Rural Breckland Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Rural Breckland's crime rate for August 2023 stood at 3.1 per 1,000 residents, marking a significant 61.7% reduction compared to the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This figure reflects a consistently lower crime profile than national trends, with violent crime and anti-social behaviour dominating the monthly breakdown. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 41.5% of all reported crimes (34 incidents), followed by anti-social behaviour (19.5%, 16 incidents) and criminal damage and arson (14.6%, 12 incidents). The area's rural character, combined with its built-up nature within Breckland, likely contributes to this pattern, as smaller communities often report lower rates of property crime and higher levels of interpersonal offences. Seasonal factors may also play a role: August, a peak holiday month, could see increased tourism and transient populations, elevating risks for crimes like violence or anti-social behaviour. However, the absence of significant property crime trends suggests local efforts — such as community policing or targeted interventions — may be effective in mitigating theft and burglary. The data also indicates a notable contrast to UK averages, with violent crime in Rural Breckland at 1.3 per 1,000 (51% below the UK rate) and anti-social behaviour at 0.6 per 1,000 (58% below). These figures align with the area's demographic profile, where smaller populations and lower urban density may reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. While the overall rate remains stable, the seasonal context of August — with its potential for increased social activity and transient populations — warrants cautious interpretation of these figures.

August 2023 saw a 12.8% decrease in violence and sexual offences, dropping from 39 to 34 incidents — a shift that may reflect seasonal changes or local initiatives targeting violent crime. Public order offences also declined by 25%, falling from 8 to 6, suggesting a possible reduction in alcohol-related disputes or other disturbances during the month. However, three categories saw notable increases: possession of weapons, bicycle theft, and robbery, all rising from zero to one incident — a 100% increase each. These isolated cases may indicate sporadic events rather than emerging trends. The area's crime mix remains heavily weighted toward violent and anti-social offences, with property crimes accounting for only 30.5% of total incidents (25 out of 82). This contrasts sharply with the UK average, where property crime typically dominates. For example, Rural Breckland's violent crime rate (1.3 per 1,000) is 51% below the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), while anti-social behaviour is 58% below the national rate (1.4 per 1,000). Residents might find the stability in the overall crime rate — unchanged from July — particularly reassuring, as it suggests consistent policing or community engagement efforts. The data also underscores the area's distinct profile: unlike UK averages, where property crime is more prevalent, Rural Breckland's crime picture is defined by interpersonal issues, likely influenced by its rural yet built-up nature and seasonal dynamics.

Rural Breckland's crime rate in August 2023 remained stable at 3.1 per 1,000 compared to July, with no significant month-on-month fluctuations. This consistency is reflected in the daily crime context: 3 crimes reported per day over the 31-day period, a manageable figure for a community of 26,781 residents. On a monthly scale, the data indicates that one reported crime occurred for roughly every 327 residents — a statistic that provides a tangible sense of the area's crime exposure. When contextualised against the UK average, the 3.1 per 1,000 rate is strikingly low, with the area's violent crime rate (1.3 per 1,000) and anti-social behaviour rate (0.6 per 1,000) both significantly below national benchmarks. The population-scaled perspective further highlights this disparity: in a UK-wide context, the equivalent of 8.1 crimes per 1,000 residents would translate to over 2,167 crimes in Rural Breckland alone, a stark contrast to the 82 recorded. This suggests that local factors — such as community cohesion, rural policing strategies, or the built-up nature of the area — may be effective in reducing crime. The monthly exposure figure (1 in 327 residents) also implies that individual risk remains relatively low, though the small number of incidents in categories like robbery (1 in 26,781 residents) highlights the importance of vigilance in specific contexts. Overall, the data reinforces the area's position as a safer-than-average location, with the stability of the crime rate and the low population-scaled risk offering reassurance to residents.