Potton Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime Statistics

Potton records a favourable overall crime rate of 46.0 incidents per 1,000 residents, placing it substantially below the national average of 93.1 per 1,000. The town maintains an excellent Safety Score of 90 out of 100. Furthermore, the crime trend is classified as decreasing, having seen a notable year-over-year reduction of -11.8%. This substantial decline suggests a positive shift in the local safety environment over the past year. Despite this, the high proportion of violence and vehicle crime warrants specific attention.

Crime Type Analysis

Potton records a very low overall crime rate of 46.0 per 1,000 residents, placing it well below the national average. The crime profile is dominated by social issues and vehicle targeting. Violence and sexual offences is the most frequent category, accounting for 33.9% of all reported crimes, or 15.6 incidents per 1,000 people. This is followed by Anti-social behaviour (ASB) at 20.6% (9.5 per 1,000). The third most common offence is Vehicle crime, which represents 10.9% of the total, indicating a specific vulnerability regarding vehicle security.

The town’s overall property crime rate is exceptionally low, standing at just 15.0 per 1,000 people, significantly below the UK average of 32.9 per 1,000. This rate includes Criminal damage (9.7%), Other theft (9.1%), and Burglary (1.8%). The low volume across most categories indicates a very secure residential environment. The main safety priorities for residents are focused on personal safety and deterring opportunistic vehicle crime, which accounts for a disproportionately high share of property offences.

Potton Crime Trend Analysis

Potton is experiencing a positive trend, with the crime rate classified as decreasing, marked by a notable year-over-year reduction of -11.8%. This substantial decline suggests a positive shift in the local safety environment and a sustained reduction in the overall volume of crime compared to the previous period.

Reviewing the monthly trend data shows rates generally fluctuating between 2.2 and 5.3 per 1,000. The lowest rate was recorded in October (2.2 per 1,000) and November (2.5 per 1,000). Activity saw a minor peak in June (5.3 per 1,000) and again in July (5.0 per 1,000), suggesting a slight summer increase. Despite these minor seasonal fluctuations, the overall annual downward trend is highly positive for the town.

How To Keep Safe in Potton

The most frequent crime type in Potton is Violence and sexual offences. However, Vehicle crime is the most prevalent property offence and requires specific attention from residents due to its high proportion (10.9%).

1. Vehicle Security Focus: Given the high rate of Vehicle crime, always park in secure, well-lit locations. Use visible deterrents like steering wheel locks, and ensure keyless entry fobs are protected in a secure pouch to prevent remote theft.
2. Report Anti-social Behaviour: Anti-social behaviour is the second most common crime. Promptly report instances of public nuisance to the police to prevent escalation into violence.
3. Secure Possessions: Other theft and Criminal damage are notable. Ensure all exterior property, including sheds and outbuildings, is properly secured and well-lit to deter opportunistic theft and vandalism.
4. Personal Safety: Maintain situational awareness when walking alone late at night, particularly around public gathering spots, to mitigate the risk from Violence and public order offences.

Hourly Crime Patterns

Crime activity in Potton is most pronounced during the afternoon and evening hours. The afternoon period (12pm to 6pm) sees the highest percentage of theft-related offences (52%), suggesting opportunistic larceny during peak working hours. Morning hours (6am to 12pm) are also active for theft and vehicle crime. In the evening (6pm to 12am), 'Other' crimes, which typically include violence and anti-social behaviour, dominate 44% of incidents, reflecting increased social activity. During the night (12am to 6am), Vehicle crime becomes the most pressing issue, accounting for 65% of the low volume of incidents that occur overnight, indicating focused targeting of unattended vehicles.

Regional Crime Context

Potton’s crime rate of 46.0 per 1,000 positions it as a very safe settlement in the region. Its rate is comparable to or slightly higher than its immediate neighbours, such as Gamlingay (40.6 per 1,000) and Dunton (41.5 per 1,000). The rate is expectedly higher than the rural settlements of Wrestlingworth and Beeston (Central Bedfordshire), which report rates of 0.0 per 1,000. Overall, Potton maintains a very strong safety profile, offering a low-crime environment compared to the wider Central Bedfordshire average. The decreasing trend further reinforces this positive outlook.

Proactive Home Protection Strategies

With Potton enjoying a very low property crime rate of 15.0 per 1,000, security measures should be focused on absolute prevention against the few incidents of vehicle crime or theft. Traditional, reactive security, such as standard cameras, only provides footage of an intrusion after it has occurred, failing to prevent the loss or damage in the first place.

For residents seeking the highest level of assurance, proactive systems utilizing scOS technology are highly effective. These AI-powered systems use multi-camera intelligence to constantly monitor the property perimeter, instantly identifying genuine threats. By providing an autonomous response—like engaging lights and audio warnings—scOS destroys the element of surprise. Given the prevalence of Vehicle crime, this professional-grade, visible deterrence makes a criminal's 60-second decision easy: they move on. Investing in such a system is the best way to maintain the area's excellent safety record and combat opportunistic property crime.