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: Violence and sexual offences

Largest rate increases for Violence and sexual offences
RankCouncil areaNationRate change% changePrevious rateCurrent rateCurrent incidents
1PembrokeshireWales+9.9+29.8%33.243.15,425
2PowysWales+7.5+28.7%26.133.64,531
3CarmarthenshireWales+7.1+23.2%30.737.87,184
4StevenageEngland+6.2+16.9%36.642.83,944
5WatfordEngland+5.1+16.4%31.136.23,897
6WestminsterEngland+4.5+8.0%56.561.012,945
7Newcastle-under-LymeEngland+4.4+14.9%29.734.14,364
8Southend-on-SeaEngland+4.2+10.1%41.245.48,405
9Welwyn HatfieldEngland+4.1+13.2%30.734.84,237
10Tower HamletsEngland+3.8+12.1%31.134.811,633
11WinchesterEngland+3.7+15.9%23.427.13,708
12FarehamEngland+3.7+15.7%23.427.13,130
13ExeterEngland+3.6+9.1%39.543.15,937
14MansfieldEngland+3.6+9.5%37.541.14,676
15HillingdonEngland+3.6+13.3%26.730.39,883
16SouthwarkEngland+3.5+12.3%28.431.99,972
17GedlingEngland+3.5+16.5%21.124.52,972
18CeredigionWales+3.4+12.3%27.931.42,280
19Basingstoke and DeaneEngland+3.3+11.4%28.732.06,208
20Hammersmith and FulhamEngland+3.3+10.5%31.434.66,589

Largest rate decreases: Violence and sexual offences

Largest rate decreases for Violence and sexual offences
RankCouncil areaNationRate change% changePrevious rateCurrent rateCurrent incidents
1LincolnEngland-5.7-10.3%55.349.65,129
2HaltonEngland-5.0-10.8%46.641.65,486
3BostonEngland-4.9-11.8%41.436.52,634
4DoverEngland-4.8-12.0%40.035.24,260
5Blaenau GwentWales-4.6-8.4%54.049.43,341
6North East LincolnshireEngland-4.0-7.2%55.051.18,177
7BolsoverEngland-3.9-10.6%37.033.12,792
8WrexhamWales-3.9-9.2%42.138.25,271
9ConwyWales-3.8-8.2%46.542.74,881
10MedwayEngland-3.7-8.5%43.439.711,628
11GatesheadEngland-3.5-9.4%37.033.66,795
12GraveshamEngland-3.5-9.1%38.334.83,872
13WolverhamptonEngland-3.3-7.2%45.742.411,928
14TorfaenWales-3.1-6.3%48.445.34,260
15CaerphillyWales-2.9-6.8%42.339.46,945
16Folkestone and HytheEngland-2.9-8.0%36.033.23,719
17North TynesideEngland-2.7-8.0%34.131.46,754
18Newcastle upon TyneEngland-2.5-5.7%43.240.713,063
19SevenoaksEngland-2.4-10.5%23.020.62,534
20East LindseyEngland-2.4-6.5%36.133.84,958

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.