Prestwood and Great Missenden Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Prestwood and Great Missenden, a built-up area within Buckinghamshire, recorded a crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents in January 2024, 44.6% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This figure, while showing a 38.3% increase from December 2023, remains firmly within the safety benchmarks of the region. The area’s crime profile is shaped by its demographic and geographic characteristics: a small, tightly knit community with a population of 7,115 residents, where localized factors such as seasonal transitions and post-holiday dynamics influence crime patterns. The most common crimes in January were anti-social behaviour (27.6% of total incidents), followed by violence and sexual offences (20.7%) and criminal damage and arson (13.8%). These categories reflect the interplay of community dynamics and the built environment, with anti-social behaviour potentially linked to increased indoor gatherings during colder weather. The seasonal context of January — a period of shorter days and post-holiday lulls — likely contributed to fluctuations in crime types, with a notable drop in violent crimes possibly tied to reduced social interactions. Meanwhile, the rise in anti-social behaviour may indicate a temporary shift in community activity or reporting practices. The area’s low crime rate, even with localized spikes, highlights its overall safety and the effectiveness of local policing and community initiatives in managing crime.

January 2024 saw a significant 50% decrease in violence and sexual offences, reducing the category’s rate to 0.8 per 1,000 — 69% below the UK average. This decline, despite the post-holiday period, suggests effective local measures or seasonal factors such as reduced social gatherings. Conversely, anti-social behaviour surged by 166.7%, rising from 3 to 8 incidents, a shift that may reflect increased community tensions or heightened police reporting. Other theft and burglary both increased by 200%, though these crimes remained well below UK rates (30% and 11% below, respectively). This contrast highlights the area’s resilience in violent crime categories while underscoring the need for targeted community engagement in anti-social behaviour. The sharp rise in anti-social behaviour, however, indicates a need for targeted community engagement or resource allocation. Residents may find the 69% reduction in violence and sexual offences particularly reassuring, as this category often drives public concern in built-up areas.

Prestwood and Great Missenden’s crime rate in January 2024 rose to 4.1 per 1,000 residents, a 38.3% increase from December 2023’s 3.0 per 1,000. This monthly fluctuation aligns with typical post-holiday patterns, where reduced retail footfall and shorter daylight hours may partly explain shifts in crime distribution. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly one crime per day in January, a statistic that translates to a local monthly exposure of one reported crime for every 245 residents. This low frequency underscores the built-up area’s relative safety, even as crime rates fluctuated. The population of 7,115 residents means that individual risk remains minimal, with no single category of crime dominating the statistics. The month-on-month increase may be influenced by seasonal factors, such as post-holiday disruptions and shorter daylight hours. The area’s crime profile reflects a balance between localized spikes in certain categories and continued adherence to UK-wide safety benchmarks.