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

In October 2024, Bath and North East Somerset's crime profile showed a clear dominance of violent crime over property crime, a pattern consistent with the area's historic town centre and tourist-driven economy. The overall crime rate stood at 7.9 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 2.5% below the UK average of 8.1. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 36.1% of all recorded crimes, with 568 incidents reported—5% above the UK average for this category. This suggests that the area's high footfall in retail and leisure zones, combined with the seasonal transition to darker evenings, may partly explain the elevated levels of violent crime. Shoplifting emerged as the second most common crime type, with 224 incidents recorded—53% above the UK average. This could reflect the impact of Halloween-related shopping activity and the presence of high-value retail outlets in the city centre. Meanwhile, property crimes such as vehicle crime and burglary accounted for 39.2% of all reported incidents, though these figures remained below the UK average for most categories. Anti-social behaviour, which is 22% below the UK average, highlights a potential success in local community engagement initiatives. The seasonal context of October—shorter days, clock changes, and the approach of winter—may contribute to shifts in crime patterns, particularly in areas with high pedestrian traffic and late-night activity. These factors, combined with the area's unique mix of heritage sites and modern amenities, create a dynamic environment where crime prevention strategies must adapt to both year-round and seasonal challenges.

October 2024 saw significant month-on-month changes in specific crime categories, with vehicle crime surging by 77.6% (from 49 to 87 incidents). This sharp increase may be linked to the start of the autumn season, when more residents and visitors use private vehicles for travel, potentially exposing them to risks in parking areas and car parks. Shoplifting also rose by 19.8%, likely influenced by pre-Halloween shopping activity and the concentration of retail outlets in the city's historic core. In contrast, robbery and theft from the person both fell sharply—by 50% and 44.4% respectively—reflecting the impact of increased police visibility during October or the reduced foot traffic associated with the month's shorter days. Violence and sexual offences remained high compared to the UK average, with a rate of 2.8 per 1,000 (36.1% of total crimes). This suggests that the area's nightlife and entertainment sectors, which are significant economic drivers, may be contributing to sustained levels of violent crime. Conversely, burglary and criminal damage were below the UK average, with the latter 15% lower than the national figure. These variations highlight the importance of tailored crime prevention strategies that address both the unique characteristics of Bath's urban landscape and the seasonal fluctuations in activity patterns.

Compared to September 2024, Bath and North East Somerset's crime rate increased by 7.8% to 7.9 per 1,000 residents from 7.3 per 1,000. This rise, though modest, reflects the cumulative effect of seasonal and environmental factors that influence criminal activity in the area. On a daily basis, the city experienced an average of 51 crimes per day in October, a figure that contextualises the pace at which incidents occur within the local population. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 127 residents—a monthly exposure rate that provides a tangible sense of the frequency of crime in this densely populated region. With a population of 200,028, the localised nature of crime in Bath means that residents are not uniformly affected; instead, the impact is concentrated in specific areas such as the town centre, which hosts both high-value retail spaces and nightlife venues. This contrasts with the UK average, where the distribution of crime tends to be more evenly spread across urban and rural areas. The 2.5% reduction in Bath's overall crime rate compared to the UK average underscores the effectiveness of local policing and community-based initiatives in mitigating crime, particularly in categories such as anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime, where the area performs significantly better than the national benchmark.