Ross-on-Wye Crime Overview

Ross-on-Wye is the second most dangerous small town in Herefordshire, and is among the top 20 most dangerous overall out of Herefordshire's 238 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Ross-on-Wye in 2020 was 67 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to Herefordshire's overall crime rate, coming in 23% higher than the Herefordshire rate of 52 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Ross-on-Wye is the 233rd most dangerous small town, and the 1,615th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.

In December 2020, Ross-on-Wye had the worst crime rate in Herefordshire for theft from the person, with 2 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.20 per 1,000 inhabitants. January 2019 was also a bad month for Ross-on-Wye residents, when it was Herefordshire's most dangerous area for possession of weapons, recording 2 crimes at a rate of 0.20 per 1,000 residents. Ross-on-Wye recorded 3 reports of vehicle crime during February 2018, making its crime rate of 0.29 the worst for vehicle crime in Herefordshire that month.

The most common crimes in Ross-on-Wye are violence and sexual offences, with 321 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 31. This is 6% higher than 2019's figure of 301 offences and a difference of 1.95 from 2019's crime rate of 29. Ross-on-Wye's least common crime is robbery, with 1 offence recorded in 2020.

Compare Ross-on-Wye to other towns and cities

See how Ross-on-Wye shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Ross-on-Wye and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.

Ross-on-Wye Crime Map

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Crime in Ross-on-Wye Compared To Herefordshire

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Summary of Crimes in Ross-on-Wye This Year

 Ross-on-WyeHerefordshire 
CrimeCountRateCountRateRate Difference
Anti-Social Behaviour28127.443,88920.2026% more dangerous
Bicycle Theft50.491310.6839% safer
Burglary393.815813.0221% more dangerous
Criminal Damage and Arson838.101,0705.5631% more dangerous
Drugs333.224852.5222% more dangerous
Other Crime181.761850.9645% more dangerous
Other Theft444.308544.443.3% safer
Possession of Weapons80.781130.5924% more dangerous
Public Order414.006983.639% more dangerous
Robbery10.10600.31210% safer
Shoplifting646.254882.5360% more dangerous
Theft From the Person70.68460.2465% more dangerous
Vehicle Crime212.053341.7316% more dangerous
Violence and Sexual Offences32131.344,87325.3119% more dangerous

Ross-on-Wye Compared to Nearby Small Towns

Small TownTotal CrimesCrime RateRate Difference
Ledbury37338.3374% safer
Ross-on-Wye68566.88-
Leominster92074.1910% more dangerous

Crime Over Time in Ross-on-Wye

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Recent Crimes in Ross-on-Wye

DateCrime TypeLocationOutcome
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Parking AreaUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Parking AreaUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Oak Tree RiseInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Oak Tree RiseLocal resolution
November 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Springfield RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Oak RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near St Mary'S StreetInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021ShopliftingOn or near Brookend StreetUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Smallbrook GardensInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Theatre/Concert HallUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Parking AreaInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Wallhouse RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Broad StreetUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near North RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021BurglaryOn or near Palmerston RoadInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021ShopliftingOn or near Primrose CloseInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Vehicle crimeOn or near Primrose CloseUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021ShopliftingOn or near Alton AvenueInvestigation complete; no suspect identified
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Henry StreetUnable to prosecute suspect
November 2021Violence and sexual offencesOn or near Old Market CloseUnable to prosecute suspect

Ross-on-Wye Crime Trends

 Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents 
Crime2017201820192020Trend
Anti-Social Behaviour42424727Safer
Bicycle Theft0.490.390.390.49Getting worse
Burglary62.72.93.8Safer
Criminal Damage and Arson8698Getting worse
Drugs4.32.02.23.2Getting worse
Other Crime2.01.31.61.8Getting worse
Other Theft10874.3Safer
Possession of Weapons0.591.11.30.78Safer
Public Order2.62.33.54.0Getting worse
Robbery (inc. mugging)0.100.20-0.10Safer
Shoplifting55.076Getting worse
Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing)1.40.880.680.68Safer
Vehicle Crime64.52.72.0Safer
Violence and Sexual Offences26252931Getting worse

Changes In Ross-on-Wye's Crime Rates Over Time

Comparing Ross-on-Wye to the UK's Major Cities

Small TownCrime RateRate Difference
Ross-on-Wye66.88-
Barnet67.711.2% more dangerous
Coventry77.4114% more dangerous
Croydon83.2220% more dangerous
Sheffield85.8122% more dangerous
Bristol86.2122% more dangerous
Leicester97.4431% more dangerous
Birmingham102.8735% more dangerous
Liverpool107.2838% more dangerous
Bradford133.0250% more dangerous
Leeds137.1051% more dangerous

Crime in Ross-on-Wye's Neighbourhoods

NeighbourhoodCrime CountCrime RateDanger Rank
Ross-on-Wye72964First

Crime in Ross-on-Wye During Coronavirus Lockdowns

Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Ross-on-Wye change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in August, when Ross-on-Wye saw a 400% increase in burglary. Ross-on-Wye saw a large fall in shoplifting during April, when it fell by 86% compared to April in 2019.

CrimeMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Anti-Social Behaviour-13%+128%+50%+2%------
Bicycle Theft----------
Burglary-+100%+100%--67%+400%+50%-50%-50%-
Criminal Damage and Arson-38%-44%+25%-67%+167%-17%-27%+25%-33%+40%
Drugs--+350%---40%----
Other Crime--67%-----+300%--75%
Other Theft-67%-67%-50%--57%-40%-17%--43%-
Possession of Weapons----------
Public Order-67%-67%-+100%+100%--33%-+100%+200%
Shoplifting+38%-86%-78%-83%-29%+33%+100%-80%-38%-60%
Theft From the Person---------+100%
Vehicle Crime-50%-60%------75%--
Violence and Sexual Offences-11%-14%-18%+75%-6%+100%+32%+32%-34%-44%

Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Ross-on-Wye

What police force serves Ross-on-Wye?
Ross-on-Wye's local territorial police force is the West Mercia Police.
How dangerous is Ross-on-Wye?
Ross-on-Wye is the second most dangerous small town in Herefordshire.
What is Ross-on-Wye's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Ross-on-Wye are violence and sexual offences.
What is the least common crime in Ross-on-Wye?
Ross-on-Wye's least common crime is robbery (inc. mugging).

Last updated: 31 Dec 2021