Wiltshire Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Wiltshire's overall crime rate in January 2026 stood at 4.6 per 1,000 residents, marking a 32.4% reduction compared to the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This performance places the area among the safer local authority districts in England. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 40% of all reported incidents (957 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (17.1%, 410 cases) and criminal damage and arson (8.4%, 200 cases). These figures align with Wiltshire's rural character, where community policing and lower population density may contribute to reduced property crime rates compared to urban centres. Seasonal context suggests that January's post-holiday period and shorter daylight hours likely influenced crime patterns, with reduced retail footfall potentially dampening shoplifting activity (0.3 per 1,000, 47% below UK average). However, the persistent presence of violence and sexual offences highlights ongoing challenges in maintaining public safety across the district. The area's crime profile reflects a balance between proactive community engagement and the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas, particularly those with higher concentrations of anti-social behaviour incidents.

January 2026 saw notable reductions in several crime categories, including a 40% decrease in robbery cases (10 → 6) and a 36.6% drop in drug-related offences (71 → 45). These declines contrast with increases in theft from the person (+114.3%, 7 → 15) and vehicle crime (+6.4%, 94 → 100), suggesting shifting patterns in criminal activity. Violence and sexual offences remained below the UK average (1.8 per 1,000, 28% below), a trend consistent with Wiltshire's lower population density and strong community policing initiatives. Anti-social behaviour also fell significantly (14% below UK average).1% share of total crimes underscores ongoing challenges in managing disruptive conduct. The most striking disparity was in possession of weapons, where Wiltshire recorded zero incidents (0.0 per 1,000) compared to the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. This data point may be particularly reassuring for residents, highlighting the effectiveness of local measures in preventing weapon-related crimes. The month-on-month changes also reveal a 14.9% reduction in criminal damage and arson (235 → 200), likely influenced by seasonal factors such as reduced outdoor activity and lower visibility during shorter daylight hours.

Wiltshire's crime rate in January 2026 (4.6 per 1,000) represented a 3.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 4.7 per 1,000, indicating a sustained downward trend. Over the course of the month, 77 crimes were reported daily on average, a figure that translates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 219 residents. This monthly exposure rate provides a tangible sense of the scale of crime in relation to the local population, though it should be contextualised within Wiltshire's rural landscape, where crime is more spread out than in densely populated urban areas. The 32.4% gap between Wiltshire's rate and the UK average (6.8 per 1,000) remains significant, with the area's performance across multiple categories (e.g. shoplifting, public order offences, and vehicle crime) consistently falling below national benchmarks by margins exceeding 25%. These comparative advantages may reflect the effectiveness of local policing strategies, the lower population density, and the absence of major urban centres that typically correlate with higher crime rates. However, the 1-in-219 resident figure serves as a reminder that while Wiltshire is relatively safe, crime remains a tangible concern for some communities within the district.