Crime in Shepton Mallet Town fell in May, but violence remained the biggest category in the latest local figures. A total of 116 crimes were recorded across the town in May 2026, down from 125 in April.

The figures give a month-by-month snapshot of what is being recorded locally, from anti-social behaviour and shoplifting to burglary, vehicle crime and public order offences. They do not show the outcome of each case, but they do offer a useful picture of the pressures being logged in the town.

Violent crime accounted for 50 of the 116 offences recorded in May, making it the largest category by some distance. That category can include violence, threats of violence, harassment and related behaviour, and was down from 64 recorded offences in April.

Anti-social behaviour also fell, from 18 reports in April to 13 in May. This is the category often used for nuisance, intimidating or disorderly incidents affecting people in the community, rather than one specific offence type.

Shoplifting remained one of the more commonly recorded offences, edging up from 11 in April to 12 in May. Other theft, which covers thefts not listed under headings such as burglary, shoplifting or vehicle crime, also rose from six to nine.

There was a sharper rise in vehicle crime, from one recorded offence in April to seven in May. Vehicle crime can include theft of a vehicle, theft from a vehicle or vehicle-related damage, making it one of the categories residents and drivers are likely to notice most quickly.

Burglary also increased, from three offences in April to six in May. That category covers entering a property, such as a home, business, shed or garage, to steal, cause damage or commit another offence.

Criminal damage and arson rose from eight to 10 recorded offences. The category includes deliberate damage such as vandalism, broken windows, graffiti, damaged vehicles or fires started intentionally.

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Public order offences stayed level, with seven recorded in both April and May. These offences generally involve threatening, abusive or disorderly behaviour that can cause fear, alarm or distress in public.

Drug offences fell from three in April to one in May. Drugs offences can include possession, supply, production or other offences involving controlled substances.

Robbery and possession of weapons were both recorded in April, with two robberies and one weapons offence, but neither appeared as a category in the May figures supplied. Robbery is theft involving the use or threat of force, while possession of weapons covers offences where someone is found with a weapon unlawfully.

The May breakdown was: violent crime 50, anti-social behaviour 13, shoplifting 12, criminal damage and arson 10, other theft nine, vehicle crime seven, public order seven, burglary six, drugs one and other crime one. April's total of 125 included 64 violent crimes, 18 anti-social behaviour reports, 11 shoplifting offences, eight criminal damage and arson offences, seven public order offences, six other thefts, three burglaries, three drug offences, two robberies, one vehicle crime, one possession of weapons offence and one other crime.

The monthly crime data notes that it can take up to 30 days for the previous month's statistics to become available. The figures supplied cover Shepton Mallet Town only, so they do not represent the wider Mendip area.

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