Oswestry Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Oswestry’s February 2026 crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents places the area 15.6% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000, a position that reflects a combination of local factors and seasonal trends. The breakdown of crimes reveals a marked imbalance between violent and property-related offences, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 44.2% of all reported incidents—significantly higher than the 26% share for property crimes such as shoplifting and burglary. This dominance of violent crime over property crime may be influenced by the town’s character as a historic market town with a mix of residential and commercial activity, where interpersonal conflicts and public spaces could contribute to higher rates of violent incidents. The seasonal context of February, a winter month with reduced outdoor activity and fewer tourists, may have limited opportunities for certain types of crime, such as theft from the person or vehicle crime. However, the persistence of violence and sexual offences, even in this low-activity period, suggests underlying social or environmental factors that require further examination. The UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.3 per 1,000, slightly lower than Oswestry’s 2.4 per 1,000, indicating that the area’s violent crime rate is marginally above the national benchmark. This contrast with the town’s overall lower crime rate highlights the complexity of local crime patterns, where specific categories may deviate from the UK average despite an overall trend of reduced criminality.

February 2026 saw marked fluctuations in Oswestry’s crime profile, with other theft and other crime categories experiencing substantial increases of 250% and 133.3%, respectively, compared to the previous month. These jumps, from 2 to 7 incidents for other theft and from 3 to 7 for other crime, suggest emerging patterns that may warrant closer attention. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 61.5%, and public order offences dropped by 58.3%, indicating a possible seasonal reduction in disorder-related incidents. The town’s violent crime rate—42 incidents, or 44.2% of all crimes—exceeds the UK average for violence and sexual offences by 3%, despite the overall rate being 15.6% below the national figure. This disparity highlights a nuanced picture where violent crime remains a focal concern, even as property crime and disorder-related offences decline. For residents, the rise in other thefts—a category that includes vehicle-related crimes and unclassified thefts—may signal a need for heightened vigilance in specific areas.

Oswestry’s February 2026 crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents marks a 32.2% decline from the previous month’s rate of 8.0 per 1,000, reflecting a notable shift in local crime dynamics. Daily crime activity averaged approximately three incidents per day, a figure that, while low, remains consistent with the area’s generally stable security profile. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 185 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents compared to the UK average. This statistic, when contextualised against Oswestry’s population of 17,554, highlights that the town’s residents are less likely to encounter crime than the national average. The reduction in crime may be partially attributed to seasonal factors, as February typically sees reduced outdoor activity and fewer visitors to the area, which could contribute to lower opportunities for certain types of crime. However, the precise drivers of this decline remain to be explored through further analysis of local patterns.