New crime figures covering the 12 months up to March 2026 show Ilkeston continues to record some of the highest levels of crime in Derbyshire, despite modest reductions in certain categories compared with previous years.
According to figures published by CrimeRate UK using police-recorded crime data, 1,938 violence and sexual offences were recorded in Ilkeston during the year – equivalent to more than five offences every day.
Violence and sexual offences remained by far the largest category of crime locally, accounting for roughly one in every three recorded offences across the town.
Overall, Ilkeston’s crime rate is reported to be approximately 36% higher than the East Midlands average and around 32% above the national average.
The figures place Ilkeston as the most dangerous medium-sized town in Derbyshire based on recorded crime rates.
Alongside violent crime, the data also shows persistently high levels of antisocial behaviour, shoplifting, public order offences, criminal damage and vehicle crime.
More than 600 antisocial behaviour incidents were recorded during the period, while shoplifting offences remained among the highest-volume crime categories affecting the town centre.
Public order offences – covering incidents such as threatening behaviour, harassment and disorder – also continued to feature heavily within the overall statistics.
Taken together, the figures paint a picture of a town where crime is not concentrated within one isolated category, but spread across a wide range of offences affecting businesses, residents and public spaces.
Town centre concerns reflected in figures
The statistics mirror concerns that have repeatedly surfaced across Ilkeston over the past year.
Ilkeston News has reported on robberies, knife incidents, violent assaults, machete-related offences, retail thefts and repeated complaints about antisocial behaviour in and around the town centre.
Business owners have spoken openly about the impact repeated thefts and disorder incidents are having on staff morale and customer confidence, particularly at a time when high streets are already facing wider economic pressures.
Residents, meanwhile, frequently raise concerns about feeling unsafe late at night, intimidation linked to groups gathering in the town centre, and the visible increase in antisocial behaviour compared with previous years.
While crime statistics alone cannot explain why those concerns exist, they do suggest the issues being raised publicly are reflected in the wider data.
Slight reductions – but from an already high baseline
There are signs within the figures that parts of the overall picture may be improving slightly compared with previous peaks.
Some categories have reduced marginally year-on-year and the overall crime rate is lower than levels recorded during some recent periods.
However, the broader context remains difficult to ignore.
Even with those reductions, Ilkeston still sits substantially above regional and national averages overall, particularly in relation to violent crime and antisocial behaviour.
That distinction matters because percentage decreases can sometimes obscure the scale of the underlying numbers.
A town recording a small reduction from an already exceptionally high level may still continue to experience far more crime than comparable areas nearby.
More than just statistics
Crime figures also fail to capture the wider impact repeated incidents can have on the atmosphere of a town.
Retail workers dealing with persistent thefts, residents avoiding certain areas after dark, emergency services responding to repeated incidents and businesses concerned about public perception are all part of a broader picture not fully reflected in spreadsheets or league tables.
Equally, the figures do not define Ilkeston entirely.
The town continues to have active community groups, successful independent businesses, sports clubs and volunteers working to improve the area and support local people.
But the latest statistics do reinforce something many residents already feel instinctively – that crime and antisocial behaviour remain among the biggest long-term issues facing the town.
And while some measures may now be moving in the right direction, the latest data suggests Ilkeston still has a considerable distance to travel before many residents genuinely feel the situation has improved.
You can access the latest data here: http://www.crimerate.co.uk/