Romsey Crime Rate

Romsey is one of the safest towns in Hampshire, with a current crime rate of 54.7 per 1,000 people. This is significantly lower than the UK national average of 91.7, contributing to an impressive safety score of 87/100. The town's crime trend is moving in a positive direction, showing a 6.8% decrease year-over-year. For the 20,980 residents, these figures reflect a secure and peaceful urban environment. This report provides a detailed analysis of the local crime statistics to help residents and visitors understand the safety landscape in Romsey and how it compares to the rest of the UK.

In Romsey, violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type, accounting for 38.8% of all reported incidents. This is followed by shoplifting (13.7%) and anti-social behaviour (9.9%). These figures indicate that while personal safety is a key focus, retail-related crime is also a significant factor in the town's statistics.

When looking at property crime collectively—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, shoplifting, and various thefts—the rate in Romsey is 21.0 per 1,000 residents. Shoplifting is the primary contributor to this figure, followed by other theft (8.9%) and criminal damage and arson (7.1%). Burglary (2.8%) and vehicle crime (3.9%) are relatively uncommon. For residents, this means that while the town is statistically very safe, opportunistic theft in commercial areas is the most frequent property-related risk. Homeowners enjoy a high level of security, but maintaining basic vigilance over personal property and vehicles remains advisable.

Crime in Romsey is currently on a positive downward trend, with a 6.8% year-over-year decrease in total offences. Analysis of the monthly data from December 2024 to November 2025 shows some fluctuation, with crime rates per 1,000 people ranging from a low of 3.4 in October to a peak of 6.7 in July.

The high rate in July 2025 likely reflects increased summer activity in the town. However, the figures for the latter part of the year were consistently lower, with October and September showing particularly low rates of 3.4 and 3.7 respectively. This overall reduction is an encouraging sign for the town, suggesting that Romsey continues to be a safe and improving environment for its residents.

How To Keep Safe in Romsey

The most prevalent crime type in Romsey is violence and sexual offences. While the town is generally very safe, it is always wise to take sensible precautions. Stay aware of your surroundings, particularly when walking alone at night. Stick to well-lit, busy routes and avoid isolated areas where possible. If you are out in the town centre during the evening, planning your journey home in advance is recommended.

Shoplifting is the second most common issue, and while this primarily affects businesses, it can contribute to a sense of unease. Residents can help by staying vigilant in retail areas. For homeowners, simple measures like installing motion-activated lighting around the exterior of your property can act as an effective deterrent against anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. Finally, consider joining a local community safety group or Neighbourhood Watch scheme to stay informed about any specific issues in your part of Romsey. Being proactive and aware is the best way to maintain the town's high safety standards.

In Romsey, crime patterns show a clear variation throughout the day. Morning and afternoon hours are dominated by theft-related offences, which account for 54% and 58% of crimes in these periods respectively. This is strongly linked to the town's retail activity. As the day moves into the evening, the nature of crime shifts, with 'other' crimes—including anti-social behaviour and public order—making up 50% of incidents.

Night-time (12am - 6am) brings a different set of risks. Vehicle crime is most prevalent during these hours, accounting for 35% of reported incidents. Burglary also peaks at night (15%) and during the afternoon (12%). For residents, this highlights the importance of securing vehicles and homes overnight and being vigilant in commercial areas during the day. Understanding these patterns allows for more effective personal and property security planning.

Romsey is located in a very safe part of southern Hampshire. When compared to nearby areas like North Baddesley, which has a crime rate of 47.2 per 1,000, Romsey's rate is slightly higher, which is expected for a larger town with a busy commercial centre. Other nearby areas like Belbins, Braishfield, and Timsbury show even lower figures, highlighting the overall safety of the region. For those considering the area, Romsey offers a perfect balance of historic charm, urban amenities, and very high safety standards.

With a property crime rate of 21.0 per 1,000 people, Romsey is a low-risk town, but property owners should still consider their security carefully. The limitation of traditional security systems, such as standard CCTV or DIY video doorbells, is that they are reactive. They record a crime as it happens, often providing footage of a loss that has already occurred.

For those who want to prevent crime altogether, scOS offers a proactive solution. This AI-powered security system is designed to detect and deter threats at your property boundary. By identifying suspicious activity in real-time and autonomously activating deterrents like lighting and audio warnings, scOS can stop a crime before it even begins. For homeowners in Romsey, moving from reactive recording to proactive AI protection means ensuring that your property remains as safe as the statistics suggest.