Croydon is among the top 20 most dangerous boroughs in London. The overall crime rate in Croydon in 2021 was 82 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 the 24th safest city, and the 969th most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In December 2021, Croydon had the worst crime rate in London for criminal damage and arson, with 235 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.61 per 1,000 inhabitants. June 2021 was also a bad month for Croydon residents, when it was London's most dangerous area for violence and sexual offences, recording 1,140 crimes at a rate of 3.0 per 1,000 residents. Croydon recorded 222 reports of drugs during August 2021, making its crime rate of 0.57 the worst for drugs in London that month.
The most common crimes in Croydon are violence and sexual offences, with 11,588 offences during 2021, giving a crime rate of 30. This is 4.4% higher than 2020's figure of 11,078 offences and a difference of 1.32 from 2020's crime rate of 29. Croydon's least common crime is bicycle theft, with 199 offences recorded in 2021, a decrease of 33% from 2020's figure of 264 crimes.
Top 20 Most Dangerous
Boroughs, London
4.6% lower, regional crime rate
London
12% higher, national crime rate
England, Wales & NI
As of 2022, the crime rate in Croydon is 4.6% lower than London and 12% higher than the England, Wales & Northern Ireland overall figure.
| Croydon | |
| London | |
| England, Wales & NI |
Incidents mapped in Croydon 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 | 82 | 31,894 |
| 2020 | 83 | 32,181 |
| 2019 | 82 | 31,718 |
| 2018 | 80 | 30,789 |
| 2017 | 76 | 29,380 |
| 2016 | 75 | 29,070 |
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| Croydon | London | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 11,464 | 29.64 | 303,000 | 33.85 | 14% safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 199 | 0.51 | 21,536 | 2.41 | 373% safer |
| Burglary | 2,024 | 5.23 | 52,414 | 5.85 | 12% safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 2,601 | 6.73 | 53,198 | 5.94 | 12% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 2,139 | 5.53 | 43,227 | 4.83 | 13% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 492 | 1.27 | 10,265 | 1.15 | 9% more dangerous |
| Other Theft | 3,287 | 8.50 | 90,137 | 10.07 | 18% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 260 | 0.67 | 5,014 | 0.56 | 16% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 2,539 | 6.57 | 61,305 | 6.85 | 4.3% safer |
| Robbery | 834 | 2.16 | 22,528 | 2.52 | 17% safer |
| Shoplifting | 1,280 | 3.31 | 33,674 | 3.76 | 14% safer |
| Theft From the Person | 552 | 1.43 | 39,809 | 4.45 | 211% safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 4,099 | 10.60 | 98,517 | 11.00 | 3.8% safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 11,588 | 29.97 | 244,975 | 27.36 | 9% more dangerous |
| Borough | Total Crimes | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Redbridge | 23,718 | 77.71 | 6% safer |
| Waltham Forest | 21,881 | 79.00 | 4.4% safer |
| Hillingdon | 24,346 | 79.34 | 4.0% safer |
| Ealing | 27,933 | 81.72 | 0.93% safer |
| Brent | 27,080 | 82.12 | 0.44% safer |
| Croydon | 31,894 | 82.48 | - |
| Hounslow | 22,555 | 83.07 | 0.71% more dangerous |
| Enfield | 28,415 | 85.13 | 3.1% more dangerous |
| Lewisham | 26,128 | 85.43 | 3.5% more dangerous |
| Barking and Dagenham | 18,483 | 86.81 | 5.0% more dangerous |
| Greenwich | 25,037 | 86.95 | 5% more dangerous |
View crime percentage over time for
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2022 | Drugs | On or near North End | Local resolution |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Avenue Gardens | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Drugs | On or near Southlands Close | Local resolution |
| March 2022 | Drugs | On or near Benson Road | Offender given a caution |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Russell Green Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Ashburton Gardens | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Burglary | On or near Kidderminster Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Drugs | On or near Supermarket | Local resolution |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near Shirley Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Cosedge Crescent | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Vehicle crime | On or near St James'S Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Horsley Drive | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Sumner Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Tavistock Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| March 2022 | Drugs | On or near Canal Walk | Local resolution |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Drugs | On or near North End | Local resolution |
| March 2022 | Other theft | On or near Supermarket | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Fairlands Avenue | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| March 2022 | Burglary | On or near Cobblestone Place | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 20 | 22 | 40 | 30 | Getting worse |
| Bicycle Theft | 0.70 | 0.62 | 0.68 | 0.51 | Safer |
| Burglary | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | Safer |
| Drugs | 4.1 | 6 | 7 | 6 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | Getting worse |
| Other Theft | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.86 | 0.89 | 0.87 | 0.67 | Safer |
| Public Order | 5.0 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.4 | 2.2 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 3.6 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 3.3 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.4 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 11 | 12 | 13 | 11 | Getting worse |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 26 | 26 | 29 | 30 | Getting worse |
We only display green spaces in Croydon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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, and Woodmansterne.
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Addiscombe East | 379 | 61 | 28th |
| Addiscombe North | 494 | 58 | 32nd |
| Addiscombe West | 1,173 | 101 | Seventh |
| Broad Green & Waddon Marsh | 847 | 90 | 12th |
| Central Croydon | 2,330 | 174 | Second |
| Coulsdon | 679 | 76 | 18th |
| Croham | 564 | 68 | 23rd |
| Croydon Minster & Waddon North | 2,071 | 167 | Third |
| Crystal Palace Triangle | 668 | 70 | 21st |
| Forestdale | 554 | 48 | 34th |
| Kenley North | 270 | 42 | 39th |
| Kenley South | 297 | 43 | 38th |
| Monks Orchard | 352 | 44 | 37th |
| New Addington Central | 481 | 64 | 26th |
| New Addington North | 541 | 63 | 27th |
| New Addington South | 707 | 105 | Sixth |
| Norbury East | 535 | 66 | 24th |
| Norbury West | 719 | 75 | 20th |
| Old Coulsdon | 333 | 44 | 36th |
| Park Hill & Lloyd Park | 317 | 45 | 35th |
| Purley Central | 826 | 78 | 17th |
| Purley North | 486 | 60 | 29th |
| Sanderstead | 254 | 33 | 43rd |
| Selhurst North | 1,021 | 100 | Eighth |
| Selhurst South & West Croydon | 2,631 | 229 | First |
| Selsdon | 255 | 34 | 42nd |
| Selsdon Park & Hamsey Green | 218 | 35 | 41st |
| Shirley East | 387 | 59 | 31st |
| Shirley West | 478 | 64 | 25th |
| South Norwood Central | 862 | 93 | 11th |
| South Norwood Hill | 772 | 87 | 14th |
| South Norwood Park | 529 | 70 | 22nd |
| Thornton Heath Central | 865 | 107 | Fifth |
| Thornton Heath North East | 627 | 75 | 19th |
| Thornton Heath North West | 709 | 81 | 16th |
| Thornton Heath West | 469 | 55 | 33rd |
| University Hospital & Queen's Road | 1,552 | 142 | Fourth |
| Upper Norwood | 590 | 60 | 30th |
| Waddon South | 953 | 88 | 13th |
| West Thornton North | 969 | 100 | Ninth |
| West Thornton South & Ampere Way | 831 | 95 | Tenth |
| Woodcote | 305 | 40 | 40th |
| Woodmansterne | 243 | 30 | 44th |
| Woodside & Ashburton | 779 | 85 | 15th |
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 (49) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (913) |
| Bicycle Theft | Waddon South (1) | Central Croydon (30) |
| Burglary | New Addington North (17) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (145) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Sanderstead (16) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (172) |
| Drugs | Selsdon (7) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (305) |
| Other Crime | Sanderstead (3) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (38) |
| Other Theft | Selsdon (18) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (286) |
| Possession of Weapons | Woodmansterne (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (30) |
| Public Order | Sanderstead (12) | Central Croydon (240) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Selsdon Park & Hamsey Green (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (96) |
| Shoplifting | New Addington North (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (192) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Sanderstead (1) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (136) |
| Vehicle Crime | Selsdon Park & Hamsey Green (24) | West Thornton South & Ampere Way (200) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Woodmansterne (72) | Selhurst South & West Croydon (840) |
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% |
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