Breckland Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Breckland's crime profile in January 2026 reveals a distinct emphasis on violent and sexual offences, which accounted for 46.4% of all reported incidents—far exceeding the share of property-related crimes. This imbalance, with violence and sexual offences comprising nearly half of the total crime count, contrasts sharply with the UK average, where such offences make up 18% of the national total. The overall crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents places Breckland 34.8% below the UK average of 6.6 per 1,000, a gap that reflects the area's lower prevalence of anti-social behaviour, criminal damage, and shoplifting compared to national benchmarks. Seasonal factors likely played a role in shaping these patterns, with January's post-holiday period and shorter daylight hours contributing to reduced retail activity and fewer outdoor crimes. However, the high proportion of violent offences suggests a different dynamic at play, potentially linked to Breckland's demographic and geographic characteristics. While the area's crime rate remains well below national averages for most categories, the dominance of violent crime highlights a need to contextualise this data within the local environment. The absence of significant spikes in property-related crimes, such as burglary or vehicle crime, further underscores the unique balance of crime types in Breckland, which appears to prioritise personal safety concerns over asset protection. This pattern may reflect the area's rural nature, where interpersonal conflicts and community dynamics could contribute to the elevated share of violent incidents.

January 2026 saw a 34.4% increase in other theft, rising from 32 to 43 incidents, a shift that may reflect heightened activity in less monitored areas during the post-holiday period. Conversely, robbery cases fell by 66.7%, declining from 3 to 1, a drop that could indicate seasonal deterrence factors such as reduced public gatherings. The crime mix revealed a stark contrast between violent offences and property crimes, with violence and sexual offences comprising nearly half of all reported incidents—significantly higher than the UK average of 2.4 per 1,000 for this category. Meanwhile, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage both remained well below UK averages, with the latter category falling 36% short of the national rate. This divergence highlights Breckland's unique profile, where violent crime dominates over property-related incidents, a pattern that may be influenced by the area's rural character and lower density of commercial hubs.

Breckland's crime rate in January 2026 stood at 4.3 per 1,000 residents, marking a 5.7% decrease from the previous month's rate of 4.6 per 1,000. This downward trend aligns with typical seasonal patterns observed in similar areas during January, when reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours may partly explain lower crime activity. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 20 crimes per day, a figure that, while local-specific, provides a tangible sense of the monthly rhythm of reported incidents. Over the course of January, one crime was reported for roughly every 233 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the population. This figure underscores that while Breckland's crime rate remains below the UK average, the frequency of incidents still affects a notable proportion of the community on a monthly basis. The population context further highlights that with 146,620 residents, the absolute number of crimes (630) is relatively modest, reinforcing the area's position as a low-crime locality compared to national benchmarks.