Bath and North East Somerset Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Bath and North East Somerset's crime rate in May 2025 stood at 6.9 per 1,000 residents, 14.8% below the UK average of 8.1. This places the area among the safest in the country for this period, a trend consistent with its status as a major tourist destination and historic city. The crime profile shows a clear dominance of violent offences, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 38.6% of all reported crimes—slightly below the UK average for this category. Shoplifting and anti-social behaviour followed as the next most common crimes, reflecting the area's high footfall in retail and leisure districts. Seasonal factors likely contribute to these patterns: May's extended evenings and bank holidays may have increased outdoor socialising, aligning with the 10.3% rise in public order offences. However, the overall crime rate remains stable compared to previous months, suggesting that long-term initiatives in policing and community engagement may be maintaining this lower-than-average level. The area's relatively low property crime rate—just 33.3% of total crimes—contrasts with UK trends, where property crimes typically dominate. This could be attributed to Bath's compact urban layout, which may make theft from vehicles and burglary less prevalent compared to sprawling suburbs or industrial zones. The low rate of drug-related offences (1.8% of total crimes) further underscores the area's relatively controlled environment, though this may also reflect underreporting in a region with strong community ties.

May 2025 saw notable shifts in Bath and North East Somerset's crime profile, with violence and sexual offences rising 7.9% compared to April, marking the largest single-month increase in this category. This rise may be linked to the area's vibrant nightlife and increased visitor numbers during May's bank holidays, though no definitive causal link can be established. Shoplifting also climbed 9.3% to 200 incidents, a 49% increase above the UK average for this category. This suggests that retail areas such as the historic city centre and independent shops may be experiencing heightened vulnerability, due to seasonal shopping activity. Conversely, possession of weapons dropped 77.8% year-on-year, from nine to two incidents—a decline that could reflect ongoing police operations in high-risk zones or a reduction in gang-related activity. Vehicle crime fell 41.2% compared to April, likely benefiting from improved CCTV coverage and community safety partnerships. While violent crime remains the dominant concern, the area's property crime rate—particularly burglary (2.8% of total crimes)—remains significantly below UK levels (30% lower). Residents may find the 20% decrease in vehicle crime over the past year particularly reassuring, though the rise in bicycle theft (+10%) highlights a specific vulnerability in an area with a high proportion of cyclists.

Bath and North East Somerset's crime rate in May 2025 (6.9 per 1,000 residents) was 1.4% lower than April's 7.0, indicating a slight but stable trend. This monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 145 residents over the course of the month—a figure that, while not alarmingly high, underscores the importance of community vigilance. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 45 crimes per day, a rate that is 15% lower than the UK average when scaled to population size. This daily figure, however, masks variations by crime type: for instance, the 200 shoplifting incidents alone account for nearly 14% of total crimes, a proportion that is 49% higher than the UK average. When considering the population context, the 200,028 residents of Bath and North East Somerset face a crime environment that is safer than the national average, though localised pressures in retail zones remain evident. The 1-in-145 monthly exposure figure is particularly useful for residents assessing risk: it means that, on average, each person in the area would experience a crime every 2.3 years if the rate remained constant. This is a stark contrast to areas with higher rates, where the frequency of crime may be more disruptive to daily life. The comparison also highlights the area's strengths in reducing property crime, with burglary rates 29% below the UK average—a success that may be partly attributed to the compact nature of Bath's urban fabric, which limits opportunities for opportunistic theft.