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Crime rate in Portsmouth, Virginia (VA): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map


City-Data.com crime index in Portsmouth, VA compared to other U.S. cities

Crime rate in Portsmouth, VA

The 2022 crime rate in Portsmouth, VA is 538 (City-Data.com crime index), which is 2.2 times greater than the U.S. average. It was higher than in 97.5% U.S. cities. The 2022 Portsmouth crime rate rose by 24% compared to 2021. The number of homicides stood at 47 - an increase of 11 compared to 2021. In the last 5 years Portsmouth has seen rise of violent crime and decline of property crime.
See how dangerous Portsmouth, VA is compared to the nearest cities:
(Note: Higher means more crime)
Portsmouth:

537.5
Chesapeake:

214.0
Norfolk:

461.0
Hampton:

239.8
Virginia Beach:

109.6
Suffolk:

226.4
Smithfield:

99.7
Newport News:

288.4
Poquoson:

76.7
City-Data.com crime index
Crime rates in Portsmouth by year

Type

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022
Murders
(per 100,000)		17
(16.8)		13
(13.6)		13
(13.4)		11
(11.4)		12
(12.4)		9
(9.3)		27
(28.2)		14
(14.6)		16
(16.8)		19
(20.2)		16
(17.0)		34
(36.1)		36
(37.9)		47
(48.0)
Rapes
(per 100,000)		20
(19.8)		21
(22.0)		49
(50.7)		43
(44.4)		49
(50.5)		51
(52.9)		46
(48.0)		63
(65.8)		37
(38.9)		46
(48.8)		37
(39.4)		27
(28.7)		30
(31.6)		48
(49.0)
Robberies
(per 100,000)		352
(348.6)		267
(279.5)		236
(244.1)		181
(187.1)		176
(181.4)		175
(181.5)		232
(242.0)		235
(245.3)		224
(235.5)		203
(215.5)		230
(244.7)		222
(235.7)		138
(145.4)		209
(213.3)
Assaults
(per 100,000)		327
(323.9)		309
(323.4)		260
(268.9)		228
(235.7)		357
(368.0)		353
(366.0)		369
(384.9)		451
(470.7)		400
(420.6)		485
(514.8)		608
(646.9)		586
(622.0)		525
(553.0)		554
(565.3)
Burglaries
(per 100,000)		1,187
(1,176)		1,326
(1,388)		1,356
(1,403)		1,220
(1,261)		1,536
(1,583)		1,226
(1,271)		1,198
(1,250)		1,278
(1,334)		1,162
(1,222)		961
(1,020)		846
(900.1)		466
(494.7)		319
(336.0)		421
(429.6)
Thefts
(per 100,000)		4,178
(4,138)		3,910
(4,093)		3,639
(3,764)		3,418
(3,533)		3,640
(3,752)		3,318
(3,441)		3,361
(3,506)		3,725
(3,888)		3,919
(4,121)		3,678
(3,904)		4,207
(4,476)		3,327
(3,532)		2,969
(3,127)		3,940
(4,020)
Auto thefts
(per 100,000)		296
(293.2)		274
(286.8)		267
(276.2)		211
(218.1)		209
(215.4)		319
(330.8)		319
(332.7)		460
(480.1)		384
(403.8)		369
(391.6)		478
(508.6)		501
(531.8)		357
(376.0)		423
(431.6)
Arson
(per 100,000)		14
(13.9)		24
(25.1)		11
(11.4)		14
(14.5)		5
(5.2)		4
(4.1)		12
(12.5)		9
(9.4)		6
(6.3)		11
(11.7)		11
(11.7)		7
(7.4)		3
(3.2)		10
(10.2)
City-Data.com crime index490.1477.1465.3408.6471.3441.7498.6536.8502.2505.9551.1508.7434.0537.5

The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. Higher means more crime, U.S. average is 246.1. It adjusts for the number of visitors and daily workers commuting into cities.

- means the value is smaller than the state average.
- means the value is about the same as the state average.
- means the value is bigger than the state average.
- means the value is much bigger than the state average.



According to our research of Virginia and other state lists, there were 405 registered sex offenders living in Portsmouth, Virginia as of May 23, 2024.
The ratio of all residents to sex offenders in Portsmouth is 240 to 1.



Violent crime rate in 2022
Portsmouth:

534.2
U.S. Average:

219.8

Violent crime rate in 2021
Portsmouth:

456.6
U.S. Average:

224.8

Violent crime rate in 2020
Portsmouth:

529.7
U.S. Average:

228.2

Violent crime rate in 2019
Portsmouth:

519.2
U.S. Average:

219.9

Violent crime rate in 2018
Portsmouth:

454.3
U.S. Average:

221.2

Violent crime rate in 2017
Portsmouth:

400.6
U.S. Average:

226.2

Violent crime rate in 2016
Portsmouth:

453.0
U.S. Average:

227.3

Violent crime rate in 2015
Portsmouth:

417.7
U.S. Average:

219.3

Violent crime rate in 2014
Portsmouth:

345.3
U.S. Average:

211.1

Violent crime rate in 2013
Portsmouth:

349.9
U.S. Average:

214.2

Violent crime rate in 2012
Portsmouth:

278.6
U.S. Average:

187.4

Violent crime rate in 2011
Portsmouth:

334.1
U.S. Average:

187.1

Violent crime rate in 2010
Portsmouth:

350.7
U.S. Average:

195.7

Violent crime rate in 2009
Portsmouth:

389.7
U.S. Average:

208.9

Violent crime rate in 2008
Portsmouth:

408.2
U.S. Average:

222.5

Violent crime rate in 2007
Portsmouth:

396.1
U.S. Average:

229.1

Violent crime rate in 2006
Portsmouth:

433.1
U.S. Average:

232.6

Violent crime rate in 2005
Portsmouth:

452.8
U.S. Average:

227.0

Property crime rate in 2022
Portsmouth:

351.7
U.S. Average:

166.5

Property crime rate in 2021
Portsmouth:

280.0
U.S. Average:

157.8

Property crime rate in 2020
Portsmouth:

355.3
U.S. Average:

169.6

Property crime rate in 2019
Portsmouth:

480.1
U.S. Average:

179.7

Property crime rate in 2018
Portsmouth:

457.9
U.S. Average:

190.2

Property crime rate in 2017
Portsmouth:

511.0
U.S. Average:

206.4

Property crime rate in 2016
Portsmouth:

533.2
U.S. Average:

216.6

Property crime rate in 2015
Portsmouth:

475.1
U.S. Average:

221.5

Property crime rate in 2014
Portsmouth:

475.9
U.S. Average:

230.8

Property crime rate in 2013
Portsmouth:

536.5
U.S. Average:

250.4

Property crime rate in 2012
Portsmouth:

461.6
U.S. Average:

267.3

Property crime rate in 2011
Portsmouth:

510.2
U.S. Average:

273.5

Property crime rate in 2010
Portsmouth:

525.3
U.S. Average:

276.4

Property crime rate in 2009
Portsmouth:

486.0
U.S. Average:

285.6

Property crime rate in 2008
Portsmouth:

478.3
U.S. Average:

302.2

Property crime rate in 2007
Portsmouth:

398.9
U.S. Average:

309.2

Property crime rate in 2006
Portsmouth:

403.2
U.S. Average:

317.3

Property crime rate in 2005
Portsmouth:

409.1
U.S. Average:

322.3
Murders per 100,000 population
Rapes per 100,000 population
Robberies per 100,000 population
Assaults per 100,000 population
Burglaries per 100,000 population
Thefts per 100,000 population
Auto thefts per 100,000 population
Arson per 100,000 population

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2021, including police officers: 219 (175 officers - 138 male; 37 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

1.84
Virginia average:

2.24

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2020, including police officers: 249 (199 officers - 149 male; 50 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.11
Virginia average:

2.31

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2019, including police officers: 274 (220 officers - 171 male; 49 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.34
Virginia average:

2.27

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2018, including police officers: 350 (232 officers - 180 male; 52 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.46
Virginia average:

2.26

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2017, including police officers: 297 (222 officers - 178 male; 44 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.33
Virginia average:

2.25

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2016, including police officers: 312 (231 officers - 191 male; 40 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.41
Virginia average:

2.25

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2015, including police officers: 327 (241 officers - 200 male; 41 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.51
Virginia average:

2.26

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2014, including police officers: 346 (253 officers - 212 male; 41 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.62
Virginia average:

2.27

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2013, including police officers: 343 (247 officers - 213 male; 34 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.55
Virginia average:

2.27

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2012, including police officers: 341 (252 officers - 217 male; 35 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.60
Virginia average:

2.27

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2011, including police officers: 335 (242 officers - 209 male; 33 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.50
Virginia average:

2.28

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2010, including police officers: 329 (236 officers - 209 male; 27 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.47
Virginia average:

2.30

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2009, including police officers: 330 (241 officers - 214 male; 27 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.39
Virginia average:

2.32

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2008, including police officers: 323 (233 officers - 210 male; 23 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.29
Virginia average:

2.38

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2007, including police officers: 338 (245 officers - 219 male; 26 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.42
Virginia average:

2.34

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2006, including police officers: 352 (248 officers - 221 male; 27 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.45
Virginia average:

2.31

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2005, including police officers: 334 (242 officers - 214 male; 28 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.40
Virginia average:

2.29

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2004, including police officers: 329 (234 officers - 205 male; 29 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.33
Virginia average:

2.28

Full-time law enforcement employees in 2003, including police officers: 312 (220 officers - 194 male; 26 female).
Officers per 1,000 residents here:

2.18
Virginia average:

2.27

Full-time Law Enforcement Employees in Portsmouth, VA
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Officers
Full-time Law Enforcement Employees - Civilians

Zip codes: 23701, 23702, 23703, 23704, 23707, 23708, 23709.

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  1. All Cities
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  4. US Crime
  5. Crime rate in Portsmouth, Virginia (VA)