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

For an area with a population of 16,819, 46 crimes reported in May 2023 equate to one crime for every 366 residents over the course of the month. This crime rate of 2.7 per 1,000 residents places the area 66.2% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. The distribution of crimes highlights a distinct pattern, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 32.6% of all incidents, followed by public order (19.6%) and shoplifting (13.0%). These figures suggest a community where interpersonal disputes and public spaces play a significant role in shaping crime dynamics. May, with its extended daylight hours and warmer temperatures, likely contributes to increased social activity in local parks and public areas, which may partly explain the rise in public order offences. The lower-than-average rates for shoplifting and vehicle crime could reflect the area’s rural character, where fewer retail outlets and limited commuter traffic reduce opportunities for such crimes. However, the sharp increase in violence and sexual offences compared to previous months deserves closer attention, as it may indicate shifting patterns in local social interactions or unaddressed community tensions.

May 2023 saw a dramatic 200% increase in shoplifting incidents, rising from 2 to 6 cases. This surge, coupled with an 80% rise in public order offences (from 5 to 9), highlights a notable shift in crime patterns. Violence and sexual offences also climbed by 50%, moving from 10 to 15 cases — a jump that exceeds the area’s already low base rate. These increases contrast sharply with declines in other categories: other theft fell by 54.5% (from 11 to 5), and criminal damage and arson dropped by 50% (from 8 to 4). The area’s violent crime rate of 0.9 per 1,000 is 68% below the UK average of 2.8 per 1,000, while public order offences (0.5 per 1,000) are 24% below the UK figure of 0.7 per 1,000. This divergence underscores the unique character of the area, where community policing efforts and low population density may contribute to lower rates of certain crimes. Residents should note that shoplifting incidents are now 18% below the UK average for this category, despite the month-on-month increase, suggesting that the area remains comparatively safer in this regard.

The crime rate in May 2023 (2.7 per 1,000) represents a 3.9% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 2.9 per 1,000, indicating a slight but consistent downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day in May — a figure that, while seemingly low, reflects the small population of 16,819 residents. Over the course of the month, this translates to one reported crime for every 366 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average. The population-scaled perspective reveals that the area’s crime profile is markedly different from urban centres, where higher population density often correlates with increased crime rates. For instance, the UK’s average rate of 8.0 per 1,000 is more than double the rate in Rural Bath and North East Somerset, highlighting the area’s relative safety. This contrast is particularly evident in categories like anti-social behaviour, where the local rate of 0.1 per 1,000 is 92% below the UK average of 1.3 per 1,000. These figures suggest that the area’s rural setting, combined with potentially effective local crime prevention strategies, contributes to its consistently low crime rates compared to national benchmarks.