Salisbury Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Salisbury’s February 2026 crime rate of 8.8 per 1,000 residents marked a 37.5% increase over the UK average, highlighting a significant divergence from national trends. The most prominent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 30.9% of all incidents (124 cases), though this rate (2.7 per 1,000) was 16% above the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed closely, with 77 incidents (19.2% of total crimes) and an 87% gap above the UK average. This pattern is consistent with Salisbury’s status as a historic town with a mix of urban and semi-rural areas, where social tensions may be exacerbated during winter months. The seasonal context of February—a low point for outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—could have contributed to the concentration of crimes in enclosed spaces and public areas. Vehicle crime, though less frequent than other categories, stood out as 186% above the UK average (1.0 vs 0.3 per 1,000), a figure that may reflect the city’s role as a transport hub and the presence of older, more vulnerable vehicles. The data also reveals a notable imbalance between property and violent crime: property crimes (153) made up 38% of total incidents, while violent crimes (124) accounted for 31%, suggesting a shift in criminal priorities. This could be attributed to the city’s commercial districts and the transient nature of some populations, though further analysis would be required to confirm this hypothesis. The overall rate, while concerning, remains lower than in many comparable UK cities, indicating that Salisbury’s crime profile is neither uniquely dire nor entirely aligned with national patterns.

February 2026 saw a dramatic surge in vehicle crime, with a 542.9% increase from 7 to 45 incidents, the highest monthly jump in the dataset. This spike, coupled with a 250.0% rise in bicycle theft (from 4 to 14), contrasts sharply with a 50.0% decrease in theft from the person (from 2 to 1). These shifts suggest a combination of seasonal factors and localized vulnerabilities. Anti-social behaviour remained the second-highest category, with 77 incidents—87% above the UK average of 0.9 per 1,000. This figure, though not explicitly tied to a specific cause, may reflect the social dynamics of a historic town with a mix of residential and tourist areas. Vehicle crime in Salisbury was 186% above the UK average (1.0 vs 0.3 per 1,000), a disparity that could be linked to the city’s proximity to major transport routes and the presence of older vehicles in the local population. Residents might find the 100% decrease in robbery (from 2 to 1) reassuring, though this remains an isolated data point.

Salisbury's crime rate in February 2026 rose to 8.8 per 1,000 residents, a 19.0% increase from the previous month’s 7.4 per 1,000. This places the area 37.5% above the UK average, a gap that has widened over recent months. On a daily basis, the city recorded approximately 14 crimes per day, reflecting a steady but uneven pattern of activity. Over the course of February, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 114 residents, a figure that underscores the monthly exposure to crime in a population of 45,797. While this rate is higher than the UK average, it is important to contextualise it within Salisbury’s character as a historic town with a mix of urban and rural influences. The concentration of crimes in specific categories, such as anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime, suggests localized factors may be at play, though further analysis would be required to confirm this. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while the absolute number of crimes is notable, the rate remains lower than in some other UK cities with similar demographics.