Wellingborough Crime Rate

Wellingborough has an overall crime rate of 120.7 per 1,000 people, which is higher than the UK average of 91.6. Despite this higher volume of activity, the town maintains a safety score of 73/100, reflecting its status as a typical urban settlement where crime is more concentrated in specific hubs rather than being uniform throughout. The local crime trend is currently decreasing, with a 5.1% reduction year-over-year. For its population of over 56,000 residents, Wellingborough presents a busy safety landscape where urban challenges like anti-social behaviour and shoplifting are prominent. The following analysis provides a deeper look into the town's crime statistics and offers practical safety guidance.

In Wellingborough, the top three crime categories are violence and sexual offences (32.0%), anti-social behaviour (20.5%), and shoplifting (11.9%). Violence and sexual offences are the most frequent, occurring at a rate of 38.6 per 1,000 residents. Property crime, which includes burglary, robbery, theft, and vehicle-related offences, has an overall rate of 41.9 per 1,000 people. Shoplifting and vehicle crime (6.8%) are significant contributors to this, particularly in the town's commercial and residential areas. Other notable property crimes include criminal damage and arson (5.4%) and 'other theft' (5.0%). For residents, this means that while interpersonal crime and anti-social behaviour are primary concerns, property-related offences, particularly theft from businesses and vehicle-related crimes, remain a constant threat that requires robust security measures and consistent vigilance in this busy urban settlement.

The crime rate in Wellingborough has seen a positive trend over the past year, showing a decrease of 5.1%. Monthly data from 2025 indicates that criminal activity peaked in May at 11.9 per 1,000 residents and in March at 11.6. The lowest level of crime was recorded in October at 8.5 per 1,000. These figures suggest that while the annual average is consistent, the spring months see a higher volume of reported incidents. This downward trend is a positive indicator for the town's safety management and suggests that local initiatives are effectively reducing criminal activity.

How To Keep Safe in Wellingborough

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crimes in Wellingborough. To enhance your personal safety, always maintain high situational awareness, especially when in the town centre or using public transport after dark. Stick to well-lit, busy routes and avoid shortcuts through isolated areas. If you are out in the evening, consider using personal safety apps or sharing your journey with a friend. Regarding property, vehicle crime is a significant issue, particularly at night; ensure your car is always locked and never leave valuables on display. For your home, reinforcing doors and windows and installing motion-activated lighting can act as effective deterrents against both burglary and criminal damage. Engaging with local community watch programs and reporting any suspicious activity to the police helps maintain community safety and ensures that resources are directed where they are most needed.

Crime in Wellingborough follows distinct temporal trends throughout the day. During the morning and afternoon, theft-related offences are prominent, accounting for 38% and 43% of incidents respectively. This suggests that theft is primarily a daytime issue linked to commercial footfall. As night falls, the nature of crime shifts; the night period (12am-6am) sees vehicle crime reach a significant peak at 53%, while burglary also remains a concern. This indicates that property-related crimes, particularly those involving vehicles, are most likely to occur when residents are asleep and monitoring is minimal. Evening hours see a higher proportion of 'other' crimes, including anti-social behaviour and public order incidents.

Comparing Wellingborough to its neighbours reveals a typical urban-rural divide. Wellingborough's rate of 120.7 per 1,000 is significantly higher than nearby Great Doddington (51.7). Most notably, Little Irchester, Wilby, and Little Harrowden all recorded a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000 during this period. This is expected given Wellingborough's larger population, commercial activity, and transport links. In the broader context of North Northamptonshire, Wellingborough remains a major hub for safety monitoring. Residents should use this comparison to understand that while Wellingborough has higher crime than its immediate neighbours, it is part of a generally secure wider region.

With a property crime rate of 41.9 per 1,000, Wellingborough residents should be proactive about home security. Traditional security systems, such as standard CCTV or video doorbells, are primarily reactive—they record footage of a crime as it happens. This may provide evidence later, but it does little to prevent the incident itself. scOS offers a proactive alternative. This AI-powered security operating system monitors your property boundaries in real-time, identifying potential threats before they reach your door. Features like vehicle verification and autonomous responses—such as activating security lights or speakers—can deter criminals by destroying the element of surprise. In a busy urban environment like Wellingborough, where burglars often look for easy targets, having a system that provides active deterrence is a vital safety advantage. By choosing scOS, you move from simply recording incidents to actively preventing them, ensuring your home is a difficult target for opportunistic thieves. This proactive protection is the most effective way to safeguard your property in Wellingborough.