Swaffham Crime Rate November 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Swaffham's overall crime rate for November 2025 stood at 6.4 per 1,000 residents, marking a 12.3% reduction compared to the UK average of 7.3 per 1,000. This figure reflects a consistent trend in the area's relatively low crime profile, which aligns with its character as a small built-up area within Breckland's rural landscape. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 39.3% of all reported incidents, followed by shoplifting (17.9%) and criminal damage and arson (16.1%). The seasonal context of November—marked by Bonfire Night, Black Friday shopping, and extended periods of darkness—may have influenced patterns, though the area's low population density and limited nightlife likely contribute to its safer profile relative to larger urban centres. Violent crime in Swaffham was 3% below the UK average, with a rate of 2.5 per 1,000 compared to the national figure of 2.6 per 1,000. This suggests that while violent crime remains a concern, local factors such as community cohesion and limited opportunities for serious incidents may help mitigate its frequency. However, shoplifting and criminal damage rates were significantly elevated, with shoplifting at 90% above the UK average and criminal damage at 89% above. These spikes could be linked to increased retail activity during Black Friday, coupled with the challenges of enforcing anti-social behaviour in smaller communities where surveillance is less pervasive. The data highlights a combination of seasonal pressures and local characteristics, with Swaffham's crime picture shaped as much by its rural context as by the specific events of November.

November 2025 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories, with criminal damage and arson surging by 125% compared to the previous month, rising from 4 to 9 incidents. This jump, coupled with a 100% increase in drugs-related offences and a doubling of public order incidents, points to emerging trends that may require closer attention. Conversely, other crime fell by 50% (from 2 to 1), and anti-social behaviour decreased by 42.9% (from 7 to 4), suggesting that targeted interventions or seasonal factors may have temporarily curbed these issues. The breakdown of crime types reveals a stark contrast between Swaffham and the UK average: shoplifting rates were 90% higher than the national average, while anti-social behaviour was 53% lower. This divergence underscores the unique challenges of small communities, where retail theft may be more prevalent due to the concentration of shops in limited areas, yet anti-social behaviour is less common due to stronger social networks and lower population density. For residents, the 12.3% reduction in Swaffham's overall crime rate compared to the UK average provides a clear benchmark, illustrating that the area continues to perform better than the national average in maintaining public safety. However, the sharp rise in criminal damage and arson raises questions about whether local infrastructure or seasonal events like Bonfire Night have inadvertently created new vulnerabilities that need addressing.

Swaffham's crime rate in November 2025 rose by 21.8% compared to the previous month, climbing from 5.3 to 6.4 per 1,000 residents. While this increase may seem concerning, it is important to contextualise the figures within the area's population and daily life. On a daily basis, Swaffham experienced roughly 2 crimes per day over the 30-day period, a rate that, while non-trivial, remains relatively low given the town's population of 8,710. When scaled to the population, this equates to one reported crime occurring for roughly every 156 residents over the course of the month—a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average, which typically sees one crime for every 130 residents. This suggests that while the rate has increased month-on-month, the absolute number of crimes remains manageable within the community's context. The population-scaled perspective also highlights that Swaffham's crime profile is shaped by its unique demographic and geographic characteristics. As a small built-up area within Breckland, the town's limited commercial zones and sparse residential distribution may naturally limit opportunities for certain types of crime, such as large-scale theft or violent incidents in densely populated areas. However, the rise in criminal damage and arson indicates that specific local factors—linked to seasonal events or infrastructure vulnerabilities—require further analysis to ensure that the town's overall safety remains intact.