Prestwood and Great Missenden Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Prestwood and Great Missenden recorded a crime rate of 3.0 per 1,000 residents in December 2023, placing it 58.3% below the UK average of 7.2 per 1,000. This stark contrast to the national figure highlights the area’s relatively low exposure to crime, a pattern consistent with its character as a small, largely residential built-up area within Buckinghamshire. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 57.1% of all reported crimes (12 incidents), making them the most prevalent category. This was followed by anti-social behaviour (14.3%) and vehicle crime (4.8%). The low overall rate is likely influenced by the area’s compact, community-focused layout and limited commercial activity compared to larger urban centres. Seasonal factors may also have played a role: December’s dark evenings, empty homes over the holidays, and the peak of Christmas shopping could have altered crime patterns. However, the absence of significant spikes in property-related crimes—such as burglary or vehicle theft—suggests that local efforts to secure homes and businesses during the festive period may have had an impact. The lower-than-UK-average rate for violence and sexual offences (1.7 per 1,000, 35% below the national average) could reflect the area’s demographic profile, with fewer young adults or transient populations typically associated with higher rates of such crimes. This data reinforces the area’s reputation as a low-crime, stable neighbourhood, though the small number of incidents means that trends should be interpreted with caution.

December 2023 saw notable fluctuations in specific crime categories, with three types increasing by 100% from the previous month. Drugs-related incidents, possession of weapons, and other theft all rose from zero to one report each, marking a significant shift in the crime mix. This contrasts with sharp declines in burglary (-87.5%), public order offences (-87.5%), and anti-social behaviour (-62.5%), which had previously been more prevalent. The shift in the crime mix suggests a move towards more personal or individual-level incidents, possibly linked to the holiday season’s social dynamics. For instance, the rise in drugs-related crimes may be tied to increased social gatherings or the movement of transient populations during the festive period. Meanwhile, the drop in burglary and public order offences could indicate that targeted measures—such as increased patrols or community engagement—have had an effect. The area’s violence and sexual offences rate (1.7 per 1,000) is 35% below the UK average, a marked difference that may be partly explained by the area’s demographic stability and limited nightlife. However, the 67% increase in possession of weapons compared to the UK average (0.1 per 1,000) is an outlier that warrants further scrutiny, though the single incident reported does not provide enough context to draw firm conclusions.

The crime rate in December 2023 (3.0 per 1,000) represents a 58.9% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 7.2 per 1,000, marking a significant drop. This reduction is most pronounced in property-related crimes, which fell sharply as burglary and public order offences both declined by 87.5%. Over the course of December, one crime was reported for every 339 residents, a figure that translates to roughly one crime per day in this area of 7,115 residents. While this daily rate appears low, the small population size means even minor fluctuations can have a noticeable impact on statistics. The area’s crime profile remains starkly different from the UK average, with the overall rate being over half the national figure. This disparity is reflected in the breakdown of crime types: violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour, and vehicle crime are all significantly below the UK average, while possession of weapons is 67% above. The combination of these trends suggests a unique local context, possibly influenced by the area’s residential character and limited commercial activity. For residents, the low crime rate and manageable daily exposure to crime reinforce the area’s reputation as a safe, stable place to live, though the single incident involving weapons highlights the need for continued vigilance in addressing specific risks.