Bath and North East Somerset Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Bath and North East Somerset's crime profile in May 2024 reveals a combination of seasonal factors and persistent criminal trends. The overall crime rate of 7.9 per 1,000 residents places the area 6% below the UK average, a position that contrasts with the 8.6% month-on-month increase from April's 7.3 per 1,000. This upward trend may be attributed to the arrival of longer evenings, which historically correlate with increased outdoor drinking and socialising in the area's historic urban core. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture, accounting for 39% of all incidents and 9% above the UK average—a pattern consistent with Bath's status as a tourist destination and cultural hub where nightlife activity is concentrated. Anti-social behaviour followed closely at 15.8%, though this figure was 17% below the UK average, potentially reflecting local efforts to manage public order through community engagement. The decline in shoplifting, which fell 40.6% from 217 to 129 cases, may be influenced by the timing of Easter in April, though this decrease was offset by a 68.1% rise in criminal damage and arson, suggesting that seasonal events or property-related disputes may be contributing factors. The area's relatively low burglary rate of 0.3 per 1,000—3% below the UK average—aligns with the security features of Bath's historic buildings and the generally low rural crime rates in surrounding areas. These patterns underscore the need to balance the area's tourism-driven economic activity with measures to address emerging crime trends, particularly in the 'other crime' category which saw a staggering 241.7% increase.

May 2024 saw a dramatic 241.7% increase in 'other crime', rising from 12 to 41 incidents. This category, which includes a range of less-specific offences, may partly explain the overall 8.6% rise in the area's crime rate compared to April. Concurrently, robbery rates doubled, climbing from 10 to 20 cases, a sharp contrast to the 40.6% decline in shoplifting, which fell from 217 to 129. These divergent trends suggest shifting patterns in criminal activity, with property-related crimes decreasing while other categories surged. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category at 39% of all crimes, 9% above the UK average, a figure that may be linked to the area's vibrant social scene and increased evening activity. Meanwhile, drug-related crimes dropped by 35%, though this decrease was offset by a 68.1% rise in criminal damage and arson, tied to seasonal events or heightened social gatherings.

Bath and North East Somerset's crime rate in May 2024 rose by 8.6% compared to April, moving from 7.3 to 7.9 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though modest, reflects a shift in crime patterns that may be influenced by seasonal factors such as extended evenings and increased outdoor socialising. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 51 crimes per day in May, a figure that provides a tangible sense of the local crime context. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 127 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is consistent with the area's broader demographic and geographic profile. While the overall rate remains 6% below the UK average, the upward trend from April suggests a need to monitor how seasonal changes interact with existing crime dynamics in this historically significant urban and rural mix.