Prestwood and Great Missenden Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The most unexpected development in May 2025 was the sharp increase in vehicle crime, which rose to 2 incidents—double the previous month’s figure. This spike occurred against a backdrop of an overall crime rate of 2.4 per 1,000 residents, placing Prestwood and Great Missenden 70.4% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. The area’s crime profile remains heavily skewed towards violent crimes, which accounted for 47.1% of all incidents, with 8 recorded cases of violence and sexual offences. This category is 61% below the UK average, suggesting a relatively low prevalence of violent crime despite the recent uptick in vehicle-related offences. The breakdown also shows that property crimes, including shoplifting and criminal damage, remain far below UK levels, with shoplifting at 85% below the national average. Seasonal factors may contribute to these patterns, as May’s longer evenings and bank holidays could have increased outdoor socialising and associated risks. The area’s low crime rate, particularly for violent crimes, contrasts with the UK’s higher national average, reflecting the character of Prestwood and Great Missenden as a relatively tranquil built-up area within Buckinghamshire. This stability, however, was disrupted by the unexpected doubling of vehicle crime, a trend that warrants further examination in the context of local transportation patterns and parking habits.

May 2025 saw a 100% increase in vehicle crime, rising from 1 to 2 incidents, a notable shift in an area where vehicle crime is typically 25% below the UK average. This surge, coupled with a 100% rise in public order offences—previously zero in April—suggests a sudden spike in disruptive incidents, possibly linked to May’s bank holidays and extended evenings. Conversely, other theft and anti-social behaviour each fell by 66.7%, while criminal damage and arson dropped by 66.7%, indicating a combination of seasonal and local factors. The area’s violent crime rate, though remaining 61% below the UK average, saw no significant change in its share of total crimes (47.1%), highlighting the persistent dominance of violence and sexual offences in the local crime mix. Residents may find the 100% increase in public order offences particularly noteworthy, as it reflects a sudden shift in community dynamics. Drug-related incidents, though minimal at 2 cases, were 7% above the UK average, a rare outlier in an otherwise low-crime environment.

Prestwood and Great Missenden’s crime rate of 2.4 per 1,000 residents in May 2025 marked a 34.5% decline from the previous month’s rate of 3.7, underscoring a downward trend. On a daily basis, the area recorded roughly 1 crime per day, a figure that, when scaled to the local population of 7,115 residents, translates to one reported crime for every 419 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate, while low, highlights the relative safety of the area compared to the UK average. The population-scaled perspective further illustrates that the likelihood of experiencing a crime in Prestwood and Great Missenden is significantly lower than the national average, a trend consistent with the area’s character as a low-density built-up area within Buckinghamshire. The contrast between the local and UK averages is stark: while the UK experienced 8.1 crimes per 1,000 residents, Prestwood and Great Missenden’s 2.4 rate reflects a community where crime is an infrequent but not entirely absent occurrence. This disparity may be attributed to the area’s smaller size, limited nightlife, and the absence of major commercial hubs that typically drive higher crime rates in larger urban centres.