Swindon Crime Rate

Swindon is a secure local authority with an overall crime rate of 83.7 per 1,000 people, which is lower than the UK average of 91.7. This performance earns the area a safety score of 81/100, indicating a safer-than-average environment for its residents. Crime rates in Swindon have remained stable over the past year, showing a modest 4.3% increase. The property crime rate stands at 24.6 per 1,000, which is significantly lower than the UK average of 32.3. This suggests a relatively low risk to homeowners, though personal safety and anti-social behaviour are more prominent in the local data. This report provides a detailed breakdown of Swindon's crime statistics and offers practical advice to help residents maintain their safety and protect their property across the borough.

Swindon is a large, vibrant local authority in Wiltshire, characterized by its strategic location along the M4 corridor. This positioning has made it a major commercial and transport hub, home to the headquarters of several international companies and a significant retail sector, including the renowned Swindon Designer Outlet. The area features a mix of dense urban centres, sprawling suburban neighbourhoods, and more rural fringes. Its high population density and role as a regional employment centre contribute to its crime statistics, as do its active nightlife and high volume of daily commuters. These factors, combined with economic diversity, influence the types and frequency of crime recorded across the borough. Understanding this context helps explain why Swindon's crime rate reflects both the challenges of a major urban centre and the relative safety of its surrounding residential areas.

In Swindon, violence and sexual offences are the most frequently reported crimes, accounting for 37.9% of all incidents (31.7 per 1,000 residents). Anti-social behaviour (18.3%) and shoplifting (9.0%) are also significant contributors to the local crime data. The collective property crime rate—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various forms of theft—is 24.6 per 1,000 people. While shoplifting is a notable factor, primarily affecting the commercial sectors, burglary remains relatively low at 2.5% of total crime. Vehicle crime accounts for 3.4%. For residents, the data suggests that while the property crime rate is lower than the UK average of 32.3, personal safety and community issues like anti-social behaviour are more prominent concerns. Homeowners should focus on maintaining robust security to protect against opportunistic theft and criminal damage, which makes up 7.0% of reports.

Swindon has maintained a stable safety profile, with a 4.3% increase in total crime over the past year. Monthly trendData shows that the crime rate peaked in July 2025 at 8.3 per 1,000, with other notable peaks in May and June. Outside of these months, the rate remained relatively steady, fluctuating between 6.1 and 7.1 per 1,000. This consistency suggests that crime in Swindon is predictable and well-managed, with no significant upward or downward shifts that would cause alarm. For residents, this stability is a positive sign, indicating a secure community environment that consistently performs better than national averages despite its urban density and commercial activity.

In the local context, Swindon (83.7) is the most active area for crime compared to its immediate neighbours. Nearby local authorities such as the Vale of White Horse, Cotswold, Wiltshire, West Oxfordshire, and West Berkshire all recorded significantly lower crime rates in the same period. Oxford also shows a lower crime profile. For those considering the region, Swindon offers a safe urban environment that is still more active than its more rural or affluent neighbours. However, it remains more secure than the UK average, making it a safe and well-managed area for its large and diverse population.

Swindon's property crime rate of 24.6 per 1,000 is lower than the national average, but the presence of burglary and criminal damage suggests that homeowners should be proactive about their security. Traditional security measures, such as basic CCTV, often only provide evidence after a crime has occurred. A proactive approach, like that offered by scOS, changes the game. scOS uses AI to monitor your property boundaries in real-time, identifying potential threats before they can act. By using multi-camera intelligence to distinguish between normal activity and suspicious behaviour, scOS can trigger autonomous deterrents—like activating security lights or audible warnings—to stop an intruder in their tracks. For Swindon residents, this means moving beyond simple evidence gathering to active prevention, ensuring that their homes remain as safe as possible and deterring the opportunistic crime that can occur in a major urban centre.

How To Keep Safe in Swindon

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime types in Swindon, accounting for 37.9% of all reports. To maintain personal safety across the borough, it is advisable to stay aware of your surroundings, especially when in the town centre or near major transport hubs in the evening. Stick to well-lit paths and avoid shortcuts through isolated areas. Carrying a personal safety alarm can provide peace of mind. Given that anti-social behaviour is also significant (18.3%), residents should report any such incidents to the local authorities to help maintain community standards. For homeowners, ensuring that your property is well-lit and that all doors and windows are securely locked is a simple but effective way to deter opportunistic crime. Engaging with local community safety initiatives and keeping in touch with neighbours can also help maintain Swindon's secure environment by ensuring that any unusual activity is quickly identified and reported.