Hazlemere Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Hazlemere’s crime rate in May 2024 stood at 3.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 63.1% below the UK average of 8.4. This stark contrast highlights the area’s relatively low crime profile, even as the balance between property and violent crimes shifted slightly toward the latter. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 35% of all reported crimes, followed by 'other crime' (20%) and 'other theft' (15%). This distribution suggests that non-property crimes, particularly those involving interpersonal conflict or unclassified incidents, are emerging as a more prominent concern than traditional property crimes like burglary or theft. The seasonal context of May—characterised by bank holidays and longer evenings—likely contributed to this shift, as outdoor drinking and socialising may have increased, creating environments conducive to violent or disorderly incidents. However, the overall low rate indicates that Hazlemere remains a safer area compared to the UK average, with property crimes (20) and violent crimes (21) remaining nearly equal despite the slight uptick in the latter. This balance may reflect the area’s rural character within Buckinghamshire, where community cohesion and lower population density could mitigate crime rates. The 'other crime' category, though small in absolute terms, is high compared to the UK average, suggesting a need for further investigation into what specific activities or factors are driving this category. Overall, the data illustrates a community where crime remains infrequent but requires continued attention to address emerging patterns.

May 2024 saw a 200.0% increase in 'other crime' (4 → 12), a category that is 253% above the UK average. This surge, coupled with a 61.5% rise in violence and sexual offences (13 → 21), shifted the crime balance toward violent incidents, which now constitute 35% of all reported crimes. The increase in 'other crime' may reflect heightened activity during May’s bank holidays or extended social events. Conversely, burglary and drugs offences both declined sharply: burglary fell by 66.7% (3 → 1), and drugs offences dropped by 50.0% (2 → 1). These decreases align with the UK average for burglary (35% below) and drugs (55% below), suggesting local efforts or seasonal patterns may be influencing these trends. A resident might note that the 100.0% increase in theft from the person (0 → 1) indicates a small but notable uptick in personal crime, which could be linked to increased foot traffic or outdoor gatherings during the month.

Hazlemere’s crime rate in May 2024 rose by 30.0% compared to April, moving from 2.4 to 3.1 per 1,000 residents. This increase, though notable, remains significantly below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000. Locally, this translates to approximately two crimes reported each day over the 31-day period, a figure that highlights the area’s relatively low crime profile despite the upward trend. When considering the monthly exposure, one crime occurred for roughly every 320 residents, a statistic that underscores the low frequency of incidents even as the rate climbed. This context is critical for residents, as it suggests that while crime has increased, the absolute number of incidents remains minimal in a community of nearly 19,201 people. The rise in crime may reflect seasonal shifts, such as increased socialising during longer evenings and bank holidays. The comparison to the UK average further reinforces that Hazlemere continues to perform well in terms of public safety, even as local factors contribute to minor fluctuations.