Listz area intelligence

Where reported crime rates are rising and falling

Compare changes in Police.uk street-level incidents per 1,000 residents between consecutive complete 12-month periods across England and Wales.

Feb 2024–Jan 2025Previous 12-month period
Feb 2025–Jan 2026Current 12-month period
306 councils284 England and 22 Wales

These are changes in reported street-level crime, not a direct measure of personal risk. Police recording practices, public reporting and local activity can affect comparisons. A falling rate does not mean crime is absent.

Coverage safeguards: councils require at least 20,000 residents and 20 incidents in the preceding period. Greater Manchester remains excluded because its police data was unavailable throughout the comparison window.

Largest rate increases: Criminal damage and arson

Largest rate increases for Criminal damage and arson
RankCouncil areaNationRate change% changePrevious rateCurrent rateCurrent incidents
1Blaenau GwentWales+2.7+17.4%15.318.01,216
2CarmarthenshireWales+2.7+45.6%5.88.51,612
3PowysWales+2.1+45.6%4.66.7910
4Forest of DeanEngland+1.6+41.8%3.85.4488
5South HollandEngland+1.5+31.0%4.86.3633
6PembrokeshireWales+1.4+19.7%7.38.81,103
7RugbyEngland+1.4+34.8%4.15.5690
8RedditchEngland+1.4+25.4%5.56.9607
9Mole ValleyEngland+1.2+29.7%4.25.4480
10NottinghamEngland+1.2+11.2%10.611.83,859
11ThurrockEngland+1.1+14.6%7.78.81,606
12Epping ForestEngland+1.0+18.8%5.16.1844
13CanterburyEngland+0.9+11.1%8.49.31,510
14Castle PointEngland+0.9+17.3%5.16.0546
15UttlesfordEngland+0.9+19.4%4.65.4527
16TorfaenWales+0.9+7.4%11.712.61,185
17WatfordEngland+0.8+13.7%6.16.9747
18Richmond upon ThamesEngland+0.8+16.6%4.75.51,083
19RunnymedeEngland+0.8+13.7%5.56.3584
20Herefordshire, County ofEngland+0.8+15.9%4.75.51,054

Largest rate decreases: Criminal damage and arson

Largest rate decreases for Criminal damage and arson
RankCouncil areaNationRate change% changePrevious rateCurrent rateCurrent incidents
1GraveshamEngland-2.2-20.0%11.08.8983
2GosportEngland-2.0-26.3%7.45.5452
3HyndburnEngland-1.9-17.3%10.78.8768
4SunderlandEngland-1.8-14.6%12.510.73,062
5Newcastle upon TyneEngland-1.8-15.7%11.59.73,122
6DenbighshireWales-1.6-15.5%10.38.7852
7MiddlesbroughEngland-1.6-7.5%20.919.32,951
8FlintshireWales-1.6-20.7%7.55.9927
9WorcesterEngland-1.5-16.0%9.58.0851
10Stoke-on-TrentEngland-1.4-12.2%11.810.42,828
11HavantEngland-1.4-19.3%7.35.9746
12PortsmouthEngland-1.4-15.5%9.07.61,614
13North LincolnshireEngland-1.4-15.1%9.07.61,311
14South TynesideEngland-1.3-10.7%12.511.21,692
15ErewashEngland-1.3-17.7%7.56.2705
16West LindseyEngland-1.3-14.9%8.97.5752
17HastingsEngland-1.3-11.3%11.710.4946
18TorbayEngland-1.3-12.7%10.39.01,254
19HaltonEngland-1.3-17.1%7.56.2818
20ConwyWales-1.2-13.5%9.28.0913

Methodology and limitations

Ranking measure

The change in reported incidents per 1,000 residents between consecutive complete rolling 12-month periods. Absolute rate change determines rank; percentage change is supplementary.

Stability thresholds

Councils need at least 20,000 residents and 20 incidents in the previous period. This prevents tiny populations or baselines from dominating the rankings.

Comparable coverage

The newest 24-month window with complete geographic-force coverage is selected automatically, except Greater Manchester Police. British Transport Police is outside this measure.

Related comparison

These rankings measure change over time. For the current level alone, see the lowest and highest council crime rates.

Source: Police.uk street-level crime and anti-social behaviour data. Population denominator: Office for National Statistics mid-year population estimates via Nomis. Licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.