Sleaford Crime Rate

Sleaford is a secure and historic market town with a good safety score of 83/100. The area's overall crime rate is 75.3 per 1,000 residents, which is lower than the UK average of 93.1. Encouragingly, criminal activity in Sleaford is on a downward trend, having decreased by 7.1% year-over-year. Property crime is particularly low, with a rate of 20.7 per 1,000 people, far outperforming the national average of 32.9. While violence and sexual offences are the most common reports, followed by anti-social behaviour, the overall volume of crime across all categories remains low for a population of 17,846. Sleaford continues to be one of the safest and most desirable towns in Lincolnshire.

In Sleaford, violence and sexual offences are the most prominent crime type, representing 36.7% of all recorded incidents with 493 cases. Anti-social behaviour follows at 23.3%, while shoplifting is the third most common issue at 12.4%. Together, these categories account for nearly 75% of the area's total crime volume.

The property crime rate in Sleaford is 20.7 per 1,000 residents, which is considerably lower than the UK average of 32.9. This total includes 167 shoplifting incidents, 74 cases of criminal damage and arson, 47 incidents of other theft, 37 burglaries, 28 vehicle crimes, 8 robberies, and 7 bicycle thefts. For residents and homeowners, this indicates that while the area is generally safe, violence and anti-social behaviour are the most frequent concerns. The low rate of burglary and vehicle crime suggests that high-value property theft is relatively rare, but the presence of shoplifting and criminal damage highlights the importance of maintaining a visible security presence to deter opportunistic crime. Homeowners should focus on securing their boundaries and implementing robust security measures to prevent both theft and damage, which are key factors in the local crime statistics.

Sleaford has seen a decreasing trend in crime over the past year, with a 7.1% reduction in total offences year-over-year. Analysis of the monthly data shows that the crime rate peaked in November 2024 at 7.9 per 1,000 residents. Throughout much of the rest of the year, the rate has remained consistent, mostly fluctuating between 4.7 and 7.5. The end of the period saw a rate of 7.1 in October 2025. This overall downward trajectory suggests that Sleaford remains a safe and secure environment with no significant upward pressure on criminal activity.

How To Keep Safe in Sleaford

The most common crime in Sleaford is violence and sexual offences. While the overall volume is low, personal safety should always be a priority. When walking in the town, especially during evening hours, try to stay on well-lit main roads and avoid shortcuts through unlit footpaths. Keeping a charged mobile phone accessible and staying aware of your surroundings are simple but effective measures.

Anti-social behaviour is the second most common issue, so it is important to report any incidents to the local police, as this helps them monitor patterns and allocate resources. For residents, securing the perimeter of your home is key; installing motion-activated floodlights and ensuring that gates and fences are in good repair can act as a significant deterrent against both anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. Joining a local Neighbourhood Watch scheme can also help keep you informed of any suspicious activity in your community. Always trust your gut feeling; if you feel uncomfortable in a particular location, move to a more public, well-lit area as quickly as possible. For business owners, being vigilant about shoplifting prevention can also help maintain the town's safe environment. Additionally, ensure all vehicles are locked and valuables are removed, particularly at night.

Crime in Sleaford follows specific temporal trends. Morning and afternoon hours are dominated by theft-related offences, accounting for 39% and 41% of incidents respectively. This suggests significant opportunistic crime during busy daytime hours. Evening hours are dominated by 'other' crimes, which include anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, accounting for 54% of incidents during this period. Night-time (12am - 6am) presents a different risk profile, with burglary accounting for 25% and vehicle crime accounting for 29% of incidents, highlighting the importance of overnight security for homes and vehicles.

In the local context, Sleaford is a slightly less safe alternative to nearby Leasingham and Ruskington, which have lower crime rates of 40.0 and 42.6 per 1,000 people respectively. Nearby Silk Willoughby and Greylees report crime rates of 0.0, though these are much smaller communities. When compared to other urban settlements in the North Kesteven region, Sleaford has a higher recorded crime rate, influenced by its commercial and residential activity as the district's main town. However, it remains a respectable safety profile and significantly safer than the national average.

With a property crime rate of 20.7 per 1,000 residents, Sleaford is statistically safe, but the prevalence of anti-social behaviour (23.3% of total crime) and shoplifting (12.4%) suggests that boundary protection is important for both homes and businesses. Traditional security cameras, like those from Ring or Nest, are often reactive—they alert you once someone is already at your door or after an incident has occurred. For true prevention, a proactive system is necessary.

scOS is an AI-powered security operating system that monitors your property's entire perimeter in real-time. Unlike standard systems, scOS uses multi-camera intelligence to detect threats at the boundary, allowing for intervention before a crime is committed. It learns your family's routines and delivery patterns, ensuring you only receive alerts for genuine threats. In a town like Sleaford, where shoplifting and anti-social behaviour are key concerns, scOS's autonomous response capabilities—such as triggering lights and speakers—can deter intruders instantly, helping to maintain the high safety standards of your home and business. Moving from recording crime to preventing it is the most effective way to protect your property.