Grantham Crime Rate

Grantham, the largest urban centre in South Kesteven, has an overall crime rate of 103.7 per 1,000 residents. While this figure is higher than the UK average of 91.6, the town maintains a safety score of 78/100, indicating a relatively secure environment for its population of over 46,000. Significantly, the crime trend in Grantham is on a downward trajectory, with a 9.6% decrease in reported offences year-over-year. This improvement reflects ongoing efforts to enhance community safety. Property crime in the area stands at 32.5 per 1,000, which is nearly identical to the national average. The following report provides a detailed breakdown of Grantham's crime statistics, including seasonal trends and time-based patterns for the 2025 calendar year.

Grantham Crime Analysis

Grantham's crime profile is led by violence and sexual offences, which account for 32.6% of all reported incidents, or 33.8 per 1,000 residents. This is followed by anti-social behaviour at 24.3% and shoplifting at 12.2%. The high percentage of shoplifting is characteristic of Grantham's role as a major commercial and retail hub for the surrounding South Kesteven district.

Property-related crime is a significant factor for Grantham residents, with an overall property crime rate of 32.5 per 1,000 people. This encompasses a variety of offences including criminal damage and arson (8.3%), vehicle crime (2.9%), and burglary (1.9%). While the burglary rate itself is relatively low at 2.0 per 1,000, the cumulative impact of theft, vehicle offences, and property damage means that homeowners must remain vigilant. The data suggests that acquisitive crime is often opportunistic, occurring in both residential areas and the busy town centre. For residents, this highlights the importance of robust physical security and proactive monitoring to protect vehicles and domestic premises from the high volume of theft-related activity.

Grantham's crime trend is highly encouraging, showing a 9.6% year-over-year decrease in total offences. This significant reduction suggests that local policing and community safety strategies are effectively curbing criminal activity. Monthly data for 2025 shows that the crime rate fluctuated between a low of 7.3 in February and peaks of 9.5 in July and August.

The slight increase during the summer months is a common trend, often linked to longer daylight hours and increased social interaction. However, even during these peak months, the rates remained within a stable range. The end of the year saw a gradual decline, with December finishing at 8.2 crimes per 1,000 people. For residents, this overall downward trend means a decreasing likelihood of becoming a victim of crime compared to previous years. The consistency of this decline across the year provides confidence that the town is becoming safer over the long term.

How To Keep Safe in Grantham

The most common crime in Grantham is violence and sexual offences, often concentrated around the town centre and nightlife areas. To stay safe, it is important to maintain situational awareness, especially when walking alone at night.

When navigating the town after dark, stick to well-lit main roads and avoid poorly lit footpaths or secluded areas. If you are using public transport or taxis, plan your journey in advance and stay in busy areas while waiting. For those visiting local pubs and clubs, always stay with your group and never leave your drink unattended.

To protect against the town's significant shoplifting and theft rates, keep personal belongings secure and out of sight in public places. If you are a business owner, ensure your premises are equipped with modern surveillance and that staff are trained in loss prevention. For homeowners, the best defence against the 32.5 per 1,000 property crime rate is a combination of good lighting, sturdy physical locks, and a proactive security system that monitors your property's exterior.

Crime in Grantham follows distinct temporal patterns influenced by its retail and social activity. The morning hours (6am - 12pm) see a significant portion of theft-related offences (36%), as shops open and the town centre becomes busy. This trend intensifies in the afternoon (12pm - 6pm), where theft accounts for 40% of incidents, likely driven by shoplifting and opportunistic personal thefts during peak commercial hours.

As the day transitions into evening and night, the nature of crime shifts. Evening hours see a rise in 'other' crimes, which includes anti-social behaviour and public order offences, making up 66% of reports. The night-time period (12am - 6am) is particularly notable for vehicle crime, which rises to 31% of all incidents. This suggests that vehicles parked on streets or in public lots are most vulnerable during the early hours when foot traffic is lowest. Burglary remains relatively consistent across the afternoon and night periods, each accounting for 12% of their respective totals, highlighting the need for 24-hour property vigilance.

Grantham serves as the primary commercial hub for the surrounding villages, which is reflected in its higher crime rate compared to its neighbours. Great Gonerby (71.1), Harlaxton (64.5), and Barrowby (59.0) all report lower incident rates, benefiting from their more residential and less transient populations. Denton, a nearby rural settlement, reported no crimes during this period. For those looking at the Grantham area, the town offers the most amenities but carries the typical safety profile of a busy market town. The surrounding villages provide a quieter, lower-crime alternative while remaining within easy reach of Grantham's transport links and shopping facilities.

In Grantham, where the property crime rate is 32.5 per 1,000, residents face a risk level that aligns with the UK national average. This underscores the need for effective, modern security solutions. Traditional security measures, such as basic alarms or standard CCTV, are often reactive—they alert you or record footage only after a perimeter has been breached. By that time, the damage is often already done.

Proactive protection through a system like scOS represents a significant step up in security. By using AI to monitor your property's boundaries in real-time, scOS can distinguish between normal activity and a genuine threat. If an unauthorised person lingers or attempts to access your home, the system can autonomously respond by activating floodlights or audible warnings. This immediate intervention often deters a criminal within the first 60 seconds of their arrival. For Grantham homeowners, moving from a system that merely records a crime to one that actively prevents it provides a much higher level of security and peace of mind.