Bristol Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate Bristol's crime picture in February 2026, accounting for 35.5% of all reported crimes. With a crime rate of 11.1 per 1,000 residents, the area records a 73.4% increase over the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This stark deviation highlights systemic challenges in a major urban centre where 494,399 residents experience a crime rate more than double the national benchmark. The breakdown shows a worrying concentration of violent crime, with 1,957 incidents reported in a single month—over 4.0 per 1,000 residents, 72% above the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, and public order offences collectively make up 59.7% of the total crime count, underscoring a pattern of disorder that may partly explain the high violent crime rates. February, typically a winter month with low outdoor activity, sees a pre-spring lull in some crime types but not all. The dominance of violence and sexual offences could reflect the impact of indoor social gatherings during colder weather. The city's dense urban fabric, with its mix of residential and commercial areas, likely contributes to these patterns, as does the presence of multiple universities and nightlife hubs that sustain year-round activity. While the overall rate is alarming, the specific emphasis on violence suggests targeted interventions may be needed to address underlying factors such as alcohol-fuelled incidents or domestic disputes exacerbated by seasonal isolation.

February 2026 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories. Shoplifting increased by 10.2%, rising from 459 to 506 incidents—a trend that may reflect the start of the spring shopping season or increased foot traffic in retail areas. Conversely, robbery rates fell by 21.2%, dropping from 137 to 108, which could indicate improved security measures or a seasonal dip in opportunistic theft. Vehicle crime also declined by 18.8%, from 425 to 345, linked to reduced car usage during colder weather or enhanced parking enforcement. The most striking contrast to the UK average remains in violence and sexual offences, which are 72% above the national rate, and public order offences, which are 144% above the UK benchmark. These figures suggest a unique challenge in Bristol, where the combination of nightlife culture, student populations, and urban density may amplify disorder. For residents, the 18.3% drop in burglary rates—from 289 to 236—offers a concrete example of how targeted policing or community initiatives might be influencing property crime trends. The shift in the crime mix, with violent crime making up nearly 36% of all incidents, also indicates a potential realignment in policing priorities, though the exact reasons for this shift require further analysis.

Bristol's crime rate in February 2026 fell slightly from 12.0 per 1,000 in January, marking a 7.5% decrease. This decline, however, still leaves the area with a rate more than double the UK average, underscoring the persistent challenge of maintaining public safety in a major urban centre. On a daily basis, the city recorded approximately 197 crimes per day in February, a figure that translates to one reported crime for every 90 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate, while lower than the previous month, remains significantly higher than the UK context, which is not directly comparable due to the lack of national daily statistics. When scaled to the population of 494,399, the 11.1 per 1,000 rate means that roughly 5,480 residents experienced a crime in February alone. This figure is particularly striking when considering Bristol's status as a vibrant city with a mix of affluent and deprived neighbourhoods, where the density of population and the diversity of social activity may contribute to the high crime rate. The previous month's rate of 12.0 per 1,000 highlights a slight improvement, but the overall trajectory remains concerning, especially given the continued dominance of violent crime. The comparison to the UK average also reveals a stark disparity, with Bristol's violent crime rate being 72% above the national figure and public order offences 144% above. These figures suggest that local factors—such as the city's nightlife, student population, and urban layout—play a significant role in shaping its unique crime profile.