Southampton is the most dangerous city in Hampshire, and is among the top 20 most dangerous overall out of Hampshire's 269 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Southampton in 2021 was 123 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to Hampshire's overall crime rate, coming in 35% higher than the Hampshire rate of 80 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Southampton is among the top 5 most dangerous cities, and the 302nd most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In December 2021, Southampton had the worst crime rate in Hampshire for burglary, with 160 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.59 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2021 was also a bad month for Southampton residents, when it was Hampshire's most dangerous area for criminal damage and arson, recording 237 crimes at a rate of 0.88 per 1,000 residents. Southampton recorded 75 reports of bicycle theft during November 2021, making its crime rate of 0.28 the worst for bicycle theft in Hampshire that month.
The most common crimes in Southampton are violence and sexual offences, with 14,792 offences during 2021, giving a crime rate of 55. This is 18% higher than 2020's figure of 12,085 offences and a difference of 10.04 from 2020's crime rate of 45. Southampton's least common crime is theft from the person, with 228 offences recorded in 2021, an increase of 2.2% from 2020's figure of 223 crimes.
Most Dangerous
Cities, Hampshire
42% higher, regional crime rate
South East
41% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
As of 2022, the crime rate in Southampton is 42% higher than the South East and 41% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
| Southampton | |
| South East | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Incidents mapped in Southampton represent the time frame between April 2019 and March 2022. Each point on the map represents an area where crimes have been recorded locally.
Last updated: 11 May, 2022
Hover over a point to see a breakdown of crime types recorded at that location. You can also filter by individual crime types, or use a combinations of offences to visualize the data you need.
Last updated: 11 May, 2022
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| Year | Crime Rate per 1,000 people | Total Crimes |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 123 | 33,163 |
| 2020 | 108 | 29,124 |
| 2019 | 117 | 31,494 |
| 2018 | 114 | 30,728 |
| 2017 | 111 | 30,050 |
| 2016 | 91 | 24,449 |
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| Southampton | Hampshire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 5,524 | 20.48 | 27,808 | 15.03 | 27% more dangerous |
| Bicycle Theft | 733 | 2.72 | 2,453 | 1.33 | 51% more dangerous |
| Burglary | 1,819 | 6.74 | 7,474 | 4.04 | 40% more dangerous |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 3,095 | 11.47 | 14,046 | 7.59 | 34% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 1,070 | 3.97 | 4,674 | 2.53 | 36% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 526 | 1.95 | 2,320 | 1.25 | 36% more dangerous |
| Other Theft | 1,851 | 6.86 | 9,211 | 4.98 | 27% more dangerous |
| Possession of Weapons | 433 | 1.61 | 1,654 | 0.89 | 45% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 4,326 | 16.04 | 18,964 | 10.25 | 36% more dangerous |
| Robbery | 345 | 1.28 | 1,103 | 0.60 | 53% more dangerous |
| Shoplifting | 1,694 | 6.28 | 8,072 | 4.36 | 31% more dangerous |
| Theft From the Person | 228 | 0.85 | 873 | 0.47 | 45% more dangerous |
| Vehicle Crime | 2,251 | 8.34 | 9,178 | 4.96 | 41% more dangerous |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 14,792 | 54.84 | 67,127 | 36.29 | 34% more dangerous |
| City | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portsmouth | 26,653 | 115.96 | 6% safer |
| Southampton | 33,163 | 122.94 | - |
View crime percentage over time for
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Graham Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Pine Drive | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Burglary | On or near Edith Haisman Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Public order | On or near Northlands Gardens | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Shopping Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Frederick Street | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Cecil Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Carlton Place | Local resolution |
| March 2022 | Possession of weapons | On or near Nightclub | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Edgehill Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Albion Place | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Eynham Close | Local resolution |
| March 2022 | Shoplifting | On or near Shopping Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Cheviot Crescent | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Robbery | On or near Parsonage Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Burglary | On or near Alfred Rose Court | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Graham Street | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Upper Banister Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Edith Haisman Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Redbridge Flyover | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 16 | 23 | 24 | 20 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 4.4 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 2.7 | Safer |
| Burglary | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 13 | 12 | 11 | 11 | Safer |
| Drugs | 2.4 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 4.0 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.8 | 2.0 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 9 | 9 | 6 | 7 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.6 | Getting worse |
| Public Order | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 1.4 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.3 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 8 | 6 | 6 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.83 | 0.85 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 42 | 46 | 45 | 55 | Getting worse |
We only display green spaces in Southampton that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2021.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others | Crimes per Hectare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daisy Dip | 2 | - | - | 2 | 6 | 3 | 1.9 |
| Deep Dene Recreation Ground | 1 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0.37 |
| Green Park | 8 | - | 2 | - | 2 | 2 | 2.1 |
| Hoglands Park | 11 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 8 |
| Mansel Park | 23 | - | 8 | - | 10 | 7 | 4.6 |
| Moorgreen Recreation Ground | 4 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Queen's Park | 8 | 2 | 3 | - | 14 | 9 | 19 |
| Shirley Pond Park | 6 | - | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2.3 |
| Southampton Common | 15 | 1 | 1 | - | 14 | 8 | 0.27 |
| St James Park | 3 | - | 1 | - | 1 | 0 | 2.2 |
| Veracity Recreation Ground | 31 | - | 2 | - | 8 | 1 | 7 |
Central Southampton West is the most dangerous neighbourhood in Southampton, followed by Newtown & Nicholstown in second place, and Freemantle as the third most dangerous area. Southampton's safest neighbourhoods are, in order, Bassett Green, Sholing East, and Sholing West.
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aldermoor & Lordswood | 544 | 70 | 29th |
| Banister Park & Howard Road | 863 | 96 | 21st |
| Bassett Green | 425 | 47 | 32nd |
| Bevois Town | 966 | 128 | 13th |
| Bitterne East | 1,081 | 141 | 11th |
| Bitterne South | 620 | 102 | 19th |
| Bitterne West | 773 | 91 | 23rd |
| Central Southampton East | 2,703 | 190 | Fifth |
| Central Southampton West | 3,337 | 300 | First |
| Coxford & Lords Hill | 616 | 103 | 16th |
| Freemantle | 1,727 | 216 | Third |
| Harefield | 551 | 90 | 24th |
| Highfield & University | 535 | 75 | 27th |
| Hightown | 749 | 114 | 15th |
| Hollybrook | 585 | 94 | 22nd |
| Itchen | 816 | 100 | 20th |
| Maybush | 980 | 120 | 14th |
| Newtown & Nicholstown | 2,890 | 237 | Second |
| Redbridge & Millbrook West | 1,190 | 160 | Eighth |
| Regents Park & Millbrook East | 1,278 | 167 | Sixth |
| Shirley South | 1,126 | 144 | Tenth |
| Shirley Warren | 1,361 | 193 | Fourth |
| Sholing East | 444 | 61 | 31st |
| Sholing West | 404 | 67 | 30th |
| St Denys | 1,407 | 164 | Seventh |
| Stoneham | 709 | 102 | 18th |
| Swaythling | 691 | 87 | 25th |
| Thornhill | 1,014 | 135 | 12th |
| Townhill Park | 420 | 72 | 28th |
| Upper Shirley | 636 | 81 | 26th |
| Weston | 866 | 144 | Ninth |
| Woolston | 935 | 103 | 17th |
Showing the safest and most dangerous parts of Southampton for specific criminal activity, with crime count and rate shown in brackets.
| Crime Type | Safest Neighbourhood | Most Dangerous Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | Bassett Green (69) | Central Southampton East (679) |
| Bicycle Theft | Sholing East (1) | Central Southampton West (154) |
| Burglary | Sholing East (19) | Central Southampton West (174) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Bassett Green (43) | Shirley Warren (155) |
| Drugs | Aldermoor & Lordswood (6) | Freemantle (128) |
| Other Crime | Aldermoor & Lordswood (7) | Redbridge & Millbrook West (32) |
| Other Theft | Bassett Green (19) | Central Southampton West (211) |
| Possession of Weapons | Bassett Green (1) | Central Southampton West (49) |
| Public Order | Bassett Green (45) | Freemantle (279) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Sholing East (1) | Central Southampton West (60) |
| Shoplifting | Highfield & University (1) | Central Southampton West (605) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Maybush (1) | Central Southampton West (61) |
| Vehicle Crime | Sholing West (24) | Newtown & Nicholstown (204) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Bassett Green (160) | Newtown & Nicholstown (1,391) |
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Southampton change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in March, when Southampton saw a 165% increase in anti-social behaviour. Southampton saw a large fall in theft from the person during May, when it fell by 67% compared to May in 2019. Southampton saw consistent falls in the crime rate of several types of crime during every month of its Coronavirus lockdown, including criminal damage and arson, shoplifting, and vehicle crime.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | +165% | -13% | -13% | +5% | -14% | -5% | +14% | -33% | -8% | -36% |
| Bicycle Theft | -13% | -31% | -44% | -24% | +7% | +15% | +41% | -31% | -42% | -23% |
| Burglary | -23% | -23% | -16% | -6% | -35% | -20% | +8% | +10% | -11% | +1% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -19% | -19% | -25% | -9% | -14% | +9% | -6% | -16% | -10% | -13% |
| Drugs | +40% | - | +36% | +61% | +46% | +33% | +28% | +57% | +15% | +40% |
| Other Crime | +5% | -33% | +3% | -13% | -27% | +17% | +50% | -19% | +9% | +9% |
| Other Theft | -13% | -37% | -43% | -32% | -30% | -35% | -34% | -32% | -39% | -24% |
| Possession of Weapons | -26% | -18% | -40% | +11% | +7% | +64% | +9% | +37% | +42% | +79% |
| Public Order | +4% | -17% | +9% | -11% | -11% | +24% | +16% | -8% | -3% | +16% |
| Robbery | -27% | -35% | -34% | +14% | +33% | +56% | +5% | -6% | -53% | -56% |
| Shoplifting | +19% | -15% | -25% | -56% | -46% | -43% | -23% | -28% | -37% | -23% |
| Theft From the Person | - | -50% | -67% | +24% | -5% | -36% | -19% | -26% | -29% | -38% |
| Vehicle Crime | -32% | -30% | -30% | -32% | -12% | +15% | -10% | -23% | -37% | -8% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | -10% | -13% | -19% | +2% | +6% | +8% | +7% | -10% | +1% | -9% |
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