Breckland Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Breckland's crime rate in May 2025 stood at 4.9 per 1,000 residents, placing it 39.5% below the UK average of 8.1. This stark contrast highlights the area's generally lower crime profile compared to national trends. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 45.8% of all crimes reported, significantly below the UK average for this category (2.8 per 1,000 compared to the UK's 2.8 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour followed at 15.3%, and criminal damage and arson at 9.5%, both well beneath national benchmarks. These figures align with Breckland's character as a largely rural district with lower population density and fewer high-traffic urban centres, which typically correlate with higher rates of certain crimes. Seasonal factors in May—such as longer evenings, bank holidays, and increased outdoor socialising—may have influenced the distribution of offences, though the overall rate remains lower than the UK average. The dominance of violent crimes in the breakdown contrasts with the UK's broader mix of property and violent crime, suggesting local socioeconomic or demographic factors that shape crime patterns differently here. For instance, the lower prevalence of theft from the person (0.0 per 1,000) compared to the UK average (0.1 per 1,000) may reflect the area's lower tourist activity and fewer densely populated zones where such crimes typically occur.

May 2025 saw notable fluctuations in specific crime categories, with theft from the person surging by 200% (from 1 to 3 incidents) and robbery doubling (from 1 to 2). These increases, while small in absolute terms, signal potential shifts in criminal activity. Conversely, vehicle crime dropped sharply by 64.3% (from 28 to 10), possibly linked to seasonal changes in car usage or targeted policing efforts. Burglary also fell by 27.8% (from 18 to 13), a decline that may reflect improved home security measures or reduced opportunities in rural areas. The breakdown of crimes reveals a striking divergence from the UK average: Breckland's rate of violence and sexual offences (2.2 per 1,000) is 22% below the national figure, while anti-social behaviour (0.7 per 1,000) is 51% below. This suggests a lower incidence of public disorder compared to urban regions, which often report higher rates of such offences. The category of 'other crime' (0.2 per 1,000) is 25% above the UK average, hinting at unique local challenges that may require further analysis. For residents, the 23 crimes reported daily (based on May's total of 714) provides a tangible sense of the scale, though the overall low rate remains a key point of comparison with national data.

Breckland's crime rate in May 2025 (4.9 per 1,000) marked a 4.1% increase from April's 4.7 per 1,000, though it still remains well below the UK average. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 205 residents, a monthly aggregate that translates to a relatively low level of exposure compared to areas with higher crime rates. This figure underscores the area's safety profile, particularly when contrasted with the UK's average of 8.1 per 1,000. On a daily basis, Breckland experienced approximately 23 crimes, a number that appears modest in the context of its population of 146,620. While the rise from April may reflect seasonal factors such as increased social activity during May's longer evenings and bank holidays, the overall trend remains consistent with Breckland's historical position as a low-crime area. The population-scaled perspective further illustrates how the 714 total crimes translate to a manageable level for a district with a rural character, where lower population density and fewer commercial hubs naturally reduce the incidence of certain types of crime. This comparison to both the UK average and previous months reinforces the importance of contextualising Breckland's statistics within its unique geographic and demographic framework.