Farnham Common and Farnham Royal Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile in Farnham Common and Farnham Royal during August 2023, accounting for 50% of all reported crimes. This category recorded 19 incidents at a rate of 2.6 per 1,000 residents, slightly below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. The area’s overall crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 was 35.8% below the UK average, reflecting a consistently safer environment compared to national trends. Property crimes, while less frequent than violent incidents, still contributed 13.2% of total reported crimes, with burglary and anti-social behaviour each accounting for 13.2% of the total. Seasonal factors likely played a role in the crime pattern, as August is typically a peak holiday month with increased tourism and empty homes, which may contribute to burglary risks. The area’s lower crime rates compared to the UK average suggest effective local policing strategies or demographic factors such as a more stable, residential population. However, the dominance of violent offences highlights the need for targeted community safety initiatives. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage were both significantly below UK averages, indicating that public order issues are less prevalent in this built-up area than nationally. The breakdown shows a balanced mix of property and violent crime, but with violent offences clearly driving the overall rate. This contrasts with larger urban centres where property crime often dominates, underscoring the unique characteristics of Farnham Common and Farnham Royal as a relatively low-crime, mixed-use rural area within Buckinghamshire.

August 2023 saw a 400% increase in burglary compared to July, with five incidents reported—up from one. This surge, though still below the UK average for burglary (0.3 per 1,000), may reflect seasonal factors such as increased tourism or unoccupied homes during the summer holiday period. Bicycle theft also doubled from zero to one incident, a small but notable rise. Conversely, vehicle crime fell by 85.7%, from seven to one, marking the most significant drop in any category. This decline may be attributed to reduced traffic during August or improved security measures in local car parks. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage both saw substantial decreases—anti-social behaviour fell by 80% and criminal damage by 33.3%—suggesting that community-focused interventions or seasonal changes in social activity may have had a positive impact. Violent offences, though slightly below the UK average, remained the largest single category, accounting for half of all crimes. This pattern is consistent with smaller towns where interpersonal disputes or alcohol-related incidents may be more prevalent than in densely populated urban areas. The area’s burglary rate, while rising, is still only 106% above the UK average, indicating that the overall risk remains relatively low compared to national standards. These shifts highlight the importance of monitoring specific crime trends rather than relying solely on aggregate figures.

The crime rate in August 2023 (5.2 per 1,000) marked a 9.5% decrease from July’s rate of 5.8 per 1,000, reflecting a continuing downward trend over recent months. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately one crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that translates to a monthly exposure of one crime for every 191 residents. This rate is lower than the UK average, which is 8.1 per 1,000, and aligns with the area’s character as a relatively low-crime rural built-up area. The population context further underscores the significance of these figures: with 7,252 residents, the 38 reported crimes in August represent a manageable level of risk for local communities. The decline in vehicle crime to just one incident—down from seven in July—demonstrates the potential effectiveness of targeted policing in high-risk areas such as car parks or commuter routes. Meanwhile, the increase in burglary to five cases highlights the need for continued vigilance during the summer months, when seasonal factors like tourism and empty homes may create opportunities for offenders. These comparisons suggest that while the area remains safer than the national average, specific crime types require ongoing attention to prevent further increases.