Rural Breckland Crime Rate June 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In June 2023, Rural Breckland's crime rate stood at 2.7 per 1,000 residents, placing it 68.2% below the UK average of 8.5 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the area's unique crime profile, shaped by its rural character and built-up nature within Breckland. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 50% of all reported crimes, far exceeding the share of property crimes (25%), a reversal of the usual trend observed in similar rural areas. This dominance of violent crime may be influenced by seasonal factors, as June marks the start of the summer months, when social activity increases in rural communities. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage followed as the next most common categories, each contributing over 10% to the total. The area's violent crime rate (1.3 per 1,000) was 55% below the UK average for this category, while anti-social behaviour (0.4 per 1,000) was 73% below the national rate. These figures suggest that while violent incidents occur, their frequency is significantly lower than in other parts of the UK, possibly due to the area's low population density and limited urban infrastructure. The seasonal context of June—longer days and the beginning of tourist activity—may have influenced patterns, though the absence of major public events or concentrated population hubs likely mitigated risks typically associated with summer months in coastal or urban areas. This data illustrates a low-crime environment where violent incidents, though present, remain comparatively rare, and property-related crimes are even less frequent than national averages.

June 2023 marked a shift in crime dynamics, with violent crimes accounting for 50% of all reported incidents—nearly double the share of property crimes. This imbalance, while not unprecedented, highlights a departure from recent trends where property crimes typically dominated. The most notable change was a 100% increase in robbery cases, rising from zero to one incident. This spike, though small in absolute terms, contrasts with steep declines in other categories: vehicle crime fell by 75% (from four to one), public order offences dropped by 58.3% (from 12 to five), and anti-social behaviour decreased by 50% (from 20 to 10). Violent crimes, at 36 incidents, remained 55% below the UK average for this category (2.9 per 1,000), suggesting local factors—such as the area's sparse population and limited nightlife—may contribute to this disparity. The absence of burglary, vehicle crime, and robbery above UK averages further reinforces the area's unique crime profile, with property-related offences consistently underrepresented compared to national data.

Rural Breckland's crime rate in June 2023 fell to 2.7 per 1,000 residents, a 32.1% decrease from the previous month's 4.0 per 1,000. This decline aligns with seasonal patterns observed in rural areas during early summer, when tourism activity typically begins to rise but crime remains low due to sparse population density. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two crimes per day, a figure that reflects the low overall crime rate relative to the UK average. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 372 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the area's relative safety compared to national benchmarks. This statistic, when contextualised against Breckland's population of 26,781, suggests that the community's crime profile is markedly different from urban counterparts, with fewer incidents concentrated among a smaller population base. The reduction in violent crime compared to May, coupled with the continued absence of property crimes above UK averages, indicates a consistent trend of lower-risk environments in this built-up rural area.