Swindon Crime Overview
Swindon is the most dangerous city in Wiltshire, and is the 28th most dangerous overall out of Wiltshire's 276 towns, villages, and cities. The overall crime rate in Swindon in 2020 was 60 crimes per 1,000 people. This compares poorly to Wiltshire's overall crime rate, coming in 13% higher than the Wiltshire rate of 52 per 1,000 residents. For England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as a whole, Swindon is among the top 5 safest cities, and the 2,111st most dangerous location out of all towns, cities, and villages.
In December 2020, Swindon had the worst crime rate in Wiltshire for bicycle theft, with 15 crimes reported and a crime rate of 0.08 per 1,000 inhabitants. December 2020 was also a bad month for Swindon residents, when it was Wiltshire's most dangerous area for burglary, recording 55 crimes at a rate of 0.29 per 1,000 residents. Swindon recorded 108 reports of criminal damage and arson during December 2020, making its crime rate of 0.56 the worst for criminal damage and arson in Wiltshire that month.
The most common crimes in Swindon are violence and sexual offences, with 5,006 offences during 2020, giving a crime rate of 26. This is 1.0% lower than 2019's figure of 5,058 offences and a difference of 0.27 from 2019's crime rate of 26. Swindon's least common crimes are possession of weapons, with 98 offences recorded in 2020, a decrease of 78% from 2019's figure of 174 crimes.
Compare Swindon to other towns and cities
See how Swindon shapes up compared to other locations around the country, including side-by-side comparisons of specific crime types, and separate charting of how Swindon and your comparison town's crime rates stack up against one another.
Swindon Crime Map
Crime in Swindon Compared To Wiltshire
Summary of Crimes in Swindon This Year
| Swindon | Wiltshire | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | Count | Rate | Count | Rate | Rate Difference |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 4,605 | 23.93 | 14,474 | 20.06 | 16% more dangerous |
| Bicycle Theft | 223 | 1.16 | 526 | 0.73 | 37% more dangerous |
| Burglary | 474 | 2.46 | 1,947 | 2.70 | 10% safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 1,339 | 6.96 | 4,907 | 6.80 | 2.3% more dangerous |
| Drugs | 507 | 2.64 | 1,534 | 2.13 | 19% more dangerous |
| Other Crime | 214 | 1.11 | 831 | 1.15 | 3.6% safer |
| Other Theft | 733 | 3.81 | 2,830 | 3.92 | 2.9% safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 98 | 0.51 | 293 | 0.41 | 20% more dangerous |
| Public Order | 1,106 | 5.75 | 3,362 | 4.66 | 19% more dangerous |
| Robbery | 129 | 0.67 | 253 | 0.35 | 48% more dangerous |
| Shoplifting | 870 | 4.52 | 2,458 | 3.41 | 25% more dangerous |
| Theft From the Person | 102 | 0.53 | 205 | 0.28 | 47% more dangerous |
| Vehicle Crime | 702 | 3.65 | 2,186 | 3.03 | 17% more dangerous |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 5,006 | 26.02 | 16,322 | 22.62 | 13% more dangerous |
Crime Over Time in Swindon
View crime percentage over time forRecent Crimes in Swindon
| Date | Crime Type | Location | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Surrey Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Wood Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Burglary | On or near Kingshill Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near Percheron Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Public order | On or near Penfold Gardens | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Criminal damage and arson | On or near B4006 | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Burglary | On or near Glenwood Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Lucerne Close | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Parking Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Other theft | On or near Petrol Station | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Bicycle theft | On or near The Harriers | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Norcliffe Road | Unable to prosecute suspect |
| August 2021 | Shoplifting | On or near Shopping Area | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near Folkestone Road | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Vehicle crime | On or near Penhill Drive | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Bicycle theft | On or near Bus/Coach Station | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Shoplifting | On or near Bus/Coach Station | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Bicycle theft | On or near John Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Violence and sexual offences | On or near John Street | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
| August 2021 | Other theft | On or near Petrol Station | Investigation complete; no suspect identified |
Swindon Crime Trends
| Crime Rate Per 1,000 Residents | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crime | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | Trend |
| Anti-Social Behaviour | 32 | 29 | 29 | 24 | Safer |
| Bicycle Theft | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.2 | Safer |
| Burglary | 8 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 2.5 | Safer |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | Safer |
| Drugs | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 2.6 | Getting worse |
| Other Crime | 1.1 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.1 | Safer |
| Other Theft | 7 | 6 | 5 | 3.8 | Safer |
| Possession of Weapons | 0.64 | 0.72 | 0.90 | 0.51 | Safer |
| Public Order | 4.8 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 6 | Getting worse |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | 0.89 | 0.94 | 0.75 | 0.67 | Safer |
| Shoplifting | 9 | 9 | 9 | 4.5 | Safer |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | 1.0 | 0.75 | 0.93 | 0.53 | Safer |
| Vehicle Crime | 8 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 3.6 | Safer |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | 25 | 26 | 26 | 26 | Getting worse |
Changes In Swindon's Crime Rates Over Time
Offences in Swindon's Green Spaces
We only display green spaces in Swindon 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cambria Recreation Ground | 3 | - | - | - | - | 1 | 9 |
| King George's Field | 1 | - | 1 | - | 2 | 0 | 4.9 |
| The Park | 13 | - | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4.3 |
Comparing Swindon to the UK's Major Cities
| City | Crime Rate | Rate Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Swindon | 59.78 | - |
| Barnet | 67.71 | 12% more dangerous |
| Coventry | 77.41 | 23% more dangerous |
| Croydon | 83.22 | 28% more dangerous |
| Sheffield | 85.81 | 30% more dangerous |
| Bristol | 86.21 | 31% more dangerous |
| Leicester | 97.44 | 39% more dangerous |
| Birmingham | 102.87 | 42% more dangerous |
| Liverpool | 107.28 | 44% more dangerous |
| Bradford | 133.02 | 55% more dangerous |
| Leeds | 137.10 | 56% more dangerous |
Crime in Swindon's Neighbourhoods
Central South & Eastcott is the most dangerous neighbourhood in Swindon, followed by Central North in second place, and Walcot East as the third most dangerous area. Swindon's safest neighbourhoods are, in order, Haydon Wick, Mouldon Hill & Oakhurst, and Roughmoor.
| Neighbourhood | Crime Count | Crime Rate | Danger Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbey Park | 350 | 43 | 19th |
| Central East & Walcot West | 628 | 82 | Eighth |
| Central North | 1,288 | 122 | Second |
| Central South & Eastcott | 1,158 | 133 | First |
| Covingham | 320 | 38 | 20th |
| Eldene & Dorcan | 554 | 68 | Tenth |
| Freshbrook South & Toothill | 592 | 69 | Ninth |
| Gorse Hill | 598 | 84 | Fifth |
| Groundwell & Abbey Meads | 525 | 55 | 15th |
| Haydon Wick | 251 | 38 | 22nd |
| Kingshill & Okus | 553 | 64 | 11th |
| Lawn & East Wichel | 465 | 51 | 17th |
| Lower Stratton | 629 | 63 | 12th |
| Moredon | 327 | 46 | 18th |
| Mouldon Hill & Oakhurst | 307 | 32 | 23rd |
| Park North & Park South | 734 | 84 | Sixth |
| Penhill | 656 | 106 | Fourth |
| Pinehurst | 390 | 61 | 14th |
| Rodbourne & Cheney Manor | 876 | 83 | Seventh |
| Roughmoor | 222 | 38 | 21st |
| Upper Stratton | 505 | 55 | 16th |
| Walcot East | 749 | 112 | Third |
| Westlea & Shaw | 371 | 62 | 13th |
Swindon Neighbourhood Crime Breakdown
Showing the safest and most dangerous parts of Swindon for specific criminal activity, with crime count and rate shown in brackets.
| Crime Type | Safest Neighbourhood | Most Dangerous Neighbourhood |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | Covingham (94) | Central South & Eastcott (581) |
| Bicycle Theft | Mouldon Hill & Oakhurst (1) | Central North (38) |
| Burglary | Covingham (10) | Central North (52) |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | Roughmoor (21) | Penhill (119) |
| Drugs | Roughmoor (3) | Walcot East (57) |
| Other Crime | Lawn & East Wichel (2) | Central North (29) |
| Other Theft | Mouldon Hill & Oakhurst (12) | Central South & Eastcott (82) |
| Possession of Weapons | Upper Stratton (1) | Eldene & Dorcan (12) |
| Public Order | Mouldon Hill & Oakhurst (23) | Central South & Eastcott (108) |
| Robbery (inc. mugging) | Mouldon Hill & Oakhurst (1) | Central North (36) |
| Shoplifting | Roughmoor (1) | Central South & Eastcott (147) |
| Theft From the Person (inc. pickpocketing) | Groundwell & Abbey Meads (1) | Central South & Eastcott (29) |
| Vehicle Crime | Pinehurst (13) | Rodbourne & Cheney Manor (74) |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | Mouldon Hill & Oakhurst (145) | Penhill (360) |
Crime in Swindon During Coronavirus Lockdowns
Looking at the months the UK was in lockdown in 2020 due to Covid-19, how did crime rates in Swindon change compared to the same month in 2019? The biggest increase in lockdown crime came in December, when Swindon saw a 111% increase in drugs. Swindon saw a large fall in bicycle theft during March, when it fell by 78% compared to March in 2019. Rates of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson both fell year-on-year for every month during Swindon's lockdown.
| Crime | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Social Behaviour | -29% | +22% | -13% | -28% | -28% | -5% | -7% | -33% | -22% | -16% |
| Bicycle Theft | -78% | -68% | -58% | -35% | -45% | -39% | -21% | -52% | -33% | -29% |
| Burglary | -42% | -44% | -65% | -38% | -36% | -43% | -53% | -56% | -62% | -13% |
| Criminal Damage and Arson | -7% | -32% | -55% | -4% | +33% | -18% | -13% | -9% | -34% | -12% |
| Drugs | -15% | +64% | +34% | +32% | +8% | -35% | -17% | -20% | +17% | +111% |
| Other Crime | +6% | -33% | -43% | -32% | +35% | +18% | +21% | +77% | -7% | -62% |
| Other Theft | -22% | -57% | -47% | -15% | -13% | -22% | -37% | -36% | -21% | -31% |
| Possession of Weapons | -69% | -25% | -63% | -60% | +8% | -67% | +8% | -23% | -30% | -55% |
| Public Order | -5% | +5% | +7% | +22% | +48% | +32% | +21% | +24% | -10% | -14% |
| Robbery | -13% | -69% | -47% | +17% | +40% | +38% | +80% | +5% | -50% | -54% |
| Shoplifting | -36% | -70% | -66% | -60% | -50% | -55% | -50% | -63% | -54% | -47% |
| Theft From the Person | -31% | -70% | -70% | -60% | -47% | -13% | -39% | -64% | -67% | -56% |
| Vehicle Crime | +10% | -54% | -52% | -13% | - | -39% | -9% | +16% | -27% | -10% |
| Violence and Sexual Offences | -5% | -21% | -6% | -2% | +1% | +1% | +6% | +1% | -12% | -6% |
Frequently Asked Questions About Crime in Swindon
What police force serves Swindon?
Swindon's local territorial police force is the Wiltshire Police.How dangerous is Swindon?
Swindon is the most dangerous city in Wiltshire.What is Swindon's most common crime?
The most common crimes in Swindon are violence and sexual offences.What is the least common crime in Swindon?
Swindon's least common crimes are possession of weapons.Last updated: 05 Oct 2021