302 local authorities · 12 months to June 2026

Highest police-recorded possession of weapons rates

Local authorities in England and Wales ranked by possession of weapons offences recorded by the police per 1,000 residents. England and Wales: 1.0 per 1,000. A high recorded rate is not a measure of how dangerous an area is; see the caveat below.

#Local authorityPer 1,000Offences12-month changevs England & Wales
1CrawleySussex Police6.0750▲ 27.6%+500%
2BirminghamWest Midlands Police3.03,506▲ 9.3%+200%
3City of LondonCity of London Police2.640▼ 44.4%+160%
4BlackpoolLancashire Constabulary2.4344▲ 9.9%+140%
5NottinghamNottinghamshire Police2.3748▼ 9.8%+130%
6SouthamptonHampshire Constabulary2.3589▲ 23.5%+130%
7SandwellWest Midlands Police2.2776▲ 10.1%+120%
8PeterboroughCambridgeshire Constabulary2.1473▲ 13.2%+110%
9PortsmouthHampshire Constabulary2.1442▲ 10.8%+110%
10WestminsterMetropolitan Police Service2.0420▲ 75%+100%
11CoventryWest Midlands Police1.9705▲ 12.3%+90%
12HastingsSussex Police1.9169▲ 1.2%+90%
13MiddlesbroughCleveland Police1.9284▲ 15%+90%
14WalsallWest Midlands Police1.9564▲ 2%+90%
15WolverhamptonWest Midlands Police1.9527▼ 5%+90%
16Stoke-on-TrentStaffordshire Police1.8490▲ 6.1%+80%
17DerbyDerbyshire Constabulary1.7468▲ 17.3%+70%
18EastbourneSussex Police1.7174▲ 20%+70%
19Great YarmouthNorfolk Constabulary1.7167▲ 20.1%+70%
20HavantHampshire Constabulary1.7217▲ 53.9%+70%
21PlymouthDevon & Cornwall Police1.7449▲ 6.1%+70%
22DudleyWest Midlands Police1.6545▲ 13.5%+60%
23HarlowEssex Police1.6162▲ 30.6%+60%
24MansfieldNottinghamshire Police1.6181▼ 2.7%+60%
25PrestonLancashire Constabulary1.6255▼ 1.2%+60%
26SolihullWest Midlands Police1.6344▲ 12.8%+60%
27NewportGwent Police1.5247▲ 36.5%+50%
28NorwichNorfolk Constabulary1.5215▼ 8.1%+50%
29AshfieldNottinghamshire Police1.4177→ 0%+40%
30Brighton and HoveSussex Police1.4398▼ 6.6%+40%
31BurnleyLancashire Constabulary1.4137▲ 7.9%+40%
32CambridgeCambridgeshire Constabulary1.4216▲ 16.8%+40%
33DoncasterSouth Yorkshire Police1.4456▲ 0.9%+40%
34FenlandCambridgeshire Constabulary1.4152▲ 17.8%+40%
35IpswichSuffolk Constabulary1.4191▼ 4%+40%
36Kingston upon Hull, City ofHumberside Police1.4369▲ 19.4%+40%
37LiverpoolMerseyside Police1.4704▲ 12.3%+40%
38LutonBedfordshire Police1.4342▲ 3.3%+40%
39North East LincolnshireHumberside Police1.4221▲ 11.1%+40%
40SheffieldSouth Yorkshire Police1.4791▼ 2.7%+40%
41Blaenau GwentGwent Police1.385▲ 1.2%+30%
42ExeterDevon & Cornwall Police1.3176▲ 10.7%+30%
43HartlepoolCleveland Police1.3129▼ 7.9%+30%
44HyndburnLancashire Constabulary1.3116▲ 5.5%+30%
45LeedsWest Yorkshire Police1.31,066▲ 9%+30%
46Nuneaton and BedworthWarwickshire Police1.3187▲ 21.4%+30%
47RotherhamSouth Yorkshire Police1.3354▼ 3.8%+30%
48RushmoorHampshire Constabulary1.3134▲ 50.6%+30%
49Southend-on-SeaEssex Police1.3243▲ 4.3%+30%
50ThanetKent Police1.3180▲ 5.3%+30%
51WorthingSussex Police1.3151▲ 10.2%+30%
52Blackburn with DarwenLancashire Constabulary1.2198▲ 8.2%+20%
53CardiffSouth Wales Police1.2464▲ 30%+20%
54ChesterfieldDerbyshire Constabulary1.2130▲ 17.1%+20%
55LeicesterLeicestershire Police1.2472▼ 3.9%+20%
56LewishamMetropolitan Police Service1.2348▲ 63.4%+20%
57LincolnLincolnshire Police1.2127▲ 24.5%+20%
58North NorthamptonshireNorthamptonshire Police1.2474▲ 1.5%+20%
59PembrokeshireDyfed-Powys Police1.2151▲ 30.2%+20%
60SpelthorneSurrey Police1.2124▲ 65.3%+20%
61Stockton-on-TeesCleveland Police1.2245▲ 11.9%+20%
62TendringEssex Police1.2192▲ 45.5%+20%
63TorbayDevon & Cornwall Police1.2174▲ 20.8%+20%
64WorcesterWest Mercia Police1.2133▼ 3.6%+20%
65Wyre ForestWest Mercia Police1.2120▲ 17.6%+20%
66ArunSussex Police1.1189▲ 10.5%+10%
67BasildonEssex Police1.1219▲ 12.9%+10%
68Basingstoke and DeaneHampshire Constabulary1.1217▲ 52.8%+10%
69BedfordBedfordshire Police1.1211▲ 21.3%+10%
70BroxtoweNottinghamshire Police1.1122▲ 8.9%+10%
71CaerphillyGwent Police1.1201▲ 9.2%+10%
72CumberlandCumbria Constabulary1.1314▲ 14.2%+10%
73DartfordKent Police1.1141▲ 15.6%+10%
74DenbighshireNorth Wales Police1.1107▲ 37.2%+10%
75Folkestone and HytheKent Police1.1128▲ 50.6%+10%
76GosportHampshire Constabulary1.191▲ 15.2%+10%
77HackneyMetropolitan Police Service1.1285▲ 48.4%+10%
78HaltonCheshire Constabulary1.1147▲ 19.5%+10%
79Isle of WightHampshire Constabulary1.1152▲ 5.6%+10%
80IslingtonMetropolitan Police Service1.1244▲ 64.9%+10%
81MedwayKent Police1.1321▼ 2.7%+10%
82Newcastle upon TyneNorthumbria Police1.1339▼ 12.4%+10%
83PendleLancashire Constabulary1.1115▲ 5.5%+10%
84RugbyWarwickshire Police1.1134▲ 15.5%+10%
85Telford and WrekinWest Mercia Police1.1225▼ 7.4%+10%
86TorfaenGwent Police1.199▲ 16.5%+10%
87West LancashireLancashire Constabulary1.1131▲ 84.5%+10%
88West NorthamptonshireNorthamptonshire Police1.1495▼ 19.2%+10%
89West SuffolkSuffolk Constabulary1.1209▲ 15.5%+10%
90Westmorland and FurnessCumbria Constabulary1.1248▲ 6.9%+10%
91AshfordKent Police1.0144▲ 22%0%
92BarnsleySouth Yorkshire Police1.0257▼ 17.1%0%
93BradfordWest Yorkshire Police1.0557▲ 14.4%0%
94ConwyNorth Wales Police1.0116▲ 68.1%0%
95FarehamHampshire Constabulary1.0116▲ 39.8%0%
96GraveshamKent Police1.0110▲ 8.9%0%
97HuntingdonshireCambridgeshire Constabulary1.0186▲ 8.8%0%
98LambethMetropolitan Police Service1.0317▲ 50.2%0%
99RedditchWest Mercia Police1.089▼ 7.3%0%
100RotherSussex Police1.092▲ 27.8%0%
101RunnymedeSurrey Police1.090▲ 21.6%0%
102SouthwarkMetropolitan Police Service1.0323▲ 39.8%0%
103SwaleKent Police1.0162▼ 4.1%0%
104SwanseaSouth Wales Police1.0243▲ 21.5%0%
105TamworthStaffordshire Police1.081▲ 30.6%0%
106ThurrockEssex Police1.0190▲ 55.7%0%
107WakefieldWest Yorkshire Police1.0378▲ 13.9%0%
108WatfordHertfordshire Constabulary1.0103▼ 9.6%0%
109Amber ValleyDerbyshire Constabulary0.9119▼ 1.7%-10%
110BassetlawNottinghamshire Police0.9112▼ 5.9%-10%
111BrentMetropolitan Police Service0.9302▲ 63.2%-10%
112Bristol, City ofAvon and Somerset Constabulary0.9429▲ 8.3%-10%
113BroxbourneHertfordshire Constabulary0.997▲ 18.3%-10%
114CanterburyKent Police0.9149▼ 13.4%-10%
115CarmarthenshireDyfed-Powys Police0.9167▲ 20.1%-10%
116ChichesterSussex Police0.9113▼ 8.1%-10%
117County DurhamDurham Constabulary0.9475▲ 14.5%-10%
118DarlingtonDurham Constabulary0.9104▼ 8%-10%
119DoverKent Police0.9107▼ 20.7%-10%
120EastleighHampshire Constabulary0.9126▲ 40%-10%
121ErewashDerbyshire Constabulary0.9103▲ 47.1%-10%
122GedlingNottinghamshire Police0.9109▼ 5.2%-10%
123GwyneddNorth Wales Police0.9105▲ 38.2%-10%
124HaringeyMetropolitan Police Service0.9240▲ 39.5%-10%
125KirkleesWest Yorkshire Police0.9404▼ 14.2%-10%
126KnowsleyMerseyside Police0.9155▲ 6.9%-10%
127LancasterLancashire Constabulary0.9125▼ 0.8%-10%
128Mid DevonDevon & Cornwall Police0.978▲ 62.5%-10%
129Newark and SherwoodNottinghamshire Police0.9117▲ 17%-10%
130NewhamMetropolitan Police Service0.9340▲ 51.8%-10%
131North DevonDevon & Cornwall Police0.988▲ 46.7%-10%
132North LincolnshireHumberside Police0.9146▼ 7.6%-10%
133North WarwickshireWarwickshire Police0.958▲ 11.5%-10%
134Redcar and ClevelandCleveland Police0.9130▼ 0.8%-10%
135SloughThames Valley Police0.9152▲ 7.8%-10%
136South TynesideNorthumbria Police0.9132▼ 26.7%-10%
137StaffordStaffordshire Police0.9129▲ 29%-10%
138StevenageHertfordshire Constabulary0.982▼ 15.5%-10%
139SwindonWiltshire Police0.9223▲ 11.5%-10%
140Test ValleyHampshire Constabulary0.9124▲ 74.6%-10%
141Tower HamletsMetropolitan Police Service0.9291▲ 41.3%-10%
142UttlesfordEssex Police0.990▲ 2.3%-10%
143WarwickWarwickshire Police0.9143▲ 11.7%-10%
144Welwyn HatfieldHertfordshire Constabulary0.9115▲ 13.9%-10%
145WinchesterHampshire Constabulary0.9122▲ 93.7%-10%
146WokingSurrey Police0.991▲ 49.2%-10%
147BolsoverDerbyshire Constabulary0.868▼ 9.3%-20%
148BostonLincolnshire Police0.860▲ 1.7%-20%
149BrecklandNorfolk Constabulary0.8121▲ 18.6%-20%
150BrentwoodEssex Police0.864▲ 30.6%-20%
151CalderdaleWest Yorkshire Police0.8172▼ 10.4%-20%
152CamdenMetropolitan Police Service0.8177▲ 50%-20%
153Cannock ChaseStaffordshire Police0.887▼ 18.7%-20%
154CeredigionDyfed-Powys Police0.859→ 0%-20%
155ChorleyLancashire Constabulary0.8101▲ 29.5%-20%
156ColchesterEssex Police0.8165▼ 1.2%-20%
157CroydonMetropolitan Police Service0.8325▲ 35.4%-20%
158EnfieldMetropolitan Police Service0.8256▲ 19.1%-20%
159Hammersmith and FulhamMetropolitan Police Service0.8148▲ 31%-20%
160Kensington and ChelseaMetropolitan Police Service0.8120▼ 4%-20%
161Merthyr TydfilSouth Wales Police0.849▼ 14%-20%
162New ForestHampshire Constabulary0.8133▲ 34.3%-20%
163Newcastle-under-LymeStaffordshire Police0.898→ 0%-20%
164OxfordThames Valley Police0.8128▼ 33%-20%
165PowysDyfed-Powys Police0.8114▲ 3.6%-20%
166ReadingThames Valley Police0.8138▼ 8.6%-20%
167St. HelensMerseyside Police0.8155▲ 6.2%-20%
168Staffordshire MoorlandsStaffordshire Police0.879▲ 27.4%-20%
169SunderlandNorthumbria Police0.8244▼ 10.3%-20%
170WrexhamNorth Wales Police0.8104▲ 35.1%-20%
171AdurSussex Police0.747▼ 2.1%-30%
172BaberghSuffolk Constabulary0.766▲ 15.8%-30%
173ChelmsfordEssex Police0.7142▼ 7.2%-30%
174Cheshire EastCheshire Constabulary0.7314▲ 21.2%-30%
175CornwallDevon & Cornwall Police0.7434▲ 2.4%-30%
176EalingMetropolitan Police Service0.7268▲ 72.9%-30%
177East HampshireHampshire Constabulary0.795▲ 41.8%-30%
178East StaffordshireStaffordshire Police0.786→ 0%-30%
179East SuffolkSuffolk Constabulary0.7170▲ 26.9%-30%
180ElmbridgeSurrey Police0.793▲ 20.8%-30%
181GatesheadNorthumbria Police0.7132▼ 40%-30%
182GreenwichMetropolitan Police Service0.7218▲ 13%-30%
183HartHampshire Constabulary0.776▲ 145.2%-30%
184Herefordshire, County ofWest Mercia Police0.7130▼ 3.7%-30%
185HertsmereHertfordshire Constabulary0.782▼ 9.9%-30%
186HounslowMetropolitan Police Service0.7199▲ 47.4%-30%
187King's Lynn and West NorfolkNorfolk Constabulary0.7114▼ 19.1%-30%
188LewesSussex Police0.773▼ 26.3%-30%
189LichfieldStaffordshire Police0.776▲ 13.4%-30%
190MaidstoneKent Police0.7138▼ 22%-30%
191MonmouthshireGwent Police0.766▲ 10%-30%
192North SomersetAvon and Somerset Constabulary0.7151▲ 26.9%-30%
193Reigate and BansteadSurrey Police0.7113▲ 5.6%-30%
194Rhondda Cynon TafSouth Wales Police0.7179▲ 5.3%-30%
195RossendaleLancashire Constabulary0.751▲ 8.5%-30%
196SeftonMerseyside Police0.7214▲ 10.9%-30%
197South CambridgeshireCambridgeshire Constabulary0.7126▲ 57.5%-30%
198South RibbleLancashire Constabulary0.787▲ 2.4%-30%
199Stratford-on-AvonWarwickshire Police0.7109▲ 11.2%-30%
200Tunbridge WellsKent Police0.779▲ 25.4%-30%
201WarringtonCheshire Constabulary0.7158▲ 9.7%-30%
202WirralMerseyside Police0.7227▼ 8.8%-30%
203WyreLancashire Constabulary0.783▲ 25.8%-30%
204YorkNorth Yorkshire Police0.7154▼ 4.3%-30%
205Barking and DagenhamMetropolitan Police Service0.6154▲ 40%-40%
206Bath and North East SomersetAvon and Somerset Constabulary0.6123▲ 26.8%-40%
207BraintreeEssex Police0.697▼ 7.6%-40%
208BridgendSouth Wales Police0.684▼ 16.8%-40%
209BromsgroveWest Mercia Police0.659▲ 1.7%-40%
210Castle PointEssex Police0.656▲ 5.7%-40%
211CharnwoodLeicestershire Police0.6105▲ 14.1%-40%
212Cheshire West and ChesterCheshire Constabulary0.6232▲ 8.4%-40%
213DacorumHertfordshire Constabulary0.6103▲ 28.7%-40%
214Derbyshire DalesDerbyshire Constabulary0.640▲ 33.3%-40%
215East CambridgeshireCambridgeshire Constabulary0.657▼ 3.4%-40%
216East DevonDevon & Cornwall Police0.697▲ 15.5%-40%
217East LindseyLincolnshire Police0.688▼ 8.3%-40%
218Epping ForestEssex Police0.682▲ 12.3%-40%
219Epsom and EwellSurrey Police0.647▼ 2.1%-40%
220FyldeLancashire Constabulary0.652▲ 33.3%-40%
221GuildfordSurrey Police0.689▲ 3.5%-40%
222HaveringMetropolitan Police Service0.6181▲ 64.5%-40%
223High PeakDerbyshire Constabulary0.655▲ 44.7%-40%
224HillingdonMetropolitan Police Service0.6208▲ 37.7%-40%
225Isle of AngleseyNorth Wales Police0.640▲ 48.1%-40%
226Kingston upon ThamesMetropolitan Police Service0.697▲ 51.6%-40%
227MaldonEssex Police0.643▲ 19.4%-40%
228MeltonLeicestershire Police0.632→ 0%-40%
229Mid SussexSussex Police0.6105▼ 10.3%-40%
230Milton KeynesThames Valley Police0.6190▼ 23.7%-40%
231Neath Port TalbotSouth Wales Police0.691▲ 28.2%-40%
232North East DerbyshireDerbyshire Constabulary0.661▲ 52.5%-40%
233North HertfordshireHertfordshire Constabulary0.687▲ 17.6%-40%
234North NorfolkNorfolk Constabulary0.660▲ 33.3%-40%
235North TynesideNorthumbria Police0.6140▼ 29.6%-40%
236North YorkshireNorth Yorkshire Police0.6396▲ 21.5%-40%
237NorthumberlandNorthumbria Police0.6201▼ 18.6%-40%
238SevenoaksKent Police0.674▲ 29.8%-40%
239ShropshireWest Mercia Police0.6190▼ 2.1%-40%
240South DerbyshireDerbyshire Constabulary0.675→ 0%-40%
241TeignbridgeDevon & Cornwall Police0.682▼ 5.7%-40%
242Vale of GlamorganSouth Wales Police0.685▲ 1.2%-40%
243Waltham ForestMetropolitan Police Service0.6179▲ 20.1%-40%
244WandsworthMetropolitan Police Service0.6209▲ 81.7%-40%
245West LindseyLincolnshire Police0.656▲ 14.3%-40%
246WychavonWest Mercia Police0.686▼ 14.9%-40%
247BexleyMetropolitan Police Service0.5127▲ 58.8%-50%
248Bournemouth, Christchurch and PooleDorset Police0.5208▼ 7.6%-50%
249BromleyMetropolitan Police Service0.5172▲ 38.7%-50%
250Central BedfordshireBedfordshire Police0.5147▲ 14.8%-50%
251CherwellThames Valley Police0.580▼ 16.7%-50%
252East HertfordshireHertfordshire Constabulary0.583▲ 25.8%-50%
253East Riding of YorkshireHumberside Police0.5164▼ 11.4%-50%
254Malvern HillsWest Mercia Police0.543▼ 12.2%-50%
255MertonMetropolitan Police Service0.5104▲ 30%-50%
256Mole ValleySurrey Police0.544▲ 15.8%-50%
257Oadby and WigstonLeicestershire Police0.529▲ 11.5%-50%
258RedbridgeMetropolitan Police Service0.5162▲ 54.3%-50%
259RushcliffeNottinghamshire Police0.569▲ 1.5%-50%
260RutlandLeicestershire Police0.520▲ 122.2%-50%
261SomersetAvon and Somerset Constabulary0.5323▲ 27.7%-50%
262South GloucestershireAvon and Somerset Constabulary0.5156▲ 47.2%-50%
263South HamsDevon & Cornwall Police0.543▲ 2.4%-50%
264South HollandLincolnshire Police0.547▼ 14.5%-50%
265South KestevenLincolnshire Police0.569▲ 16.9%-50%
266South NorfolkNorfolk Constabulary0.576▲ 15.2%-50%
267South StaffordshireStaffordshire Police0.562▲ 14.8%-50%
268St AlbansHertfordshire Constabulary0.575▼ 9.6%-50%
269TandridgeSurrey Police0.549→ 0%-50%
270Three RiversHertfordshire Constabulary0.546▲ 70.4%-50%
271Tonbridge and MallingKent Police0.568▼ 20.9%-50%
272WealdenSussex Police0.591▼ 6.2%-50%
273West DevonDevon & Cornwall Police0.528→ 0%-50%
274BarnetMetropolitan Police Service0.4180▲ 30.4%-60%
275Bracknell ForestThames Valley Police0.450▲ 19%-60%
276BroadlandNorfolk Constabulary0.456▲ 16.7%-60%
277FlintshireNorth Wales Police0.470▼ 21.3%-60%
278HarboroughLeicestershire Police0.447▲ 14.6%-60%
279Hinckley and BosworthLeicestershire Police0.443▼ 24.6%-60%
280HorshamSussex Police0.468▼ 43.3%-60%
281Isles of ScillyDevon & Cornwall Police0.41-60%
282Mid SuffolkSuffolk Constabulary0.446▼ 13.2%-60%
283North West LeicestershireLeicestershire Police0.449▼ 5.8%-60%
284RochfordEssex Police0.440▼ 33.3%-60%
285Surrey HeathSurrey Police0.439▼ 22%-60%
286SuttonMetropolitan Police Service0.492▲ 39.4%-60%
287TorridgeDevon & Cornwall Police0.428▼ 26.3%-60%
288WaverleySurrey Police0.452▲ 15.6%-60%
289WiltshireWiltshire Police0.4215▼ 4.4%-60%
290BlabyLeicestershire Police0.335▼ 7.9%-70%
291BuckinghamshireThames Valley Police0.3203▼ 13.2%-70%
292DorsetDorset Police0.3133▲ 2.3%-70%
293HarrowMetropolitan Police Service0.394▲ 23.7%-70%
294North KestevenLincolnshire Police0.333▲ 26.9%-70%
295Ribble ValleyLancashire Constabulary0.321▲ 31.3%-70%
296South OxfordshireThames Valley Police0.340▼ 28.6%-70%
297Vale of White HorseThames Valley Police0.348▼ 26.2%-70%
298West BerkshireThames Valley Police0.353▼ 25.4%-70%
299Windsor and MaidenheadThames Valley Police0.354▼ 35.7%-70%
300Richmond upon ThamesMetropolitan Police Service0.240▼ 7%-80%
301West OxfordshireThames Valley Police0.219▼ 36.7%-80%
302WokinghamThames Valley Police0.236▼ 21.7%-80%

Not ranked: force not currently supplying data

These areas have older data only. Their last complete 12-month window is shown; they are not compared with the current window above.

Important caveat

Police-recorded crime counts offences reported to and recorded by the police. It is affected by whether people report crime and by changes in police recording practice, so it does not measure all crime that happens. The Crime Survey for England and Wales is the better guide to long-term trends in the crimes it covers. Police recorded crime is not designated as National Statistics.

Rates use resident population as the denominator. Areas with many visitors, commuters or shops, such as city centres, record more offences per resident than the number of people present would suggest. Areas whose force did not supply a complete 12 months of data are left out. Population: ONS mid-year estimates, mid-2025.