Hedge End Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Hedge End, 3.6 crimes were reported in February 2026—a rate 43.8% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This translates to a daily risk of roughly 3 crimes for every 25,315 residents, a figure that contextualises safety in everyday terms. The most prevalent crime type was shoplifting, accounting for 30.8% of all incidents, with rates 90% above the UK average. This may partly explain the localised nature of retail crime in built-up areas with high foot traffic. Violence and sexual offences followed at 28.6%, but these figures were 57% below the UK average, suggesting a community profile with lower levels of violent conflict compared to national trends. The winter month of February, with its low outdoor activity and pre-spring lull, likely contributes to the subdued overall crime rate, though shoplifting persists as a seasonal challenge for retailers. Anti-social behaviour and other thefts also featured prominently. The data illustrates a combination of local factors, from retail environments to community dynamics, that shape crime patterns in this built-up area.

February 2026 saw a 300% increase in possession of weapons, rising from 1 to 4 incidents—a stark contrast to the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. This spike, while small in absolute terms, highlights a specific concern for local safety. Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences fell by 44.7% compared to the previous month, dropping from 47 to 26 incidents. This decline aligns with the seasonal context of reduced outdoor activity in winter. Shoplifting remained significantly above the UK average, with 28 incidents (1.1 per 1,000) compared to the national rate of 0.6 per 1,000. This disparity may reflect the presence of retail centres in Hedge End, where high foot traffic creates opportunities for theft. Conversely, anti-social behaviour and public order offences were 67% and 51% below UK averages respectively, suggesting effective community policing or lower levels of social discord. For residents, the most immediate concern remains shoplifting, which accounted for over a third of all crimes, though the overall rate remains lower than national benchmarks.

The crime rate in February 2026 (3.6 per 1,000) was 13.5% lower than the previous month’s rate of 4.2 per 1,000, indicating a sustained downward trend. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 278 residents—a figure that contextualises risk in terms of personal exposure. Daily crime counts averaged 3 incidents per day, a manageable frequency compared to larger urban centres. When scaled to the population of 25,315, this suggests that most residents are unlikely to encounter crime directly. The drop from 4.2 to 3.6 per 1,000 may reflect seasonal factors, such as reduced outdoor activity in winter, or improvements in local policing strategies. While the overall rate remains well below the UK average, specific categories like shoplifting highlight areas where local conditions—such as retail density—create unique risks. This comparison underscores the importance of tailoring safety measures to local contexts rather than relying on national averages.