Marchwood Crime Rate

Marchwood is one of the safest urban settlements in the New Forest, boasting an overall crime rate of 46.5 per 1,000 residents. This is remarkably lower than the UK average of 91.7, resulting in a high safety score of 87/100. The area is currently seeing a positive trend in its safety profile, with total crime decreasing by 8.4% year-over-year. Marchwood's crime landscape is dominated by interpersonal offences rather than property-related crime, with property crime rates sitting at a low 10.9 per 1,000. This detailed report explores the specific crime breakdown, monthly trends, and provides actionable safety advice for the Marchwood community, helping residents understand their local environment and how to best protect their homes.

Crime Breakdown in Marchwood

The dominant crime type in Marchwood is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for 145 incidents, or 53.3% of all recorded crime. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 11.8% and criminal damage and arson at 7.7%. These figures are typical for many residential areas where interpersonal issues and low-level disruption form the bulk of police reports, rather than serious organised property crime.

Property crime in Marchwood—comprising burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and similar offences—is notably low, with a rate of 10.9 per 1,000 people. This is less than a third of the UK average for property-related offences. Burglary specifically is quite rare, with only 11 incidents (4.0% of total crime) reported over the 12-month period. Vehicle crime is also minimal, representing just 3.3% of activity. For residents, this data indicates that Marchwood is an exceptionally secure environment for property owners, though the prevalence of criminal damage suggests that boundary protection and deterrents remain valuable for maintaining home integrity.

Marchwood's crime trend is currently decreasing, with an -8.4% year-over-year change. This is a very positive indicator for the community. Monthly data from December 2024 to November 2025 shows that the year began with moderate activity, peaking in January at 5.8 crimes per 1,000 people and February at 5.0.

Following this early-year peak, the crime rate dipped and remained relatively stable through the spring, with a slight rise again in June (5.0). However, the latter half of the year has shown a consistent and encouraging decline. The most recent data for November 2025 shows the crime rate at its lowest point of the year, just 1.9 per 1,000 people. This suggests that Marchwood is not only a safe area but is actively becoming safer, providing residents with increasing peace of mind regarding their local environment.

How To Keep Safe in Marchwood

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime types in Marchwood, representing over half of all recorded incidents. While these are often not random public acts, staying safe is a priority for all residents.

• Be Mindful in Public Spaces: Even in safe areas like Marchwood, it is wise to stay alert when walking alone at night. Stick to well-lit paths and let someone know your expected arrival time.
• Report Anti-Social Behaviour: ASB is the second most common issue (11.8%). Reporting these incidents early can prevent them from escalating into more serious criminal damage or personal confrontations.
• Secure Your Perimeter: Criminal damage and arson account for 7.7% of crimes. Installing motion-activated lighting and ensuring gates are locked can deter those looking to cause low-level disruption to your property.
• Trust Your Instincts: In any social situation, if you feel uncomfortable or threatened, leave the area immediately and seek a safe, public place.
• Engage with Neighbours: A connected community is a safer one. Joining a local watch scheme ensures that suspicious activity is shared and reported quickly.

Crime timing in Marchwood reveals a shift in risk factors throughout the 24-hour cycle. During the morning and afternoon hours (6am to 6pm), theft is the most significant concern, accounting for roughly 50% of all reported incidents. This typically aligns with times when residents are away from home and commercial areas are active.

As night falls, the profile of crime changes. Between 12am and 6am, the proportion of burglary and vehicle crime increases dramatically. Burglary accounts for 26% of night-time crimes, while vehicle crime peaks at 33%. This suggests that while overall crime volume is lower during the night, the risk to property and vehicles is at its highest. Residents should ensure that high-value items are removed from cars and that home security systems are fully armed before retiring for the evening, as these hours are statistically favoured by property-focused offenders.

Marchwood (46.5 crimes per 1,000) is situated in a relatively safe pocket of Hampshire. It is significantly safer than the nearby city of Southampton, which has a much higher rate of 134.0, and the neighbouring town of Totton at 84.6. Within its immediate vicinity, Marchwood is also safer than Hythe and Dibden Purlieu (58.5) and is on par with Ashurst (46.7). These comparisons highlight Marchwood as a particularly secure residential choice for those who want to stay close to major employment hubs like the port or the city while enjoying a much lower risk of criminal activity.

With a property crime rate of just 10.9 per 1,000 in Marchwood, the primary goal for homeowners is to maintain this high level of security through effective deterrence. While the risk of burglary is statistically low (1.9 per 1,000), the impact of such a crime remains high. Traditional security systems like Ring or Nest are reactive; they provide you with a video of a crime after it has already occurred, which often does little to prevent the initial intrusion.

The scOS system offers a proactive alternative by using AI-powered multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property's perimeter. It doesn't just record; it detects threats in real-time, such as someone loitering near your vehicles or testing a side gate. By identifying these patterns early, scOS can trigger an autonomous response—activating deterrent lighting or audio alerts—to stop a potential burglar in their tracks. In a safe area like Marchwood, the visible presence of a professional-grade AI system like scOS sends a clear message to opportunistic criminals to move on, ensuring that your property remains as safe as the statistics suggest.