Wiltshire Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Wiltshire’s January 2026 crime rate of 4.6 per 1,000 residents was 30.3% below the UK average, reflecting a consistent trend of lower crime levels in this rural district. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 40% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (17.1%) and criminal damage and arson (8.4%). These figures align with Wiltshire’s character as a sparsely populated area with significant agricultural land and tourism infrastructure, where violent crime often occurs in concentrated urban hubs like Salisbury and Trowbridge. The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period with reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours—likely contributed to the lower rates of shoplifting and vehicle crime compared to other months. However, the persistent prevalence of violence and sexual offences suggests that local factors, such as the presence of university towns or commuter centres, may be driving this category. Wiltshire’s anti-social behaviour rate of 0.8 per 1,000 was 12% below the UK average, potentially linked to the area’s lower population density and fewer large-scale events. The contrast between Wiltshire’s crime profile and the UK average is most pronounced in drug-related offences, where the local rate was 63% lower, a statistic that may reflect both the rural nature of much of the district and effective local policing strategies. As the month progressed, the combination of seasonal factors and demographic patterns continued to shape crime trends, with violence remaining a focal point for local authorities.

January 2026 saw notable reductions in robbery, drugs offences, and criminal damage and arson, with robbery falling by 40% (from 10 to 6 incidents) and drugs offences dropping by 36.6% (from 71 to 45). These declines align with the post-holiday period, where reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours may have curtailed opportunities for certain crimes. Conversely, theft from the person surged by 114.3%, rising from 7 to 15 incidents—a sharp increase that suggests heightened vulnerability in specific contexts, such as public transport or isolated rural routes. Vehicle crime also rose by 6.4% (from 94 to 100), possibly linked to increased commuter traffic during the month. Meanwhile, public order offences climbed by 5.6% (from 144 to 152), a trend consistent with the seasonal context of colder weather and reduced social activity in outdoor spaces. Despite these increases, Wiltshire’s overall crime mix remains distinct from the UK average, with violent crimes at 1.8 per 1,000—26% below the national rate—highlighting the area’s unique demographic and geographic characteristics.

Wiltshire’s January 2026 crime rate of 4.6 per 1,000 residents marked a 3.0% decline from December’s 4.7 per 1,000, reflecting a continued downward trend in local crime. This monthly figure translates to roughly 77 crimes reported each day, a manageable number for a rural district with a population of 523,700. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 219 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the area’s demographic spread. While daily crime numbers remain stable, the monthly exposure rate underscores that Wiltshire’s crime profile remains significantly below the UK average, with 30.3% fewer crimes per 1,000 residents compared to the national figure of 6.6. This contrast is particularly striking in categories such as drugs and vehicle crime, where local rates are 63% and 46% below UK averages respectively. The rural nature of much of Wiltshire, combined with its seasonal patterns—such as reduced foot traffic in January—likely contributes to the lower levels of certain crimes, though violent offences remain a persistent concern.