Dereham Crime Rate August 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Dereham’s crime profile in August 2025 reveals a nuanced balance between violent and property crimes, with the former slightly outpacing the latter despite an overall rate 17.3% below the UK average. The area recorded 139 crimes, of which 49 were violent and 46 property-related, highlighting a focus on personal safety concerns over theft and burglary. This pattern may be influenced by Dereham’s built-up character within Breckland, where community interactions and local policing could contribute to higher reported violence. Seasonal factors also play a role: August, a peak holiday month, typically sees increased tourism and empty homes, which could elevate burglary risks. However, Dereham’s crime rate remains significantly lower than the UK average, with violent crime rates 20% below the national benchmark. The breakdown shows violence and sexual offences at 2.3 per 1,000, anti-social behaviour at 0.9 per 1,000, and criminal damage at 0.7 per 1,000. These figures suggest a mix of community-specific challenges and broader regional trends. The lower rates of vehicle crime—49% below the UK average—may reflect limited commuter traffic or effective local deterrents, though the 300% monthly surge in this category raises questions about temporary spikes linked to holiday-related activity. Overall, Dereham’s crime picture illustrates a town managing to keep its rates low despite the seasonal pressures of August, though the violent crime dominance warrants attention to local factors influencing personal safety.

August 2025 saw a dramatic 300% increase in vehicle crime, rising from one to four incidents—a sharp contrast to the 58.6% drop in shoplifting, which fell from 29 to 12. This shift highlights a potential seasonal realignment in criminal activity, with vehicle-related offences possibly linked to increased travel during the summer holidays. Violent crimes also declined by 31.9% compared to July, though they remained the most common category, comprising 35.3% of all incidents. This dominance of violent crime over property crime—despite an overall rate 17.3% below the UK average—suggests a unique local dynamic, possibly influenced by Dereham’s built-up area status and the absence of major retail hubs that typically drive property crime. Anti-social behaviour rates were 38% below the UK average, a statistic that may reflect community policing efforts or the town’s character as a quieter, more residential locale.

Dereham’s crime rate in August 2025 dropped by 20.1% compared to July’s 8.3 per 1,000, reflecting a continued downward trend. Daily crime counts averaged four incidents per day, a figure that aligns with the area’s relatively low overall rate. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 150 residents, a statistic that underscores the area’s comparative safety. This monthly exposure rate is particularly notable given the population of 20,916, which means the majority of residents are unlikely to encounter crime directly. The reduction in violent crimes—down 31.9% from July—contrasts with a 300% spike in vehicle crime, suggesting shifting patterns in criminal activity. This shift may be influenced by seasonal factors, such as increased vehicle movement during August’s peak holiday period. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that Dereham remains a safer area than the UK average, with crime rates continuing to fall despite localized fluctuations in specific categories.