Croydon Crime Overview
Croydon is among the top 20 safest cities in London, and is among the top 20 safest overall out of London's 33 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Croydon in 2020 was 83 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares favourably to London's overall crime rate, coming in 5% lower than the London rate of 87 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Croydon is among the top 20 safest cities, and the 884th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In December 2020, Croydon had the worst crime rate in London for criminal damage and arson, with 217 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.56 per 1,000 inhabitants. March 2020 was also a bad month for Croydon residents, when it was London's most dangerous area for vehicle crime, recording 541 crimes at a rate of 1.4 per 1,000 residents. Croydon recorded 869 reports of violence and sexual offences during December 2020, making its crime rate of 2.2 the worst for violence and sexual offences in London that month.
The most common crimes in Croydon are violence and sexual offences, with 11,078 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 29. This is 9% higher than 2019's figure of 10,076 offences and a difference of 2.59 from 2019's crime rate of 26. Croydon's least common crime is bicycle theft, with 264 offences recorded in 2020, an increase of 9% from 2019's figure of 239 crimes.
Compare Croydon to other towns and cities
See how Croydon shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Croydon and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.
Croydon Crime Map
Crime in Croydon Compared To London
Summary of Crimes in Croydon This Year
| Croydon | London | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 15,364 | 39.73 | 416,486 | 46.52 | 17% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 264 | 0.68 | 24,355 | 2.72 | 300% safer |
| Burglary | 2,333 | 6.03 | 61,090 | 6.82 | 13% safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 2,496 | 6.45 | 51,728 | 5.78 | 10% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 2,652 | 6.86 | 52,789 | 5.90 | 14% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 457 | 1.18 | 10,337 | 1.15 | 2.5% more dangerous |
| Other Theft | 2,709 | 7.01 | 84,210 | 9.41 | 34% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 338 | 0.87 | 6,014 | 0.67 | 23% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 2,322 | 6.00 | 56,368 | 6.30 | 5% safer |
| Robbery | 941 | 2.43 | 27,544 | 3.08 | 27% safer |
| Shoplifting | 1,216 | 3.14 | 35,659 | 3.98 | 27% safer |
| Theft From the Person | 445 | 1.15 | 35,117 | 3.92 | 241% safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 4,930 | 12.75 | 107,687 | 12.03 | 6% more dangerous |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 11,078 | 28.65 | 229,978 | 25.69 | 10% more dangerous |
Croydon Compared to Nearby Cities
| City | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merton | 13,453 | 65.13 | 28% safer |
| Bromley | 21,684 | 65.25 | 28% safer |
| Barnet | 26,806 | 67.71 | 23% safer |
| Wandsworth | 24,282 | 73.65 | 13% safer |
| Redbridge | 22,873 | 74.94 | 11% safer |
| Croydon | 32,181 | 83.22 | - |
| Ealing | 28,578 | 83.61 | 0.47% more dangerous |
| Waltham Forest | 23,281 | 84.05 | 0.99% more dangerous |
| Hillingdon | 25,813 | 84.12 | 1.1% more dangerous |
| Enfield | 28,260 | 84.66 | 1.7% more dangerous |
| Brent | 27,932 | 84.70 | 1.7% more dangerous |
Crime Over Time in Croydon
View crime percentage over time forCroydon Crime Trends
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 22 | 20 | 22 | 40 | Getting worse |
| Bicycle Theft | 0.86 | 0.70 | 0.62 | 0.68 | Safer |
| Burglary | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 8 | 7 | 6 | 6 | Safer |
| Drugs | 3.8 | 4.1 | 6 | 7 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 0.93 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.94 | 0.86 | 0.89 | 0.87 | Safer |
| Public Order | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5 | 6 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.4 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 4.1 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.1 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.2 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.2 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 9 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Getting worse |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 24 | 26 | 26 | 29 | Getting worse |
Changes In Croydon's Crime Rates Over Time
Offences in Croydon's Green Spaces
We only display green spaces in Croydon that are named, and have had crimes recorded within their boundaries during 2020.
| Name | ASB | Drugs | Public Order | Robbery | VSO | All Others | Crimes per Hectare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashburton Playing Fields | 8 | - | 1 | - | - | 2 | 0.54 |
| Bourne Park Recreation Ground | 6 | - | - | - | 1 | 3 | 4.4 |
| Coulsdon Memorial Recreation Ground | - | - | - | 1 | - | 2 | 0.74 |
| Grange Park Recreation Ground | 2 | - | - | - | - | 0 | 0.48 |
| Heathfield | - | - | - | 1 | - | 1 | 0.46 |
| Milne Park Recreation Ground | 24 | 2 | 2 | - | - | 3 | 4.0 |
| North Down Recreation Ground | - | - | 1 | - | 5 | 0 | 0.51 |
| Rotary Field Recreation Ground | 29 | - | 2 | - | 2 | 1 | 20 |
| Rowdown Fields | 6 | - | - | - | 7 | 6 | 1.6 |
| Sanderstead Recreation Ground | 6 | 1 | - | - | - | 1 | 1.0 |
| Shirley Church Recreation Ground | 11 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 4.1 |
| South Croydon Recreation Ground | 9 | - | - | - | - | 3 | 3.4 |
| South Norwood Lake and Grounds | 6 | - | - | - | 1 | 1 | 0.91 |
| Woodcote Grove Recreation Ground | - | - | - | - | - | 2 | 0.50 |
Comparing Croydon to the UK's Major Cities
| City | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Barnet | 67.71 | 23% safer |
| Coventry | 77.41 | 8% safer |
| Croydon | 83.22 | - |
| Sheffield | 85.81 | 3.0% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 86.21 | 3.5% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 97.44 | 15% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 102.87 | 19% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 107.28 | 22% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 133.02 | 37% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 137.10 | 39% more dangerous |
Crime in Croydon's Neighbourhoods
Selhurst South & West Croydon is the most dangerous neighbourhood in Croydon, followed by Central Croydon in second place, and Croydon Minster & Waddon North as the third most dangerous area. Croydon's safest neighbourhoods are, in order, Sanderstead, Selsdon Park & Hamsey Green, and Woodmansterne.
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addiscombe East | 416 | 67 | 25th |
| Addiscombe North | 477 | 56 | 32nd |
| Addiscombe West | 1,066 | 92 | Ninth |
| Broad Green & Waddon Marsh | 948 | 101 | Eighth |
| Central Croydon | 2,266 | 169 | Second |
| Coulsdon | 636 | 71 | 23rd |
| Croham | 520 | 62 | 29th |
| Croydon Minster & Waddon North | 1,982 | 160 | Third |
| Crystal Palace Triangle | 706 | 74 | 18th |
| Forestdale | 544 | 47 | 34th |
| Kenley North | 273 | 43 | 38th |
| Kenley South | 295 | 42 | 39th |
| Monks Orchard | 332 | 41 | 40th |
| New Addington Central | 494 | 66 | 26th |
| New Addington North | 616 | 72 | 21st |
| New Addington South | 584 | 87 | 14th |
| Norbury East | 650 | 81 | 16th |
| Norbury West | 691 | 72 | 22nd |
| Old Coulsdon | 357 | 47 | 35th |
| Park Hill & Lloyd Park | 310 | 44 | 37th |
| Purley Central | 727 | 68 | 24th |
| Purley North | 443 | 55 | 33rd |
| Sanderstead | 218 | 28 | 44th |
| Selhurst North | 1,082 | 106 | Seventh |
| Selhurst South & West Croydon | 2,531 | 221 | First |
| Selsdon | 349 | 46 | 36th |
| Selsdon Park & Hamsey Green | 195 | 31 | 43rd |
| Shirley East | 421 | 64 | 27th |
| Shirley West | 439 | 59 | 31st |
| South Norwood Central | 826 | 89 | 11th |
| South Norwood Hill | 774 | 87 | 13th |
| South Norwood Park | 479 | 63 | 28th |
| Thornton Heath Central | 1,127 | 139 | Fifth |
| Thornton Heath North East | 632 | 76 | 17th |
| Thornton Heath North West | 759 | 87 | 15th |
| Thornton Heath West | 619 | 73 | 20th |
| University Hospital & Queen's Road | 1,683 | 154 | Fourth |
| Upper Norwood | 598 | 61 | 30th |
| Waddon South | 951 | 88 | 12th |
| West Thornton North | 1,146 | 118 | Sixth |
| West Thornton South & Ampere Way | 807 | 92 | Tenth |
| Woodcote | 311 | 41 | 41st |
| Woodmansterne | 269 | 33 | 42nd |
| Woodside & Ashburton | 667 | 73 | 19th |
Croydon Neighbourhood Crime Breakdown
Showing the safest and most dangerous parts of Croydon for specific criminal activity, with crime count and rate shown in brackets.
| Crime Type | Safest Neighbourhood | Most Dangerous Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | Sanderstead (80) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (1,110) |
| Bicycle Theft | Forestdale (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (26) |
| Burglary | Forestdale (26) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (124) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Sanderstead (10) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (167) |
| Drugs | Woodcote (3) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (370) |
| Other Crime | Selsdon Park & Hamsey Green (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (30) |
| Other Theft | Selsdon Park & Hamsey Green (7) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (231) |
| Possession of Weapons | Norbury West (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (45) |
| Public Order | Sanderstead (10) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (194) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Sanderstead (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (100) |
| Shoplifting | Addiscombe North (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (199) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Addiscombe North (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (66) |
| Vehicle Crime | Old Coulsdon (51) | West Thornton North (210) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Woodmansterne (69) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (813) |
Crime in Croydon During Coronavirus Lockdowns
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Croydon change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in April, when Croydon saw a 250% increase in anti-social behaviour. Croydon saw a large fall in theft from the person during April, when it fell by 84% compared to April in 2019. Rates of other theft and shoplifting both fell year-on-year for every month during Croydon's lockdown.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | +27% | +250% | +181% | +87% | +56% | +75% | +53% | +43% | +75% | +85% |
| Bicycle Theft | -26% | -25% | -9% | -23% | -4% | +118% | +18% | +61% | +60% | +20% |
| Burglary | -5% | -25% | -31% | -1% | -10% | -13% | -29% | -20% | -30% | -26% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -4% | +10% | -11% | +12% | +25% | +23% | +13% | +9% | -3% | +15% |
| Drugs | +2% | +61% | +41% | -4% | +0% | - | -19% | -1% | +42% | - |
| Other Crime | +5% | -12% | -18% | +18% | +2% | +48% | +56% | -51% | +116% | +3% |
| Other Theft | -19% | -44% | -39% | -26% | -20% | -8% | +14% | -14% | -16% | -4% |
| Possession of Weapons | -28% | +16% | +9% | - | +20% | -3% | +32% | -9% | -14% | -10% |
| Public Order | +11% | -36% | -24% | +51% | +22% | +59% | +23% | -15% | +3% | +26% |
| Robbery | -19% | -52% | -42% | -34% | -4% | +2% | -19% | -7% | -30% | +7% |
| Shoplifting | -27% | -50% | -57% | -42% | -19% | -7% | -18% | -15% | -40% | +8% |
| Theft From the Person | +11% | -84% | -63% | -63% | -42% | -33% | +30% | +22% | +4% | -29% |
| Vehicle Crime | +41% | -5% | +3% | +29% | +54% | +4% | -5% | -16% | -23% | -32% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | +9% | +2% | +3% | +12% | +3% | +26% | +19% | +13% | +7% | +8% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Croydon
What police force serves Croydon?
Croydon's local territorial police force is the Metropolitan Police Service.How dangerous is Croydon?
Croydon is among the top 20 safest cities in London.What is Croydon's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Croydon are violence and sexual offences.What is the least common crime in Croydon?
Croydon's least common crime is bicycle theft.Last updated: 07 May 2021