Chalfont St Peter Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a town with a population of 13,420, 70 crimes reported in May 2024 equate to a crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents, placing Chalfont St Peter 38.1% below the UK average of 8.4. This rate, while modest, reflects a mix of crime types that align with the area’s character as a relatively small, built-up community within Buckinghamshire. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences (28.6% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (21.4%) and criminal damage and arson (14.3%). The seasonal context of May—longer evenings, bank holidays, and increased outdoor socialising—may partly explain the rise in violence and anti-social behaviour, though these categories remain significantly below UK averages. Violence and sexual offences in the area are 47% below the national average, while anti-social behaviour is 24% below. These figures suggest that local factors, such as community cohesion or limited nightlife, may contribute to the lower rates of certain crimes. However, the increase in criminal damage and arson by 29% compared to the UK average raises questions about potential local vulnerabilities, such as property maintenance or environmental concerns. The overall crime profile indicates a balance between typical urban challenges and the unique characteristics of a small, suburban or semi-rural built-up area, where community engagement and local policing may play a role in maintaining lower crime levels.

May 2024 saw dramatic fluctuations in specific crime categories, with shoplifting increasing by 400% from one to five incidents. This surge, while small in absolute terms, may reflect seasonal factors such as increased foot traffic during bank holidays or changes in retail activity. Anti-social behaviour also rose sharply, jumping by 275% from four to 15 incidents, a shift that could be linked to the extended evenings and outdoor socialising typical of May. Conversely, burglary dropped by 66.7% as the number of incidents fell from three to one, indicating improved security measures or reduced opportunities for such crimes. Other theft also decreased by 50%, though this category remains significantly below the UK average by 66%. The rise in possession of weapons by 100% from zero to one incident highlights a rare but notable shift, though further analysis would be needed to determine its significance. These changes illustrate a mixed picture of local crime dynamics, with some categories rising sharply while others decline, suggesting that multiple factors may be at play.

In May 2024, Chalfont St Peter’s crime rate rose by 34.9% compared to April, moving from 3.9 to 5.2 per 1,000 residents. This increase, while notable, still leaves the area 38.1% below the UK average of 8.4. On a daily basis, the town saw approximately two crimes reported each day, a figure that may offer context for residents assessing local safety. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 192 residents, a rate that, when considered alongside the area’s population of 13,420, highlights the relatively low frequency of incidents. This monthly exposure metric, while not directly comparable to national figures, underscores the town’s position as a low-crime community despite the recent upward trend. The population context further illustrates that even with the 34.9% increase, the absolute number of crimes remains modest in relation to the area’s size, suggesting that broader socioeconomic or geographic factors may play a role in maintaining lower crime levels overall.