Swaffham Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Swaffham's violence and sexual offences category stood out in October 2024, recording 26 incidents (3.0 per 1,000 residents) — 12% above the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. This anomaly contrasts with the area's overall crime rate of 6.5 per 1,000, which is 19.8% below the UK's 8.1 per 1,000. The data highlights a distinct imbalance in crime distribution, with violent crimes accounting for 45.6% of all reported incidents, compared to property crimes (20%) and anti-social behaviour (14%). This pattern diverges from the typical UK profile, where property crimes often dominate. The seasonal context of October — shorter evenings, Halloween activities, and the clocks going back — may partly explain the elevated violence figures. While Swaffham's overall rate remains well below the UK average, the concentration of violent incidents suggests localized factors at play. The town's character as a rural market town with limited nightlife infrastructure contrasts with areas where violence spikes during similar seasons. However, the low property crime rate (20 incidents) aligns with the broader trend in rural areas, where burglary and vehicle crime are typically lower due to sparse population density. The absence of significant spikes in anti-social behaviour or public order offences, which are often linked to urban environments, further underscores Swaffham's unique profile. This month's data invites closer examination of why violence rates here diverge from the national pattern, despite the area's generally low crime environment.

October 2024 saw a 166.7% increase in other thefts, rising from 3 to 8 incidents — a sharp jump that outpaced all other categories. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in drugs-related offences (from 0 to 2), suggests a shift in criminal activity that may reflect seasonal patterns or localized pressures. Meanwhile, public order offences plummeted by 83.3% (from 6 to 1), a decline consistent with the reduced foot traffic typically seen in rural areas during October. The breakdown also reveals that anti-social behaviour incidents (8) remained 30% below the UK average, reinforcing Swaffham's generally lower levels of such disturbances. The town's burglary rate (2 incidents) was 39% below the UK average, a trend that may be attributed to its rural layout and limited commercial zones. For residents, the 166.7% increase in other thefts — which includes crimes like bicycle theft and shoplifting — offers a concrete insight: heightened vigilance in securing personal property may be warranted during this period. The data also shows a 12% increase in shoplifting incidents (7) compared to the UK average, a figure that, while modest, aligns with the presence of small retail outlets in Swaffham's built-up area. These findings highlight a combination of local characteristics and broader seasonal trends, with some categories defying expectations while others follow national patterns.

Swaffham's crime rate in October 2024 (6.5 per 1,000) marked a 26.5% increase from the previous month's rate of 5.2 per 1,000 — a rise that, while significant, still leaves the area well below the UK average. Over the 31 days of October, this translated to an average of 2 crimes per day, a figure that may feel more tangible for residents. When scaled to the population of 8,710, the monthly exposure means one reported crime occurred for roughly every 153 residents — a ratio that, while not negligible, is considerably lower than the UK's average monthly exposure. This comparison underscores Swaffham's position as a relatively safe area, even as the month-on-month increase raises questions about potential contributing factors. The 26.5% rise in the overall rate does not reflect a uniform increase across all crime types; rather, it is driven by specific categories like other thefts and drugs offences. This uneven distribution suggests that the rise may be linked to targeted factors rather than a broad systemic shift. For context, the UK's average rate of 8.1 per 1,000 in October 2024 means Swaffham's residents face a 19.8% lower risk of experiencing crime compared to the national average. However, the 12% increase in violence and sexual offences above the UK rate indicates that certain risks remain elevated. This duality — lower overall rates but higher-than-average violence — invites further analysis of local conditions that might explain this discrepancy. The comparison to the previous month also highlights the volatility of crime statistics, with the 26.5% increase serving as a reminder that short-term fluctuations can occur even in areas with generally low crime levels.