Chesham Crime Rate February 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Chesham's crime profile in February 2024 reveals a distinctive balance between violent and property crimes, with violence and sexual offences comprising 38% of all incidents. This figure, at 2.1 per 1,000, places the area 16% below the UK average for this category, a pattern consistent with its character as a commuter town with a mix of residential and retail areas. Property crimes, however, show a different story: burglary accounts for 9.9% of incidents (0.6 per 1,000), significantly exceeding the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000. This disparity may reflect the presence of high-value properties in the built-up area, a common feature in commuter belts where housing demand drives property values. Meanwhile, shoplifting remains 7% below the UK average (0.5 per 1,000 vs 0.5), suggesting effective retail security measures in the town centre. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with low outdoor activity—likely contributes to the relative scarcity of vehicle crime (0.4 per 1,000) and public order offences (0.4 per 1,000), both of which are 9% and 18% below UK averages respectively. This pattern contrasts with the sharp rise in public order offences recorded this month, indicating potential shifts in local dynamics that warrant further investigation. The overall crime rate of 5.6 per 1,000, 21.1% below the UK average, underscores Chesham's position as a relatively safe area, though the 300% increase in burglary and 800% spike in public order offences highlight specific vulnerabilities requiring targeted attention.

February 2024 saw stark shifts in Chesham's crime mix, with public order offences surging by 800% (from 1 to 9) and burglary tripling (3 to 12). These increases contrast with declines in theft from the person (-60%) and criminal damage and arson (-45.5%). The violent crime category remains 16% below the UK average (2.1 per 1,000 vs 2.5), but burglary stands out as 100% above the UK rate (0.6 per 1,000 vs 0.3). This divergence highlights a combination of local factors and national trends. The 300% rise in burglary could indicate vulnerabilities in residential security during winter months, when outdoor activity is lower. Meanwhile, the 100% increase in 'other crime' (from 0 to 3) suggests emerging issues requiring further analysis. Residents may find the 800% spike in public order offences particularly concerning, as it represents the largest single-month increase in the dataset.

Chesham's crime rate in February 2024 rose by 29.9% compared to the previous month's 4.3 per 1,000, reflecting a shift in local dynamics. Daily crime figures show an average of four reported incidents per day, a rate that, while low, suggests consistent activity in specific areas. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for roughly every 178 residents, a metric that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the population of 21,592. This monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average when considering overall crime rates, but the sharp increase in public order offences and burglary raises questions about emerging patterns. The population context reveals that Chesham's relatively small size means even modest changes in crime type distribution can have visible impacts on community perception. While the rate remains well below the UK average, the month-on-month rise indicates a need for continued monitoring of specific categories such as burglary, which saw a 300% increase.