Oadby and Wigston Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Oadby and Wigston's crime rate in February 2026 stood at 5.0 per 1,000 residents, marking a 21.9% deficit compared to the UK average of 6.4. This figure, while lower than the national benchmark, highlights a distinct pattern in local crime types, with bicycle theft emerging as a stark outlier. At 1.0 per 1,000 residents, this category was 150% above the UK average of zero, a discrepancy that may reflect the area's infrastructure or demographics. The top contributors to the overall rate were violence and sexual offences (39.2% of all crimes), anti-social behaviour (16.4%), and shoplifting (11.3%). These figures suggest a focus on interpersonal conflicts and retail environments as primary drivers. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may have influenced these trends, though the persistence of violent crime despite reduced foot traffic warrants further scrutiny. The area's lower overall rate compared to the UK could be attributed to a combination of effective local policing, community initiatives, or geographic characteristics that reduce exposure to high-crime environments. However, the significant divergence in bicycle theft and the surge in shoplifting indicate that specific local factors, such as cycling infrastructure or retail strategies, may require targeted attention.

February 2026 saw a 75% increase in shoplifting, rising from 20 to 35 incidents. This surge aligns with the seasonal context of a pre-spring lull, where retail areas may experience heightened activity despite reduced outdoor footfall. Burglary also increased by 50%, from 12 to 18, a shift that could reflect changes in property security practices or seasonal patterns of home occupancy. Conversely, drugs-related crimes fell by 63.6%, dropping from 11 to 4, a decline that may be linked to targeted enforcement efforts or reduced social gatherings during colder weather. Bicycle theft, already 150% above the UK average, decreased by 25% to three incidents, though this remains significantly higher than the national rate of zero. These fluctuations underscore the dynamic nature of local crime trends and the importance of contextual analysis in understanding month-on-month variations.

Oadby and Wigston's crime rate in February 2026 rose by 5.4% compared to January 2026, moving from 4.8 to 5.0 per 1,000 residents. This upward trend contrasts with the broader seasonal pattern of reduced outdoor activity in winter, suggesting local factors may have influenced the shift. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 11 crimes per day in February, a figure that reflects both the total number of incidents and the relatively small population of 61,695. When scaled to the population, this translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 198 residents over the course of the month, a statistic that provides context for individual risk perception. While the overall rate remains 21.9% below the UK average, the increase from the previous month highlights the need for ongoing monitoring of local patterns. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that residents face a lower monthly exposure to crime compared to the national average, though the rise in specific categories like burglary and shoplifting warrants attention.