Crime in Forest of Dean
Recorded crime in Forest of Dean is 0.6 times the England and Wales average. Over 4 years it has fallen 15%. Most of the harm comes from violence and sexual offences. Police data to August 2026.
89,753 residents in 50 neighbourhoods.
- Safety
- 7/10Low crime
- Living
- 4.6/10Fair
- 4-year change
- −15%fewer crimes
Crime over 5 years
Down 15% in 4 years Recorded crimes in Forest of Dean, anti-social behaviour left out.
What is recorded
Crime severity: 0.6× the England and Wales average. 44 recorded crimes per 1,000 residents a year.
- Violence and sexual offences: 69% of the harm here
- Burglary: 16% of the harm here
- Other theft: 4% of the harm here
"Violence and sexual offences" is 69% of the harm here. It is a broad police category: most of these crimes are assaults without injury, harassment and threats, often indoors between people who know each other, and only a small part are sexual or serious violent offences. Police data does not say which, so each one is weighted at the England and Wales average for the category, which can overstate a quiet residential area.
Anti-social behaviour: 20 incidents per 1,000 residents a year, not scored. Not a crime, so it is not part of the Safety score.
Crime by type
Recorded crimes per 1,000 residents per year, most serious first, not counting anti-social behaviour.
| Type | Per 1,000 a year |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 0.2 |
| Burglary | 3.1 |
| Violence and sexual offences | 21.8 |
| Drugs | 1.1 |
| Possession of weapons | 0.3 |
| Other crime | 1.3 |
| Other theft | 3.8 |
| Theft from the person | 0.1 |
| Vehicle crime | 2.0 |
| Criminal damage and arson | 5.1 |
| Public order | 3.8 |
| Bicycle theft | 0.2 |
| Shoplifting | 1.5 |
Towns and cities in Forest of Dean
Postcode districts in Forest of Dean
Questions about crime in Forest of Dean
- Is Forest of Dean a safe place to live?
- Forest of Dean scores 7 out of 10 for safety (low crime), compared with every neighbourhood in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Is crime going up or down in Forest of Dean?
- Down 15% over 4 years, from 5,180 recorded crimes a year to 4,417.
- What is the most common crime in Forest of Dean?
- The most common recorded crime is violence and sexual offences, about 22 per 1,000 residents a year.