Great Ellingham Crime Rate

Great Ellingham is a secure village within the Breckland local authority, featuring a safety score of 86/100. Its overall crime rate of 51.2 per 1,000 people is well below the UK average of 91.6, making it an attractive location for those seeking a safe residential environment. For its 1,270 residents, the most recent data shows an increasing trend in crime, with a year-over-year rise of 44.4%. While this increase is notable, the absolute number of crimes remains low. Property-related crime is particularly infrequent, with a rate of 10.2 per 1,000 residents. The following analysis for the period of Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 explores the specific crime distributions and monthly patterns that define the village's safety landscape.

Crime Breakdown in Great Ellingham

Great Ellingham's crime statistics are primarily composed of violence and sexual offences, which account for 36 incidents, or 55.4% of all reported crime. Anti-social behaviour is the second most common category at 12.3%, followed by other theft at 10.8%. These three types represent the vast majority of police activity in the village.

The property crime rate in Great Ellingham, which includes burglary, theft, and vehicle crime, is 10.2 per 1,000 residents. Within this category, 'other theft' is the most significant contributor. Burglary represents 3.1% of total crime, while vehicle crime is relatively rare at 1.5%. For residents, this indicates that while the overall environment is very safe, there is a consistent level of opportunistic theft. Homeowners should focus on securing external items and outbuildings, as these are more frequent targets than the main residential property itself.

Great Ellingham Crime Trends

The crime trend in Great Ellingham is currently increasing, with a 44.4% year-over-year rise in total incidents. The monthly data for 2025 reveals a fluctuating pattern, starting the year with a rate of 3.9 per 1,000 in January and dipping to 1.6 in February. However, the rates climbed steadily through the spring, reaching a significant peak of 8.7 per 1,000 in June.

Following this mid-year high, the crime rate remained elevated during the summer months, with 6.3 in July and 7.9 in August. The latter part of the year saw a return to lower levels, with 1.6 in September and a slight rise to 4.7 in November. This pattern suggests that crime in Great Ellingham may be subject to seasonal influences, particularly during the summer. While the overall numbers are still low, the double-digit percentage increase indicates a need for continued community awareness.

How To Keep Safe in Great Ellingham

Violence and sexual offences are the most common crime type in Great Ellingham. While the village is generally very safe, staying aware and taking simple precautions can further enhance your personal security.

1. When walking through the village at night, stick to well-lit paths and let someone know your expected arrival time.
2. 'Other theft' is the third most common crime here; ensure that garden tools, bicycles, and expensive equipment are stored in a locked shed or garage when not in use.
3. Anti-social behaviour is also present in local stats; reporting any incidents to the local non-emergency number helps the police allocate resources effectively.
4. Ensure your home's perimeter is secure, as burglary and vehicle crime, while rare, do occur. Motion-activated lighting is a simple but effective deterrent.
5. Consider joining a local community safety group or Neighbourhood Watch to stay informed about any recent crime trends or suspicious activity in the village.

Crime Timing in Great Ellingham

Crime timing in Great Ellingham shows a strong concentration of property-related risks during the daylight hours. Morning (6am to 12pm) and afternoon (12pm to 6pm) periods are heavily dominated by theft, which accounts for 69% and 71% of all reported incidents respectively. This suggests that opportunistic theft is most likely when residents are away at work or engaged in daily activities.

As the day transitions into the evening and night, the distribution of crime types shifts. During the evening (6pm to 12am), theft drops to 39%, while 'other' crimes and burglary (19%) become more prominent. The night-time period (12am to 6am) presents the highest relative risk for serious property crime, with burglary reaching its peak at 27% of all reports and vehicle crime rising to 21%. This highlights the importance of ensuring that both homes and vehicles are fully secured overnight to mitigate these early-morning risks.

Great Ellingham sits in a region of Norfolk with varied safety profiles. It has a slightly higher crime rate (51.2 per 1,000) than the nearby town of Attleborough, which recorded 47.7 per 1,000, and the village of Besthorpe at 19.7. In contrast, very small neighbouring hamlets like Workhouse Common and Rockland All Saints reported no crime at all during the same period. This positions Great Ellingham as a slightly busier settlement compared to its most immediate rural neighbours, though it remains significantly safer than larger urban areas across the UK. For residents, it offers a secure village lifestyle with a crime footprint that is manageable and largely non-violent towards property.

With a property crime rate of 10.2 per 1,000 and a rising trend in general crime, Great Ellingham residents should consider moving beyond reactive security. Most home security systems simply record footage of a crime, which does little to stop the loss or the emotional impact of a break-in. In a village setting where 'other theft' is a noted issue, a proactive system like scOS is far more effective. scOS uses AI-powered multi-camera intelligence to watch your property boundary constantly. It can distinguish between normal activity and a potential threat, such as someone scouting your outbuildings. By triggering autonomous responses—like activating lights or audio warnings—scOS disrupts the criminal's decision-making process before they even attempt a theft. This proactive approach turns your home into a difficult target, preventing crime in real-time and providing a level of security that traditional cameras simply cannot match.