The City Crime Rate

The City is one of the safest urban settlements in the region, boasting an exceptionally low crime rate of 15.1 per 1,000 people. This is significantly better than the UK average of 91.7, earning the area a top-tier safety score of 95/100. Furthermore, the crime trend is moving in a positive direction, with a substantial 53.8% decrease in total offences year-over-year. The property crime rate is also remarkably low at just 5.9 per 1,000, compared to the national average of 32.3. This data, covering December 2024 to October 2025, reflects a highly secure environment where criminal activity is rare. The following analysis explores the local crime breakdown and temporal patterns to provide residents with a clear picture of their neighbourhood's safety.

Crime Breakdown in The City

The City maintains an exceptionally low crime rate, with an overall property crime rate of just 5.9 per 1,000 residents. The most frequent category recorded is violence and sexual offences, which accounts for 27.8% of all local incidents. This is followed by other theft at 22.2%, while criminal damage, anti-social behaviour, and other crime each represent 11.1% of the total volume.

Property-related crime, including burglary and theft, is significantly lower than the national average. Burglary, for example, occurs at a rate of 0.8 per 1,000 people and makes up only 5.6% of the area's total crime. Notably, vehicle crime was not recorded as a separate significant factor in this period. For residents, these statistics indicate a very secure environment where the primary risks are opportunistic theft and minor damage, rather than the high levels of vehicle crime or burglary seen in larger urban areas.

Crime Trends in The City

The City has seen a significant downward trend in crime, with a 53.8% decrease in total offences over the last year. Monthly data from December 2024 to October 2025 shows that for much of the year, crime was exceptionally low, with several months recording only one or zero incidents. The rate remained under 2.0 per 1,000 people until April, when it reached 2.5.

A slight increase was noted in the autumn, with both September and October recording 3.4 crimes per 1,000 people. Despite this recent minor uptick, the overall annual trend is overwhelmingly positive. The substantial year-over-year reduction suggests that the area is becoming even safer, reinforcing its status as a very low-crime settlement within Buckinghamshire. Residents can take confidence in these figures, while remaining mindful of the slight seasonal fluctuations seen in the later months of the year.

How To Keep Safe in The City

While The City is extremely safe, the most common crime type is violence and sexual offences, followed by other theft. To maintain your safety and the security of your home, follow these practical tips:

1. Night-time vigilance: Since burglary risk is highest between midnight and 6am (30%), ensure all ground-floor windows and doors are securely locked before retiring for the night.
2. Secure your belongings: With 'other theft' being a significant portion of local crime (22.2%), don't leave valuable items like bicycles or garden equipment unsecured in accessible areas.
3. Lighting for deterrence: Install motion-activated lighting around your property. This is particularly effective at night, as it can surprise and deter potential intruders in a quiet residential area.
4. Community connection: Even in very safe areas, staying in touch with neighbours helps identify unusual activity early. A connected community is often the best defence against opportunistic crime.

Crime Timing and Patterns in The City

The timing of criminal activity in The City shows a clear daylight-to-darkness transition. During the morning and afternoon, theft is the predominant issue, accounting for 72% of all recorded incidents in both periods. This suggests that opportunistic theft is the primary concern when the area is most active.

As evening approaches and moves into the night, the focus shifts towards burglary. While theft remains present, burglary increases from 8% in the morning to 30% between midnight and 6am. Other crimes, including criminal damage and public order offences, also peak during the night hours (41%). This indicates that while the area is generally very quiet, the risk of property intrusion and miscellaneous offences is statistically higher during the late-night and early-morning hours.

The City is part of a remarkably safe cluster of settlements in Buckinghamshire. Its crime rate of 15.1 per 1,000 people makes it significantly more secure than the nearby area of Stokenchurch, which has a rate of 44.4. However, it is slightly more active than its immediate neighbours Beacon's Bottom, Bledlow Ridge, and Bolter End, all of which reported zero crimes during the same period. For those looking to live in the area, The City offers a very high level of safety that is consistent with the surrounding rural and semi-rural landscape, providing a peaceful environment that is well-protected from the higher crime rates found in larger urban centres.

In an exceptionally safe area like The City, where property crime is just 5.9 per 1,000, residents might feel that security is a secondary concern. However, with burglary risk peaking at night (30% of night-time incidents), maintaining that safety requires a proactive approach. Traditional security systems are reactive; they provide evidence after a crime has occurred, which is often too late to prevent loss or distress.

scOS offers a proactive alternative that aligns with the high standards of The City. Using AI-powered multi-camera intelligence, scOS monitors your property boundary and identifies potential threats before they reach your door. For homeowners in this area, the system's ability to distinguish between normal activity and real threats—and to respond autonomously with lights or sound—provides a powerful deterrent. By choosing proactive protection, you ensure that your home remains a safe haven, leveraging advanced technology to prevent crime rather than just recording it.