Rural Breckland Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

January 2024 saw Rural Breckland's crime rate climb to 2.7 per 1,000 residents, marking an 18% increase from December's 2.3. Despite this rise, the area remains 63.5% safer than the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. The crime profile highlights a stark dominance of violent incidents—violence and sexual offences accounted for 51.4% of all crimes, with 37 incidents reported. This category, though up 48% month-on-month, still falls 46% below the UK average for the same type. Public order offences, the second most common category (12 incidents, 16.7% of total), surged 200% from December, a shift that may align with post-holiday seasonal patterns and reduced retail activity typical of January. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, both significantly below UK averages, further illustrate the area's low-level crime environment. The seasonal context of shorter days and limited outdoor activity may contribute to the relative stability in property crimes, which account for only 16.7% of incidents. This contrasts with the UK's higher proportion of property crimes, reflecting Rural Breckland's rural character and limited commercial density. The overall trend, while showing a rise, remains consistent with the area's historical safety profile, where violent crimes dominate but occur at a much lower rate than in more densely populated regions.

January 2024 marked a sharp rise in public order offences, which more than tripled from 4 to 12 (+200%)—a spike that may reflect post-holiday tensions or increased community activity during shorter daylight hours. Violence and sexual offences also rose 48% to 37 incidents, though this category remains 46% below the UK average. Conversely, vehicle crime plummeted 83.3% to just one incident, possibly linked to reduced retail footfall and fewer outdoor activities typical of January. The breakdown reveals a striking contrast: while violent crimes dominate (51.4% of total), property crimes account for only 16.7%, a proportion significantly lower than the UK average for property offences. This suggests that local dynamics—such as limited commercial activity in a rural setting—may suppress property crime while social factors contribute to the rise in violence and public order issues. For residents, the 200% increase in public order offences highlights a specific area for local awareness.

Rural Breckland's crime rate in January 2024 rose 18% from 2.3 to 2.7 per 1,000 residents compared to December 2023. This increase contrasts with the area's continued status as significantly safer than the UK average, which remains 63.5% higher at 7.4 per 1,000. Locally, the 72 reported crimes over 31 days equate to roughly two crimes per day—a rate that, while slightly elevated, remains exceptionally low for a rural area. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 372 residents, highlighting the rarity of incidents in this built-up part of Breckland. When scaled to population size, the area's crime profile remains starkly different from the UK's, with violence and sexual offences—though up 48% month-on-month—still 46% below the national average for this category. The daily crime figure offers a tangible reference for residents: in a typical day, fewer than three crimes occur across the entire population. This context underscores that while the rate has increased, the absolute number of incidents remains minimal, reinforcing the area's overall safety profile.