Swaffham Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

In January 2025, Swaffham’s crime rate stood at 4.1 per 1,000 residents, a figure that places the area 42.3% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This comparatively low rate translates to a tangible everyday risk: for every 242 residents, one crime was reported over the course of the month. The distribution of incidents reflects a mix of violent and property crimes, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 38.9% of all reported incidents (14 cases), followed by shoplifting (19.4%) and criminal damage and arson (11.1%). The seasonal context of January—a post-holiday period marked by shorter days and reduced retail footfall—may have contributed to the overall trend, though the sharp rise in shoplifting (29% above the UK average) appears at odds with expectations. This anomaly could be linked to local factors such as the presence of small retail outlets or shifts in consumer behaviour. The relatively low rate of anti-social behaviour (69% below the UK average) and burglary (33% below) further underscores the area’s distinct crime profile, which contrasts with the UK’s broader patterns. These figures, when contextualised, suggest that while Swaffham remains a relatively safe place to live, the sudden increase in shoplifting and drug-related incidents in January warrants further scrutiny.

January 2025 saw a stark increase in shoplifting, with the category rising from 2 to 7 incidents—a 250% surge that outpaced the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000. This spike may partly explain the 29% elevation in Swaffham’s shoplifting rate compared to the national figure, despite the post-holiday lull in retail footfall. Concurrently, drug-related offences doubled from 0 to 1, a jump that, while modest in absolute terms, reflects an emerging trend. Conversely, anti-social behaviour incidents dropped by 70% (from 10 to 3), aligning with the broader UK trend of 69% below the national average. The balance between violent and property crimes also shifted: while violence and sexual offences remained the most common category (38.9% of total incidents), property crimes accounted for 41.7%—a 2.6% increase from the previous month. This shift may be linked to seasonal factors, such as reduced outdoor activity, though the lack of a parallel drop in violent crime suggests other dynamics at play.

Swaffham’s January 2025 crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents marked a 14.3% decline from the previous month’s 4.8 per 1,000, reflecting a consistent trend of reduced incidents. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that, while low, underscores the sporadic nature of criminal activity in this built-up rural district. When scaled to the population of 8,710, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 242 residents—a rate that, while not negligible, is significantly lower than the UK average. This context is crucial for residents: over the course of a year, the likelihood of encountering a crime in Swaffham remains comparatively low, though the sharp rise in shoplifting and drug-related incidents in January deserves closer attention. The population-scaled perspective also highlights the uneven distribution of crime, with property crimes and violent offences affecting certain areas or demographics within the built-up area.