Rural Bath and North East Somerset Crime Rate April 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In April 2023, Rural Bath and North East Somerset recorded a crime rate of 2.9 per 1,000 residents, placing it 61.3% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This figure translates to a daily risk of roughly two crimes per day, a pace that, while not negligible, remains markedly lower than national trends. The area’s crime profile is shaped by a mix of property-related and violent offences, with other theft (22.9% of total crimes) and violence and sexual offences (20.8%) being the most frequently reported categories. The seasonal context of April—characterised by Easter holidays and spring weather—may have influenced patterns, potentially increasing outdoor activity and, consequently, incidents like public order offences or theft in open spaces. Despite the overall low rate, the area’s rural nature likely contributes to its divergence from urban crime trends, where higher population density and commercial activity typically drive higher rates. For instance, the UK average for violence and sexual offences is 2.6 per 1,000, but the area’s rate is 0.6 per 1,000, a 77% deficit that aligns with the reduced presence of nightlife or high-traffic areas. However, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson—surging 700% from March—suggests a possible seasonal anomaly, though no definitive link to weather or holidays can be drawn without further data. The low rate of burglary (0.1 per 1,000) and shoplifting (0.1 per 1,000) further reinforces the area’s status as a low-risk zone, where crime is infrequent and often concentrated in specific, isolated incidents rather than widespread patterns.

April 2023 revealed sharp month-on-month increases in criminal damage and arson, which surged by 700% (from 1 to 8 incidents), and public order offences, which rose 400% (from 1 to 5). These spikes suggest a shift in the crime mix, with property-related offences (30 of 48 total) dominating over violent crimes (10 of 48). Other theft accounted for 22.9% of all crimes, significantly outpacing the UK average by 25%. Conversely, violent crimes were 77% below the UK average, a pattern consistent with the area’s lower population density and reduced nightlife activity. For residents, the 25% increase in other theft compared to the UK average highlights a localised risk that may warrant heightened awareness in specific areas, such as rural properties or outdoor spaces.

April 2023 saw a 41.1% increase in the area’s crime rate, rising from 2.0 to 2.9 per 1,000 residents. While this marks a notable shift from March, the overall rate remains 61.3% below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two crimes per day in April, a figure that contextualises the pace of incidents for residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 350 residents, a monthly exposure that underscores the low frequency of incidents relative to the population. This statistic, when considered alongside the area’s rural character, suggests that while crime is present, it remains infrequent enough to align with the broader pattern of lower crime rates in similar regions. The population of 16,819 further contextualises these numbers, showing that the impact of crime is distributed across a relatively small community, where individual risk remains low compared to larger urban centres.