Newent Crime Rate

Newent, a village within the Forest of Dean, recorded a crime rate of 93.5 per 1,000 residents between January 2025 and December 2025. This figure is slightly higher than the UK average of 91.6 per 1,000, suggesting a marginally elevated risk of crime compared to the national picture. While the overall safety score for Newent stands at 76/100, demonstrating a reasonable level of safety, the concerning increase of 27.9% in crime year-on-year warrants attention. Understanding the nature of these crimes and identifying contributing factors is essential for promoting community safety and implementing effective preventative measures.

The crime landscape in Newent is dominated by concerns surrounding violence and sexual offences, accounting for nearly half (47.6%) of recorded incidents. These are followed by anti-social behaviour (20.2%) and criminal damage and arson (7.4%). While property crime isn’t as prevalent as these categories, it remains a concern, with 19.3 crimes per 1,000 residents annually. Other theft represents 4.6% of incidents, and shoplifting accounts for a further 3.7%. The relatively low figures for burglary (2.5 per 1,000) and vehicle crime (1.3 per 1,000) may provide some reassurance, but the overall profile highlights a need for targeted interventions. The relatively small population of Newent (4610) means that even a small number of incidents can significantly impact the overall crime rate.

Crime in Newent has seen a concerning increase of 27.9% year-on-year. This upward trend is evident in the monthly data, with crime rates consistently above average. Following a relatively low rate of 7.2 crimes per 1,000 residents in January 2025, rates peaked at 9.5 per 1,000 in February before rising further to 10.2 in March. A dip to 3.0 in April was followed by a gradual climb, reaching 9.8 per 1,000 in both November and December 2025. This sustained increase necessitates a thorough investigation into the underlying causes and the implementation of proactive measures to reverse this worrying trend.

How To Keep Safe in Newent

Given the prevalence of violence and sexual offences, be mindful of your surroundings, particularly at night. Avoid walking alone in poorly lit areas and consider carrying a personal alarm. Due to the significant number of anti-social behaviour incidents, report any suspicious activity to the authorities promptly. Secure your property well, including doors and windows, to mitigate the risk of criminal damage and arson. Finally, be vigilant regarding vehicle security, ensuring your vehicle is locked and valuables are out of sight.

Crimes in Newent tend to occur throughout the day, with a notable distribution across different time periods. Burglary is most frequently reported in the afternoon (19%) and night (24%). Violence is most prevalent during the evening (0%) and night (0%), particularly on weekends. Theft sees a higher incidence during commercial hours in the afternoon (46%), while vehicle crime is more common overnight (20%). A significant proportion of ‘other’ crimes are reported during the afternoon (37%) and evening (59%), suggesting a broader range of incidents occurring during these periods. Understanding these patterns can inform targeted preventative measures and enhance community vigilance.

Compared to Newent, neighbouring areas such as The Scarr, Botloe's Green, Clifford's Mesne, and Gorsley Common report significantly lower crime rates, registering 0.0 crimes per 1,000 residents. This stark contrast highlights Newent’s relative vulnerability and underscores the importance of targeted safety initiatives to address the elevated crime levels.

Traditional CCTV systems often provide recordings after a crime has occurred. Reading crime statistics is one thing; actively preventing threats at your property line is another. Consider scOS, an AI-powered home security operating system. Unlike conventional systems that merely record events, scOS proactively detects potential threats at your property boundary using multi-camera intelligence and DVLA vehicle verification. It learns your family’s routines and instantly identifies unfamiliar activity, triggering lights and speakers to create an element of surprise, often deterring potential intruders before they even attempt entry. The right security system – one that prioritizes prevention – can make that 60-second decision easy for potential criminals: they move on.