Princes Risborough Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

September 2023 marked a continuation of Princes Risborough's historically low crime profile, with an overall rate of 4.2 crimes per 1,000 residents — 47.5% below the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000. This built-up area within Buckinghamshire, home to approximately 8,661 residents, experienced 36 total crimes, with violence and sexual offences (14 incidents) comprising the largest share at 38.9% of all reported crimes. Other theft (8 incidents) and anti-social behaviour (4 incidents) followed, though the former category exceeded the UK average by 50%. The seasonal context of September — a time of back-to-school activity and university freshers' week — may have influenced patterns, particularly in shoplifting, which saw a 100% increase month-on-month to two incidents. Despite this, the area's overall safety remains starkly contrasted with national trends, with violence and sexual offences occurring at a rate 42% below the UK average. The relatively low crime rate is consistent with Princes Risborough's character as a smaller, mixed-use commuter town with limited nightlife and a strong retail presence that may contribute to targeted thefts. However, the absence of significant spikes in property crimes, such as burglary (1 incident) or vehicle crime (2 incidents), which both remain well below UK averages, further reinforces the area's comparative safety. The crime breakdown also shows a notable absence of violent crime compared to larger urban centres, with the 1.6 per 1,000 rate for violence and sexual offences suggesting a community profile less prone to severe incidents. This pattern may be attributed to the town's proximity to Oxford and its role as a commuter hub, which could dilute crime concentrations typically seen in more densely populated areas. While the sharp increases in shoplifting and theft from the person warrant closer attention, they remain isolated incidents within an otherwise stable crime environment.

September 2023 saw sharp increases in shoplifting (+100%) and theft from the person (+100%), though these remain below UK averages for their respective categories. Violence and sexual offences, the most common crime type, occurred at 1.6 per 1,000 — 42% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour decreased by 33.3%, from six to four incidents, a trend consistent with the 63% UK average deficit in this category. Other theft, however, rose to 0.9 per 1,000 — 50% above the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000, highlighting a localised spike in this category. These shifts suggest a combination of seasonal factors, such as back-to-school activity, and specific local dynamics. Residents may find the 50% increase in other theft particularly noteworthy, as it contrasts with the broader downward trend in most categories.

Princes Risborough's September 2023 crime rate of 4.2 per 1,000 residents marks a 20.0% decrease from the previous month's 5.2 per 1,000, reflecting a consistent downward trend. This reduction aligns with a broader pattern of declining crime in the built-up area, though seasonal factors may influence this shift. Over the course of September, one reported crime occurred for every 241 residents, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure for local households. When considering daily crime frequency, the area experienced approximately one reported crime per day, a rate that remains significantly lower than the UK average. This monthly aggregate highlights the relatively low crime burden in Princes Risborough compared to national benchmarks, though residents should remain aware of specific category trends, such as the 50% increase in other theft compared to UK averages. The population-scaled perspective further illustrates that, despite fluctuations in individual crime types, the overall risk to residents remains modest, with the area's crime profile continuing to diverge from national patterns.