Prestwood and Great Missenden Crime Rate August 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile of Prestwood and Great Missenden in August 2025 reveals a distinctive balance of crime types that reflects the area's built-up character within Buckinghamshire. With a crime rate of 2.8 per 1,000 residents, the area remains 65.4% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000, a gap that underscores the effectiveness of local community policing and the relatively low density of public spaces. The most prevalent crime types—shoplifting, violence and sexual offences, and burglary—each account for 20% of the total 20 reported incidents. This tripartite distribution suggests a combination of retail-focused crime, limited interpersonal conflict, and property vulnerabilities. The seasonal context of August as a peak holiday month likely influences this mix, with shoplifting potentially linked to increased foot traffic in local shops and the temporary occupancy of holiday homes contributing to burglary risks. However, the 122% above-average burglary rate compared to the UK's 0.3 per 1,000 highlights a specific vulnerability in the area's historic properties, which may be more susceptible to break-ins during periods of vacancy. Violence and sexual offences, though significantly below the UK average, show a marked decline from previous months, reflecting the reduced presence of transient populations during the summer. The area's compact built-up nature, with limited industrial or commercial zones, likely limits the scope for other crime types, though the doubling of public order offences indicates a need for targeted interventions in popular leisure areas. This crime mix illustrates a community that, while generally safe, requires nuanced strategies to address specific vulnerabilities tied to its geography and seasonal rhythms.

August 2025 saw a 300% surge in shoplifting incidents, rising from one to four cases. This increase, though modest in absolute terms, contrasts with the 71.4% drop in violence and sexual offences, which fell from 14 to 4. Public order offences also doubled, a shift that may reflect the seasonal influx of holidaymakers. Burglary, at 0.6 per 1,000, remains higher than the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000, a discrepancy that could be linked to the area's historic properties and the temporary occupancy of second homes during August. Meanwhile, criminal damage and arson plummeted by 83.3%, a decline consistent with the reduced presence of transient populations during the summer. These fluctuations highlight the combination of tourism and local crime patterns, with shoplifting and public order issues likely driven by increased foot traffic in retail and leisure areas.

Prestwood and Great Missenden's crime rate in August 2025 fell to 2.8 per 1,000 residents, a 33.4% reduction from the previous month's 4.2 rate. This decline aligns with the typical seasonal pattern of reduced outdoor activity during August, though the area's built-up character likely moderates such fluctuations. Daily crime reporting reveals one incident per day on average, a figure that may appear low but reflects the area's small population of 7,115. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 356 residents, a statistic that contextualises the low frequency of incidents within the community. While this monthly exposure rate is significantly lower than the UK average, the localised nature of the data means direct comparisons to national figures are not applicable. The population-scaled perspective highlights that even minor fluctuations in crime numbers have limited impact on individual risk, a factor likely amplified by the area's tight-knit community structure and limited public spaces.