchley Wood and Weston Green the lowest (31.4).
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Molesey East | Neighbourhood | 8,563 | 527 | 61.5 |
| Molesey West | Neighbourhood | 10,678 | 600 | 56.2 |
| Long Ditton | Neighbourhood | 8,366 | 459 | 54.9 |
| Thames Ditton | Neighbourhood | 8,221 | 348 | 42.3 |
| Claygate | Neighbourhood | 7,258 | 288 | 39.7 |
| Hinchley Wood and Weston Green | Neighbourhood | 7,348 | 231 | 31.4 |
The 10 locations below account for 18% of the crime recorded in West Molesey over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “Parking Area” (69).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near Parking Area | 69 |
| On or near Petrol Station | 62 |
| On or near Walton Road | 53 |
| On or near Supermarket | 45 |
| On or near Houston Road | 40 |
| On or near Riverbank | 35 |
| On or near Sports/Recreation Area | 35 |
| On or near Sugden Road | 35 |
| On or near Glebelands | 33 |
| On or near Woodfield Road | 30 |
Of the 2,046 crimes in West Molesey with a recorded outcome, 35% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 3.1% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 342 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 877 | 42.9% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 706 | 34.5% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 185 | 9.0% | 11.5% |
| Status update unavailable | 100 | 4.9% | 4.7% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 63 | 3.1% | 5.2% |
| Court result unavailable | 33 | 1.6% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 33 | 1.6% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 24 | 1.2% | 1.3% |
| Further investigation is not in the public interest | 12 | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 5 | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 2 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
West Molesey has an estimated population of 48,326 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (54%, against 34%), fewer households without a car (11%, against 23%) and less social housing (8.6%, against 17.1%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up West Molesey average decile 8.9 (1 = most deprived), less deprived than average.
| Measure | West Molesey | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 21.2% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 18.3% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 63.1% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 2.7% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 20.8% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 6.2% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 53.7% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 10.3% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 11.5% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 77.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 8.6% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 13.8% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 8.9 | 5.5 (England) |
Is West Molesey a safe place to live?
West Molesey recorded 49.4 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 1,164th of the 1,390 towns on this site by crime rate (1 = highest).
What is the most common crime in West Molesey?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 913 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (342).
Is crime in West Molesey going up or down?
Recorded crime in West Molesey was up 6% on the year before: 2,388 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 2,261 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of West Molesey?
About 48,326 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 18% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers West Molesey?
West Molesey is policed by Surrey.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.