Violent and sexual offences continue to dominate crime statistics on the Isle of Wight, with new figures confirming that hundreds of incidents are being recorded every month without any sign of significant improvement.
Between January and July this year, more than 3,200 violent and sexual offences were reported to Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary across the Isle of Wight. That makes it the most commonly recorded crime type by a substantial margin.
The figures show that every month so far in 2025 has seen between 394 and 501 violent and sexual offences, with March (501) and May (488) being the most affected. The most recent data, for July, shows 471 incidents – only marginally below previous months.
This continued level of offending confirms that violence and sexual harm remain a major issue for communities across the Isle of Wight.
Anti-social behaviour, public order offences and shoplifting continue to feature in police reports, but none are recorded as frequently as violent and sexual crime – as highlighted in the graph below.
For an island with such a small population
percentage wise there is a lot of crime.
Not really, we’re still ahead on points…UK average is one violent crime per 35 people, here it’s 1:43
Doesn’t seem it from what I read on local news.
Maybe many crimes are not reported due to a lack
of police on the island.
I was shocked today whilst in Newport
I saw a Policewoman nr McDonald’s
I thought I was seeing things, maybe I need to
go to Specsavers.
Lol
I knew it was high but that’s almost beyond belief. That’s almost 18 violent/sexual crimes a day.
It also proves the theory that crimes against property carry more weight than crimes against the person, and driven by monetary value priorities. That has to change.
That is because the world is driven by money
it is crazy.
What…no reference to hurty words on social media – after all, that is where plod seems to focus their attention these days
No, they didn’t need to because most people already know that hurty words are not used in isolation, they help incite hurty actions, hence the figures, and that’s why they are being clamped down on first so that no-one gets hurt. Same applies to violent video games for children, or violent pornography as potential gateways. I’d like to know why you seem to think your ‘free speech’ rights to be nasty to others should carry more weight that others’ rights to physical safety.
because sunshine most people were taught that whilst sticks and stones may break bones, names can never hurt you. If you are so weak and pathetic you cannot withstand being called a name, then you need to make an effort as the world isn’t some woke, kumbaya, back slapping commune
What a shocking revelation, more details are required. Has there been a ban on reporting these offences.
How is it that those figures haven’t been revealed before now in the local press, the offences aren’t being reported as going through the courts, or disturbingly they never get to court.
What ares on the Island is this happening, are there no go areas that we should know about?
Generally because lack of concrete evidence makes it harder to get a costly prosecution and conviction.
An important point, sunshine: Do we have any detailed information about the relative degree of seriousness of these reported offences? For instance, is sexual and/or violent behaviour defined by physical activity or verbal? And to what proportion? Is violent behaviour defined by an actual blow, or the threat of one? Likewise, is a report of a sexual offence defined by a physical molestation or something like a ‘wolf whistle’? What is termed as offensive behaviour today would often have gone virtually unnoticed a couple of generations ago. If nearly 20 genuine and physical sexual and violent offences take place every day on the Island we are in real trouble, even if we do lag behind the national average. A thoughtful definition and categorisation of the figures would be a valuable service by our favorite digital newspaper..
Ryde, Sandown, Shanklin, Newport, Ventnor, Cowes
and East Cowes are not the best parts of the Island.