Great Yarmouth Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

In February 2026, Great Yarmouth’s crime rate stood at 7.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 21.9% above the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This figure translates to a daily risk of approximately one crime for every 35 residents, a rate that, while not extreme, is higher than the national benchmark. The area’s crime profile was dominated by violence and sexual offences (40.8% of total crimes), followed by anti-social behaviour (12.3%) and criminal damage and arson (11.1%). These patterns align with the characteristics of a coastal resort town, where high foot traffic in retail and entertainment areas can drive both violent and property-related crimes. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may have contributed to the persistence of indoor crimes, such as anti-social behaviour and violence, while reducing opportunities for outdoor theft. However, the data also reveals a marked deviation from the UK average in certain categories: criminal damage and arson, for instance, was 96% above the national rate, a figure that may reflect the town’s infrastructure and historical patterns of vandalism. Meanwhile, crimes like burglary and vehicle crime were below the UK average, due to the presence of robust security measures in residential and commercial areas. This mix of above- and below-average performance underscores the complexity of managing crime in a destination town with fluctuating population dynamics.

February 2026 marked a sharp rise in shoplifting, with a 70.3% increase from 37 to 63 incidents. This surge, coupled with a 133.3% jump in possession of weapons (from 6 to 14), suggests shifts in criminal activity that may be linked to seasonal or event-driven factors. Meanwhile, burglary fell by 68.9% (from 61 to 19), a drop that contrasts with the UK average for this category. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent crime type, contributing 40.8% of the total and 38% above the national average. This disparity is significant, as the UK average for this category is 2.3 per 1,000 compared to Great Yarmouth’s 3.2 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour also rose, albeit modestly, by 10% above the UK average. For residents, the most immediate concern may be the increase in shoplifting, which could indicate heightened activity in retail zones during the pre-spring period.

February 2026 saw a 3.0% increase in Great Yarmouth’s crime rate, rising from 7.6 to 7.8 per 1,000 residents. This places the area 21.9% above the UK average, a gap that has widened slightly from previous months. On a daily basis, 28 crimes were reported in February, reflecting a consistent level of activity despite seasonal factors. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 128 residents, a figure that underscores the frequency of incidents in a community of around 100,529 people. While this monthly exposure rate is not uncommon for coastal towns with high foot traffic, it highlights the need for vigilance in areas with dense retail or entertainment hubs. The population context also reveals that even minor fluctuations in crime can have a noticeable impact when scaled across the entire district, particularly for categories like violence and anti-social behaviour, which dominate the crime mix.