What is the crime rate in England and Wales? 84 crimes per 1,000 residents
England and Wales had 4,725,016 recorded crimes in the 12 months to August 2026, which is 84 per 1,000 residents. Crime fell 0.4% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences.
- Recorded crimes
- 4,725,016
- On the previous 12 months
- −0.4%
Police-recorded crime in the 12 months to August 2026, per 1,000 residents (Census 2021). Anti-social behaviour is not included. Excludes 6% of residents, in Greater Manchester (police.uk has no data) and Gloucestershire (police.uk data stops at January 2026). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk. How we calculate this
All house prices in England and WalesWhat are the most common crimes in England and Wales?
Violence and sexual offences was the most common crime in England and Wales, with 1,989,636 recorded in the 12 months to August 2026 (35 per 1,000 residents). The England and Wales rate is 35 per 1,000.
| Crime type | Per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Violence and sexual offences | 35 per 1,000 |
| Shoplifting | 8.8 per 1,000 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 7.0 per 1,000 |
| Public order | 6.9 per 1,000 |
| Other theft | 6.7 per 1,000 |
| Vehicle crime | 5.2 per 1,000 |
| Burglary | 3.7 per 1,000 |
| Drugs | 3.4 per 1,000 |
| Other crime | 2.2 per 1,000 |
| Theft from the person | 1.7 per 1,000 |
| Robbery | 1.4 per 1,000 |
| Possession of weapons | 1.0 per 1,000 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.9 per 1,000 |
Tags mark crime types more than 10% above or below the England and Wales rate for the same type.
Is crime going up or down in England and Wales?
Crime fell 0.4% on the previous 12 months. 4,725,016 crimes were recorded in the 12 months to August 2026, against 4,743,437 in the 12 months before.
Crimes and anti-social behaviour each month, September 2023 to August 2026
Which part of England and Wales has the lowest crime rate?
Cymru / Wales has the lowest crime rate of the 2 areas of England and Wales, at 83 crimes per 1,000 residents. England has the highest, at 84. Average house prices are shown alongside, so you can weigh crime against cost.
| Area | Per 1,000 | Band | Average price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cymru / WalesVery High | 83 | Very High | £241,973 |
| EnglandVery High | 84 | Very High | £354,381 |
Is England and Wales a safe place to live?
England and Wales had 84 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents in the 12 months to August 2026. Crime fell 0.4% on the previous 12 months. The most common crime was violence and sexual offences. These are crimes reported to the police, not a safety rating. City-centre and retail areas have high rates because crimes against visitors and shops are counted, but only residents are in the population.
How much anti-social behaviour is there in England and Wales?
Police recorded 892,921 incidents of anti-social behaviour in England and Wales in the 12 months to August 2026, or 16 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour is counted separately and is not included in the crime figures.
What else do people ask about England and Wales?
More quick answers on house prices, sales, areas, green space and crime in England and Wales.
- What is the average house price in England and Wales?
- When did average house prices in England and Wales reach their peak?
- How many properties are being sold in England and Wales?
- What type of properties are sold in England and Wales?
- What price range do most homes sell for in England and Wales?
- What is the most expensive (and cheapest) area of England and Wales?
- How many parks and green spaces are in England and Wales?
- How do England and Wales house prices compare with another area?
Where does this data come from?
Price information is from HM Land Registry, location boundaries are from OpenStreetMap, and households and population are from Nomis Census 2021 postcode estimates (21 March 2021). Parks and green space are from OS Open Greenspace. Contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. Crime is from police.uk street-level data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: police.uk.
Last updated 31 October 2026 at 20:42 with the latest Land Registry data (September 2026). The England and Wales dataset covers 2,376,017 postcodes.
Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026. This data is licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.