Bath and North East Somerset Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In October 2023, Bath and North East Somerset maintained a crime rate of 6.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 15% below the UK average of 8.0. This performance reflects a consistent trend in the area’s crime profile, where property and violent crimes coexist in a delicate balance. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 32.4% of all reported incidents. This was followed closely by anti-social behaviour (17.5%) and public order offences (10.0%). The dominance of violent crime over property crime is notable, with violent crimes comprising 32.4% of the total compared to 38.7% for property crimes. This shift may partly explain the area’s lower-than-average crime rate, as violent crime often involves fewer repeat incidents than property-related offences. Seasonal factors likely influenced patterns, with darker evenings and Halloween potentially contributing to increased anti-social behaviour and public order issues. The area’s character as a historic tourist destination and university town may also play a role, as such locations often see fluctuations in crime related to transient populations and seasonal events. While property crimes remain a significant concern, the relative stability of violent crime rates compared to the UK average suggests a broader focus on community policing and environmental strategies in the region.

October 2023 saw significant month-on-month changes in specific crime categories, with theft from the person rising by 57.1% (7 to 11 incidents) and burglary increasing by 48.0% (50 to 74 incidents). These jumps, though relatively small in absolute terms, indicate shifting patterns that may reflect seasonal dynamics or targeted criminal activity. Conversely, possession of weapons fell by 42.9% (7 to 4 incidents), and other crime decreased by 33.3% (21 to 14 incidents), suggesting potential improvements in addressing specific issues. The balance between property and violent crimes remained a defining feature of the month, with violent crimes (440 incidents) narrowly outpacing property crimes (516 incidents). This contrast is particularly striking when compared to the UK average, where violence and sexual offences are 19% below the national rate (2.2 vs 2.7 per 1,000). Public order offences, however, were 19% above the UK average (0.7 vs 0.6 per 1,000), possibly linked to the area’s mix of tourist activity and local nightlife. Residents may find the 57.1% increase in theft from the person noteworthy, as this category directly affects personal safety and may indicate targeted opportunistic crimes during peak tourist hours.

Bath and North East Somerset’s crime rate in October 2023 remained stable compared to the previous month, with no significant change from 6.8 per 1,000 residents. This consistency suggests that the area’s overall crime management strategies have maintained their effectiveness despite seasonal fluctuations. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 44 crimes per day, a figure that provides a tangible sense of the pace of criminal activity in a local context. Over the course of the month, 1 crime occurred for roughly every 147 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average in most categories. This figure is particularly meaningful for residents, as it illustrates the relatively low likelihood of being directly affected by crime in the area. The population context of 200,028 residents further underscores that the crime rate, while not negligible, remains proportionally lower than the UK average. This suggests that the area’s characteristics—its mix of historic sites, tourism infrastructure, and educational institutions—may contribute to a crime profile that is distinct from more densely populated or industrial urban centres. The stability in the crime rate over the previous month reinforces the idea that Bath and North East Somerset has achieved a level of crime control that is resilient to short-term fluctuations.