Crime in Wisbech: statistics, rates and trends
3,414 crimes were recorded in Wisbech in the 12 months to August 2026, 132.8 per 1,000 residents. That is higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and down 2% on the year before.
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Crime map
Violence and sexual offences (1,342), anti-social behaviour (590) and criminal damage and arson (294) made up 65% of all recorded crime. Its crime rate ranks 119th of the 1,390 towns covered by this site (1 = highest), in the highest tenth.
| Measure | Wisbech | Fenland | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crimes, the 12 months to August 2026 | 3,414 | 9,525 | 5,618,064 |
| Crimes per 1,000 residents | 132.8 | 90.8 | 96.7 |
| Change on previous 12 months | -2% | -1% | -1% |
| Population | 25,707 | 104,896 | 58,127,638 |
The year to August 2026 had the least recorded crime in Wisbech of any year here (3,414 crimes). Between the years to August 2018 and 2026 it fell 9%, while across England and Wales it fell 4%.
| Period | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year to August 2026 | 3,414 | 132.8 | 96.7 |
| Year to August 2025 | 3,472 | 135.1 | 97.2 |
| Year to August 2024 | 3,772 | 146.7 | 97.9 |
| Year to August 2023 | 3,699 | 143.9 | n/a |
| Year to August 2022 | 3,903 | 151.8 | 102.0 |
| Year to August 2021 | 3,471 | 135.0 | 101.4 |
| Year to August 2020 | 3,437 | 133.7 | 102.7 |
| Year to August 2019 | 3,591 | 139.7 | 101.7 |
| Year to August 2018 | 3,762 | 146.3 | 100.8 |
Month by month
| Month | Crimes |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | 321 |
| July 2026 | 295 |
| June 2026 | 343 |
| May 2026 | 288 |
| April 2026 | 288 |
| March 2026 | 268 |
| February 2026 | 254 |
| January 2026 | 302 |
| December 2025 | 248 |
| November 2025 | 260 |
| October 2025 | 267 |
| September 2025 | 280 |
Compared with England and Wales, Wisbech recorded notably more possession of weapons (2.4 times the national rate), other crime (93% above the national rate) and other theft (76% above the national rate), and notably less theft from the person (45% below) and vehicle crime (34% below). On the year before, robbery rose from 20 to 29 and other crime rose from 81 to 105, while burglary fell from 118 to 82 and vehicle crime fell from 116 to 84.
| Crime type | Crimes | Per 1,000 | England and Wales per 1,000 | Change on year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 1,342 | 52.2 | 34.2 | +4% |
| Anti-social behaviour | 590 | 23.0 | 15.4 | +7% |
| Criminal damage and arson | 294 | 11.4 | 6.7 | +4% |
| Other theft | 292 | 11.4 | 6.4 | -23% |
| Shoplifting | 204 | 7.9 | 8.5 | -21% |
| Public order | 167 | 6.5 | 6.7 | +3% |
| Drugs | 123 | 4.8 | 3.3 | +22% |
| Other crime | 105 | 4.1 | 2.1 | +30% |
| Vehicle crime | 84 | 3.3 | 5.0 | -28% |
| Burglary | 82 | 3.2 | 3.6 | -31% |
| Possession of weapons | 60 | 2.3 | 1.0 | -2% |
| Robbery | 29 | 1.1 | 1.4 | +45% |
| Theft from the person | 24 | 0.9 | 1.7 | +14% |
| Bicycle theft | 18 | 0.7 | 0.8 | n/a |
What each category covers: crime categories.
| Town | Crimes | Per 1,000 | Rate vs Wisbech |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elm and Emneth | 402 | 71.9 | -46% |
| Long Sutton (South Holland) | 486 | 81.5 | -39% |
| March | 2,133 | 98.9 | -26% |
| Downham Market | 667 | 59.0 | -56% |
| Holbeach | 716 | 89.0 | -33% |
| Doddington and Wimblington | 280 | 55.8 | -58% |
| King's Lynn | 5,606 | 113.4 | -15% |
| Crowland | 448 | 79.6 | -40% |
Of the 4 areas within Wisbech, Wisbech South had the highest crime rate (226.1 per 1,000) and Wisbech Walsoken & Waterlees the lowest (67.7), 3 times apart.
| Area | Type | Population | Crimes | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wisbech South | Neighbourhood | 8,880 | 2,008 | 226.1 |
| Wisbech Riverside | Neighbourhood | 5,528 | 805 | 145.6 |
| Wisbech North | Neighbourhood | 3,852 | 345 | 89.6 |
| Wisbech Walsoken & Waterlees | Neighbourhood | 6,912 | 468 | 67.7 |
The 10 locations below account for 25% of the crime recorded in Wisbech over the 12 months to August 2026; the most were recorded at “New Drove” (179).
| Location | Crimes |
|---|---|
| On or near New Drove | 179 |
| On or near Market Place | 174 |
| On or near Parking Area | 82 |
| On or near Stermyn Street | 76 |
| On or near Blackfriars Road | 75 |
| On or near Old Bell Way | 65 |
| On or near Bridge Street | 56 |
| On or near Norfolk Street | 55 |
| On or near Sandown Road | 52 |
| On or near Royal Place | 48 |
Of the 2,824 crimes in Wisbech with a recorded outcome, 30% ended with the investigation complete and no suspect identified, against 35% across England and Wales; 4.6% were awaiting a court outcome (England and Wales: 5.2%). The 590 anti-social behaviour reports have no outcome and are left out.
| Outcome | Crimes | Share | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unable to prosecute suspect | 1,171 | 41.5% | 34.5% |
| Investigation complete; no suspect identified | 842 | 29.8% | 35.3% |
| Under investigation | 317 | 11.2% | 11.5% |
| Awaiting court outcome | 129 | 4.6% | 5.2% |
| Status update unavailable | 109 | 3.9% | 4.7% |
| Court result unavailable | 96 | 3.4% | 2.5% |
| Local resolution | 75 | 2.7% | 3.1% |
| Action to be taken by another organisation | 37 | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| Offender given a caution | 32 | 1.1% | 0.6% |
| Further action is not in the public interest | 6 | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Suspect charged as part of another case | 5 | 0.2% | 0.0% |
| Formal action is not in the public interest | 3 | 0.1% | 0.3% |
Wisbech has an estimated population of 25,707 (ONS, mid-2024). Compared with England and Wales it has more residents with no qualifications (32%, against 18%), fewer residents with Level 4 qualifications or above (16%, against 34%) and fewer students (4.1%, against 7.9%). On the England IoD 2025, the small areas (LSOAs) that make up Wisbech average decile 2.7 (1 = most deprived), more deprived than average.
| Measure | Wisbech | England and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| Aged 0 to 15 | 18.0% | 18.3% |
| Aged 65 and over | 20.9% | 18.9% |
| Residents 16+ in work | 55.9% | 57.2% |
| Residents 16+ unemployed | 3.3% | 3.4% |
| Residents 16+ retired | 23.3% | 21.6% |
| Residents 16+ who are students | 4.1% | 7.9% |
| Residents 16+ with Level 4 qualifications or above (degree, HND and similar) | 16.1% | 33.8% |
| Residents 16+ with no qualifications | 32.2% | 18.2% |
| Households with no car or van | 24.2% | 23.3% |
| Homes owned outright or with a mortgage | 54.6% | 62.5% |
| Social rented homes | 18.3% | 17.1% |
| Private rented homes | 27.1% | 20.3% |
| Average deprivation decile (1 = most deprived, 10 = least) | 2.7 | 5.5 (England) |
| Residents in the most deprived 10% of areas | 25.4% | 10.1% (England) |
Is Wisbech a safe place to live?
Wisbech recorded 132.8 crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026, higher than the England and Wales rate of 96.7, and ranks 119th 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 other crime.
What is the most common crime in Wisbech?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common category, with 1,342 reports in the 12 months to August 2026, followed by anti-social behaviour (590).
Is crime in Wisbech going up or down?
Recorded crime in Wisbech was down 2% on the year before: 3,414 crimes in the 12 months to August 2026 against 3,472 in the previous 12 months.
What is the population of Wisbech?
About 25,707 people (ONS mid-2024 estimate), 21% of them aged 65 or over (England and Wales: 19%).
Which police force covers Wisbech?
Wisbech is policed by Cambridgeshire.
Police-recorded crime from data.police.uk (September 2017 to August 2026), ONS population estimates and Census 2021. Definitions and limitations: methodology.