Rural Basingstoke and Deane Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Rural Basingstoke and Deane recorded a crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents in January 2024, a figure that places the built-up area 41.9% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This relatively low rate, consistent with the area’s rural character, reflects the impact of seasonal factors such as reduced retail footfall, shorter daylight hours, and the post-holiday period, which typically dampen outdoor crime. The top three crime categories were violence and sexual offences (28.2% of total crimes), criminal damage and arson (18.8%), and other theft (16.5%). Violence and sexual offences, though the most common category, remained significantly below the UK average at 1.2 per 1,000, suggesting that local policing and community dynamics may contribute to this lower rate. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson, while lower than December, still exceeded the UK average by 40%, indicating a possible localised issue that warrants further attention. The seasonal context of January—marked by colder weather and fewer daylight hours—may explain the reduced frequency of outdoor crimes, particularly in areas with limited commercial activity. However, the presence of violence and sexual offences in the top category highlights the need for targeted interventions in community spaces. The overall profile of the area, characterised by its rural setting and built-up elements, appears to create a crime environment where property-related offences are more common than violent crimes, though this may shift with changing social or economic conditions.

January 2024 saw dramatic shifts in specific crime categories, with anti-social behaviour surging by 500% as the count rose from 1 to 6. This spike, though notable, may be linked to post-holiday factors or unseasonal social activity in the built-up area. Meanwhile, possession of weapons increased by 100%, reflecting a rare but concerning trend. Other theft also rose sharply, up 75% from 8 to 14 incidents, suggesting a possible increase in targeted property crimes. In contrast, criminal damage and arson fell by 38.5%, aligning with the seasonal context of reduced outdoor activity and shorter daylight hours typical of January. Public order offences also decreased by 16.7%, potentially indicating a reduction in alcohol-fuelled incidents during the month. Violence and sexual offences remained 54% below the UK average at 1.2 per 1,000, while vehicle crime was 40% below the national average, highlighting the area’s continued safety in transport-related crime despite the overall rise in some categories.

The crime rate in Rural Basingstoke and Deane remained stable in January 2024, with a 1.2% increase from the previous month’s rate of 4.2 to 4.3 per 1,000 residents. This slight upward trend, however, is unlikely to signal a significant shift given the narrow margin. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately three crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that reflects the relatively low overall rate compared to the UK average. When considering the monthly exposure, one crime occurred for roughly every 235 residents, underscoring the area’s consistently low crime profile despite minor fluctuations. This ratio, while seemingly small, is meaningful for residents, as it indicates that the likelihood of encountering crime remains minimal in the built-up area. The population of 19,983 further contextualises these figures, showing that the crime burden is spread across a relatively small and tightly knit community, where local policing and community engagement may play a role in maintaining safety.