Stotfold Crime Rate July 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Stotfold's crime rate in July 2024 (5.1 per 1,000 residents) was 39.3% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently safer profile for this built-up area within Central Bedfordshire. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences (28 cases, 43.8% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (18 cases, 28.1%) and criminal damage and arson (5 cases, 7.8%). This distribution contrasts with the UK average, where violent crimes accounted for 23% of all incidents, while Stotfold's violent crimes were 23% below the national benchmark. The seasonal context of July—peak summer, school holidays, and festival activity—likely influenced the crime mix, with public order offences and vandalism rising sharply despite the area's generally low crime environment. The dominance of violent crimes over property crimes (violence: 43.8%, property: 31%) suggests a social dynamic shaped by local interactions rather than economic factors, though this may also reflect the area's character as a commuter hub with a mix of residential and commercial zones. The low burglary rate (0.2 per 1,000) and absence of theft from the person—common in tourist-heavy areas—further indicate that Stotfold's crime profile is distinct from coastal resorts or urban centres, where such offences are more typical. This month's data reinforces the area's status as a relatively safe community, though the spikes in vandalism and public order incidents highlight the need for targeted interventions during peak summer events.

July 2024 saw sharp increases in criminal damage and arson (+150%), public order offences (+100%), and burglary (+100%) compared to June. These spikes, particularly in vandalism and public order, may partly explain the shift in crime mix, with property-related offences rising to 31% of total incidents from 28% in the previous month. Conversely, anti-social behaviour fell by 41.9%, a decline that contrasts with the UK average of 1.4 per 1,000. The area's violence and sexual offences rate (2.2 per 1,000) was 23% below the UK average, a gap that widened despite the seasonal influx of tourists and festivalgoers. For residents, the 150% surge in criminal damage—now at 0.4 per 1,000—suggests a need for heightened vigilance around public events, which may be contributing to this anomaly. The overall drop in anti-social behaviour, however, indicates that community-focused policing or seasonal changes in social activity could be influencing this trend.

Stotfold's crime rate in July 2024 stood at 5.1 per 1,000 residents, marking an 11.1% decrease from the previous month's 5.8 per 1,000. This decline aligns with broader patterns observed during summer months, when outdoor activity and tourism may shift crime dynamics. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately two crimes per day, a figure that, while modest, reflects the persistent presence of low-level incidents. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 195 residents, underscoring the relatively low frequency of incidents in a community of 12,479 people. This monthly exposure rate places Stotfold well below the UK average, though the exact national benchmark for such metrics remains unspecified. The population context further illustrates that even with 64 total crimes reported, the area's density and infrastructure likely contribute to a distribution of incidents that feels more dispersed to residents. This contrast with national trends highlights the importance of localized factors in shaping crime profiles, particularly in built-up areas with distinct social and economic characteristics.