Dereham Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For a resident of Dereham, the crime rate of 6.4 per 1,000 residents in December 2025 translates to a 1-in-156 chance of experiencing a reported crime over the course of the month. This figure places the built-up area 8.6% below the UK average of 7.0 per 1,000, suggesting a relatively safer environment compared to the national picture. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences, which accounted for 41.8% of all reported incidents, followed by shoplifting (14.9%) and criminal damage and arson (11.2%). These patterns align with December's seasonal context: Christmas shopping, party season, and prolonged darkness, which may contribute to higher rates of retail-related crimes and anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences, while below the UK average for some categories, saw a 5% increase in their per-1,000 rate compared to the national benchmark, indicating a localised spike in incidents. The area's mix of commercial and residential zones likely plays a role in these figures, with high streets and public spaces serving as focal points for both property and violent crimes. While the overall rate remains lower than the UK average, the concentration of violent incidents in a single category warrants careful monitoring, particularly as seasonal factors may amplify such trends in subsequent months.

December 2025 saw dramatic shifts in specific crime categories, with possession of weapons reporting a 500% increase from one incident to six, marking the most extreme month-on-month change in the built-up area. This surge, while still below the UK average per-1,000 rate (0.1 vs 0.3), highlights an unusual spike in weapons-related incidents that could signal evolving local dynamics. Robbery doubled from one to two cases, a 100% increase that, while small in absolute terms, may reflect heightened vulnerability in certain areas during the festive period. Conversely, burglary fell sharply by 66.7%, from three to one incident, a decline consistent with the holiday season's impact on empty homes and reduced foot traffic in commercial zones. Shoplifting, already 75% above the UK average, remained a persistent concern, with its rate of 1.0 per 1,000 residents suggesting that retail security measures may need to be reinforced during peak shopping periods. The data also reveals a significant disparity in crime type distribution: while property crimes accounted for 35% of the total (47 cases), violent crimes dominated at 41.8% (56 cases), a balance that contrasts with the UK average where property crimes typically outnumber violent ones. This skew may reflect Dereham's unique demographic profile, with a higher proportion of younger residents or transient populations in certain neighbourhoods.

Comparing December 2025 to November, Dereham's crime rate rose by 3.9% from 6.2 to 6.4 per 1,000 residents, a modest but notable increase that underscores the month's volatility. On a daily basis, this translates to approximately four crimes reported each day in the built-up area, a figure that may seem high to residents but remains well below the UK's national average when scaled to Dereham's population of 20,916. The monthly exposure metric—1 reported crime for every 156 residents—provides a tangible benchmark for understanding risk, though it should be contextualised within the area's specific characteristics. For instance, while the rate of anti-social behaviour is 25% below the UK average, the sharp rise in possession of weapons (329% above the national rate) indicates pockets of concern that may not be fully captured by aggregate statistics. This contrast between overall safety and specific vulnerabilities highlights the importance of localised data analysis. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that violent crimes. of all incidents, are spread across a population that is smaller than the UK average for similar-sized areas, suggesting that targeted interventions in high-risk zones could yield disproportionate benefits. Meanwhile, the 73% shortfall in vehicle crime compared to the UK average may reflect effective policing strategies in Dereham's parking areas or the absence of high-traffic commercial hubs that typically attract such incidents.