Stratford-upon-Avon Crime Rate

Stratford-upon-Avon, the historic heart of the district, has an overall crime rate of 106.8 per 1,000 people. While this is higher than the UK average of 91.6, it is important to contextualise this within the town's role as a major international tourist destination. The area currently holds a safety score of 77/100, which is close to the national average of 79/100. Notably, crime in the town is on a significant downward trend, with a 12.1% year-over-year decrease recorded between January and December 2025. This substantial reduction suggests that despite the high volume of visitors and commercial activity, Stratford-upon-Avon is becoming increasingly safe for its residents and the millions of people who visit each year.

Crime Breakdown in Stratford-upon-Avon

Stratford-upon-Avon experiences a higher volume of crime than its rural neighbours, with violence and sexual offences being the most common category at 29.3%. Anti-social behaviour is also significant, accounting for 24.8% of reports. Notably, shoplifting is the third most frequent crime at 11.6%, a figure driven by the town's busy retail and tourist centre.

Property crime—including burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and robbery—has a rate of 36.1 per 1,000 residents. This is higher than the UK average of 32.2. Shoplifting and 'other theft' are the primary drivers of this rate, though vehicle crime also contributes 5.2% to the total. For residents, this means that while the town remains a safe place, the high footfall of a major tourist destination brings an increased risk of opportunistic property crime and theft-related offences compared to quieter residential areas.

Crime Trends in Stratford-upon-Avon

The crime trend in Stratford-upon-Avon is significantly downward, with a 12.1% year-over-year decrease in total offences. This is a substantial improvement for the town, indicating that local safety initiatives are having a meaningful impact. Looking at the monthly data for 2025, the crime rate peaked in July at 11.1 per 1,000 residents, which aligns with the height of the summer tourist season. May and June also saw elevated rates of 10.5 and 10.1 respectively.

The end of the year was notably quieter, with December recording the lowest rate of 7.6 per 1,000. January (8.2), February (8.0), and March (7.9) also showed lower activity compared to the summer peak. This seasonal pattern is very clear in Stratford-upon-Avon, with criminal activity rising and falling in tandem with visitor numbers. The overall 12.1% reduction, however, shows that even during peak times, the town is becoming safer than it was in previous years.

How To Keep Safe in Stratford-upon-Avon

As violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type in this busy town, personal safety and awareness are paramount. Follow these localized tips:

1. Be Mindful in Crowded Areas: With anti-social behaviour and theft also being high, stay aware of your surroundings in the town centre, particularly around the Royal Shakespeare Theatre and high-street shops.
2. Secure Your Vehicle: Vehicle crime accounts for 45% of night-time offences. Always use well-lit, secure car parks and ensure no bags or electronics are visible through the windows.
3. Business Security: If you run a local shop, be aware that shoplifting is a significant issue (11.6% of total crime). Invest in high-quality internal security and join the local business crime partnership.
4. Plan Your Journey Home: When enjoying the town's evening economy, use reputable taxi firms or stick to main, well-lit pedestrian routes.
5. Protect Your Home: Given the town's property crime rate, ensure your home security is proactive. Use smart lighting to make your home look occupied and consider professional boundary protection.

Crime in Stratford-upon-Avon follows a clear temporal cycle. The afternoon (12pm - 6pm) is the peak period for theft-related offences, which account for 51% of crimes during these hours. This correlates with the town's busiest shopping and tourist times. Morning hours (6am - 12pm) also see high theft levels at 46%, as the town opens for business.

In the evening (6pm - 12am), the nature of crime shifts toward 'other' categories, including anti-social behaviour and public order issues, which make up 43% of reports. Night-time (12am - 6am) brings a significant change in risk; while overall volume drops, vehicle crime surges to become 45% of all incidents. Burglary remains a persistent but lower-level threat throughout the 24-hour cycle, peaking slightly at night (19%). These patterns suggest that residents should be most alert to personal theft during the day and prioritise vehicle and home security during the late evening and early morning hours.

In a regional context, Stratford-upon-Avon has the highest crime rate among its immediate neighbours, which is typical for a primary urban hub. Its rate of 106.8 is higher than Tiddington (79.0) and Wilmcote (27.6), and far exceeds the zero-rate figures reported for Clifford Chambers and Binton. However, the town's significant 12.1% decrease in crime is more pronounced than in many surrounding areas. For those considering the region, Stratford-upon-Avon offers the most amenities but with the trade-off of higher statistical crime levels, though the current trend indicates the town is successfully addressing these challenges.

Stratford-upon-Avon's property crime rate of 36.1 per 1,000 is above the national average, making robust home security a sensible investment for residents. In a busy town environment, traditional CCTV systems often suffer from 'notification fatigue,' where homeowners stop checking alerts because they are triggered by every passer-by. This is where reactive security fails; you end up with footage of a burglary rather than a prevented one.

scOS offers a proactive solution designed for the modern urban home. Its AI-powered multi-camera intelligence learns to distinguish between your family, delivery drivers, and genuine threats at the property boundary. By detecting suspicious patterns before an entry is attempted, scOS can trigger autonomous responses like deterrent lighting or audio alerts. This proactive stance is particularly effective in town settings where burglars often look for the path of least resistance. A property protected by a visible, intelligent system like scOS is much more likely to be bypassed by opportunistic criminals in favour of less secure targets.