Crime in Winchester: statistics, rates and trends

4,317 crimes were recorded in Winchester in the 12 months to July 2026, 82.4 per 1,000 residents. That is lower than the England and Wales rate of 96.4, and up 2% on the year before. The most common offence was violence and sexual offences, with 1,850 reports (43% of the total).

Of the 1,408 towns covered by this site, Winchester has the 575th highest crime rate.

Recorded crime in Winchester was highest in the year to July 2023 (5,339 crimes) and lowest in the year to July 2025 (4,253). Over the whole period it fell 1%, 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.

Month by month

The table shows every category of crime recorded in Winchester 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. Rates were well above the national level for drugs.

The largest increases were in possession of weapons (+46%) and robbery (+23%). The largest falls were in vehicle crime (-43%) and theft from the person (-40%).

Violence and sexual offences in Winchester

Violence and sexual offences covers offences against the person, from common assault to homicide, and sexual offences. Winchester recorded 1,850 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (35.3 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 34.2, and up 21% on the year before. It made up 42.9% of all crime in the area.

Shoplifting in Winchester

Shoplifting covers theft from shops or stalls. Winchester recorded 516 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (9.8 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 8.3, and up 3% on the year before. It made up 12.0% of all crime in the area.

Public order in Winchester

Public order covers offences that cause fear, alarm or distress. Winchester recorded 355 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.8 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.6, and down 13% on the year before. It made up 8.2% of all crime in the area.

Anti-social behaviour in Winchester

Anti-social behaviour covers personal, environmental and nuisance anti-social behaviour. Winchester recorded 351 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (6.7 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 15.3, and down 5% on the year before. It made up 8.1% of all crime in the area.

Other theft in Winchester

Other theft covers theft not covered by another category, such as theft by an employee or of unattended items. Winchester recorded 293 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.6 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 6.4, and down 7% on the year before. It made up 6.8% of all crime in the area.

Drugs in Winchester

Drugs covers possession, supply and production of controlled drugs. Winchester recorded 273 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (5.2 per 1,000 residents), higher than the England and Wales rate of 3.3, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 6.3% of all crime in the area.

Criminal damage and arson in Winchester

Criminal damage and arson covers deliberate damage to property, including setting fire to it. Winchester recorded 234 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (4.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 6.8, and down 8% on the year before. It made up 5.4% of all crime in the area.

Other crime in Winchester

Other crime covers offences not covered by another category, such as forgery and perjury. Winchester recorded 126 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.4 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 2.1, and down 18% on the year before. It made up 2.9% of all crime in the area.

Burglary in Winchester

Burglary covers entering a home or other building as a trespasser to steal, or with intent to steal. Winchester recorded 111 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (2.1 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 3.5, and down 28% on the year before. It made up 2.6% of all crime in the area.

Vehicle crime in Winchester

Vehicle crime covers theft of or from a vehicle, and interfering with a vehicle. Winchester recorded 77 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 4.9, and down 43% on the year before. It made up 1.8% of all crime in the area.

Possession of weapons in Winchester

Possession of weapons covers carrying or possessing a weapon such as a firearm or knife. Winchester recorded 57 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (1.1 per 1,000 residents), close to the England and Wales rate of 1.0, and up 46% on the year before. It made up 1.3% of all crime in the area.

Robbery in Winchester

Robbery covers theft using force or the threat of force. Winchester recorded 27 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.4, and up 23% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Bicycle theft in Winchester

Bicycle theft covers the taking of a bicycle without the owner's consent. Winchester recorded 26 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.5 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 0.8, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.6% of all crime in the area.

Theft from the person in Winchester

Theft from the person covers theft of property carried on the person, such as pickpocketing, without force. Winchester recorded 21 reports in the 12 months to July 2026 (0.4 per 1,000 residents), lower than the England and Wales rate of 1.7, and down 40% on the year before. It made up 0.5% of all crime in the area.

Crime rates in the towns closest to Winchester, for the 12 months to July 2026. The last column shows each area's rate relative to Winchester.

6 areas within Winchester, ordered by crime rate over the 12 months to July 2026. St Michael had the highest rate (180.0 per 1,000) and Badger Farm and Oliver's Battery the lowest (34.5). Busy town and city centres often show high rates because many of the people there do not live there.

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 Winchester over the 12 months to July 2026.

The latest recorded outcome for crimes in Winchester 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.

Winchester has an estimated population of 52,422. On the England IoD 2025, the average neighbourhood in Winchester sits in decile 7.9, less deprived than average. Deprivation and recorded crime are linked, but many other factors shape local crime rates.

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 Winchester. Crimes recorded by British Transport Police are not included.

Population figures are ONS mid-year estimates. See the methodology for details.