Swaffham Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Swaffham's October 2023 crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents placed it 35% below the UK average, a marked contrast to the national figure of 8.0 per 1,000. This performance highlights the area's relative safety, consistent with its status as a smaller built-up area within a rural region. The top crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 28.9% of all incidents (13 cases), though this rate was 44% below the UK average at 2.7 per 1,000. Shoplifting followed closely, representing 20.0% of total crimes (9 cases), and stood out as 72% above the UK average for that category (0.6 per 1,000). The seasonal context of October—marked by darker evenings, the clocks going back, and Halloween—may have influenced patterns, though the data suggests no direct correlation to the significant drop in violence. The low overall rate aligns with the area's character as a low-density, community-focused environment, where factors such as limited nightlife and fewer public spaces may contribute to lower violent crime rates. However, the spike in shoplifting raises questions about local retail dynamics, linked to the area's proximity to major transport routes or seasonal shopping activity. The absence of significant property crime, with burglary and vehicle crime both below the UK average, further underscores Swaffham's unique profile within the broader UK crime picture.

October 2023 saw significant shifts in Swaffham's crime profile, with other theft and vehicle crime each surging by 300% compared to the previous month. This increase, from one to four incidents in both categories, contrasts sharply with a 35% decline in violence and sexual offences, which dropped from 20 to 13. Shoplifting also fell by 30.8%, though it remained 72% above the UK average at 1.0 per 1,000 residents. Possession of weapons—reported at 0.2 per 1,000 residents—was 186% above the UK average, a stark outlier in the data. These fluctuations suggest a combination of local factors and broader trends, with the significant rise in vehicle crime potentially linked to increased seasonal activity around the town's retail areas. Residents may find the daily crime count of approximately one incident per day a useful reference for contextualising local safety.

Swaffham's crime rate in October 2023 fell to 5.2 per 1,000 residents, a 9.9% decrease from the previous month's 5.7 per 1,000. This decline aligns with a broader trend observed in smaller built-up areas within rural regions, where seasonal transitions often correlate with reduced activity in certain crime categories. On a daily basis, Swaffham recorded approximately one crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that translates to roughly one reported crime for every 194 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate places the area well below the UK average, which typically sees higher frequencies in comparable regions. The population context further underscores the relative safety of Swaffham, with its 8,710 residents experiencing a crime rate that is 35% below the national average. These figures, while low, are consistent with the area's character as a smaller, low-density built-up area within Breckland, where community cohesion and limited urban density may contribute to lower crime levels.