Taverham and Drayton Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Taverham and Drayton’s crime rate in April 2024 stood at 2.2 per 1,000 residents, a figure 71.4% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This rate reflects a built-up area within Broadland, where the combination of limited community policing resources and a population of 15,307 creates unique challenges in maintaining low crime levels. The most common crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 29.4% of the total 34 reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (20.6%) and criminal damage and arson (17.7%). These figures highlight a persistent emphasis on property-related crimes, with anti-social behaviour and public order offences also playing a significant role. Seasonal factors, such as the Easter holiday period and increased outdoor activity during spring, likely contributed to shifts in crime patterns. For instance, the decline in violence and sexual offences by 56.5% may be partly explained by reduced opportunities for such crimes during the holiday period. However, the 200% increase in criminal damage and arson raises concerns about unaddressed local issues, possibly linked to seasonal maintenance activity or unregulated anti-social behaviour. The overall low crime rate, while encouraging, underscores the need for continued vigilance and targeted interventions to address emerging trends.

The most striking change in April was a 200% surge in criminal damage and arson, rising from two to six incidents. This spike, though still below the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000 (32% below), raises questions about local triggers such as seasonal maintenance activity or unaddressed anti-social behaviour. Concurrently, violence and sexual offences fell by 56.5%, from 23 to 10 incidents — a drop that may reflect the Easter holiday period reducing opportunities for such crimes. Possession of weapons also saw a 100% increase, jumping from zero to three cases, a figure that is 186% above the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. This anomaly suggests a potential underreporting or unaddressed issue in the area, given the category’s rarity nationally. Public order offences also declined by 50%, from four to two, which may correlate with reduced foot traffic in retail and leisure areas during April. Bicycle theft and shoplifting both rose by 100%, though these remain well below UK averages for their respective categories. These shifts illustrate a combination of seasonal factors and localized crime dynamics.

April 2024 marked a 10.5% reduction in Taverham and Drayton’s crime rate, falling from 2.5 to 2.2 per 1,000 residents compared to March. This decline aligns with broader seasonal patterns, as spring weather and Easter-related activity may have influenced outdoor movement and social interactions. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day over the 30-day period, a figure that, while low, reflects persistent localized challenges. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure equates to one crime for every 450 residents, underscoring the relatively low frequency of incidents in a built-up area with limited community policing resources. The population of 15,307 further contextualises these figures, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining low crime rates in a densely populated environment. This monthly aggregate does not capture fluctuations within the month, such as the 200% surge in criminal damage and arson. The data suggests that while the overall trend is downward, specific categories remain volatile, necessitating targeted interventions in areas like vandalism and anti-social behaviour.