Aylsham Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Aylsham’s crime profile in January 2026 reveals a striking shift in patterns, with anti-social behaviour and shoplifting both surging to unprecedented levels. The built-up area recorded 23 total crimes, yielding a crime rate of 3.1 per 1,000 residents—54.4% below the UK average of 6.8 per 1,000. This stark contrast to the national trend highlights Aylsham’s unique position as a relatively low-crime area, though January’s data introduces unexpected volatility. Violence and sexual offences remained the most common crime category (9 incidents, 39.1% of total), yet this figure represents a 50% decrease from December’s 18 cases. Anti-social behaviour, now tied for the most frequent category, saw a 100% increase from zero to nine incidents, while shoplifting rose by the same margin, moving from zero to three cases. These spikes defy seasonal expectations; typically, January sees reduced retail footfall and fewer outdoor crimes due to shorter daylight hours, yet both property-related and disorder-related incidents surged. The area’s rural-urban hybrid character—part of the Broadland district—may contribute to this anomaly, as small communities often experience concentrated pockets of activity during post-holiday periods. While the overall rate remains well below the UK average, the sharp rise in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting deserves closer attention to local factors, such as changes in community engagement or temporary disruptions to usual patterns.

January 2026 saw two crime types surge by 100% compared to December: anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. Anti-social behaviour, previously unrecorded in the month, became the second most common category, with nine incidents reported. This jump may reflect post-holiday social dynamics or shifts in policing priorities. Shoplifting, though still below the UK average (0.4 per 1,000 vs 0.6 per 1,000), rose sharply from zero to three cases, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in retail security during quieter periods. Conversely, violence and sexual offences fell by 50%, from 18 to 9 incidents—a decline consistent with broader UK trends of reduced violent crime during colder months. The category’s rate (1.2 per 1,000) remains 52% below the UK average, a testament to Aylsham’s generally lower levels of violent crime. Criminal damage and arson also dropped by 75%, from four to one incident, though this category remains well below the UK average (0.1 per 1,000 vs 0.5 per 1,000). For residents, the most immediately relevant finding is the doubling of anti-social behaviour cases, which could indicate a need for community-based interventions or increased visibility in public spaces. The crime mix has shifted with property crimes now accounting for 13% of total incidents (down from 20% in previous months), while violent crimes make up 39.1%—a balance that diverges from the UK’s broader emphasis on property crime.

Aylsham’s crime rate in January 2026 dropped by 28.1% compared to December’s 4.3 per 1,000, reflecting a continued decline in overall criminal activity. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day, a figure that may seem low but must be contextualised within the built-up area’s small population of 7,424 residents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 323 residents—a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average, though no direct comparison figure is available. This statistic underscores Aylsham’s status as a relatively safe area, even as specific crime types like anti-social behaviour and shoplifting show unexpected increases. The population-scaled perspective reveals that while the absolute number of crimes remains low, the localised spikes in certain categories could have a disproportionate impact on community perceptions of safety. For instance, the doubling of anti-social behaviour cases may feel more pronounced in a small, closely knit area where incidents are more likely to be known to multiple residents. This contrast between aggregate statistics and individual experiences highlights the importance of targeted analysis, as the overall rate masks shifts in crime distribution. The 54.4% gap between Aylsham’s rate and the UK average remains a defining feature, but the month’s data demonstrates that even low-crime areas can experience sudden fluctuations, requiring vigilance in monitoring emerging trends.