Broomfield Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Broomfield's crime rate in September 2023 stood at 11.7 per 1,000 residents — a figure 46.2% above the UK average of 8.0. This stark deviation from national trends highlights the area's unique crime profile, which is dominated by violent crimes (39 incidents, 58.2% of total) rather than property crimes. The breakdown of offences reveals a pattern that diverges from typical urban crime profiles, with violence and sexual offences accounting for nearly two-thirds of all reported incidents. This contrast with the UK average, where property crimes typically make up the majority, suggests a different set of local dynamics at play. Seasonal factors, such as the return of university students and the transition to cooler weather, may contribute to the elevated rate of violent crime. The presence of a large student population in the area could explain the high proportion of violent incidents, as university towns often experience spikes in alcohol-related and public order crimes during freshers' week. However, the data also shows some unexpected trends — for instance, shoplifting, which is typically associated with high street retail areas, remained exceptionally low (0.2 per 1,000), a figure 64% below the UK average. This may indicate that local retail security measures are effective, or that the nature of retail activity in Broomfield differs from other areas. The sharp increases in criminal damage and arson, both of which rose from zero to seven incidents, suggest a need for further investigation into potential catalysts such as increased vandalism in public spaces or changes in local enforcement patterns. Overall, the September 2023 data paints a complex picture of a community grappling with elevated violence while maintaining relatively low levels of property crime, a combination that demands targeted local strategies.

September 2023 saw a dramatic 100% increase in shoplifting, criminal damage and arson, and theft from the person — each of these categories moved from zero to one reported incident. This spike in low-level crimes may reflect seasonal factors such as the return of students and the start of the academic year, which often correlates with increased foot traffic in local retail and university areas. Meanwhile, public order offences fell by 33.3% (from 9 to 6), and other theft dropped by 25% (from 4 to 3), suggesting a shift in criminal activity patterns. The area's violent crime rate of 6.8 per 1,000 residents — 148% above the UK average — remains a critical concern, particularly given the high proportion of violent crimes (58.2%) in the total incident count. This imbalance between property and violent crime contrasts sharply with the UK profile, where property crimes typically dominate. Residents may find the 100% increase in shoplifting particularly notable, as it signals a potential vulnerability in local retail security measures.

Broomfield's crime rate in September 2023 rose to 11.7 per 1,000 residents, a 15.6% increase from the previous month's rate of 10.2. This means that over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 85 residents — a figure that translates to a local monthly exposure rate of 1-in-85. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately two crimes per day, a consistent local metric that reflects the area's specific context. While this rate is significantly higher than the UK average, the comparison to national data does not directly inform local patterns. The population-scaled perspective highlights that, despite the elevated rate, the absolute number of crimes remains relatively low in absolute terms — 67 incidents across 5,707 residents. This suggests that while the area faces challenges, the scale of crime does not overwhelm the community. The shift from August to September, marked by the return of students and the onset of cooler weather, may have influenced patterns. The daily crime count, while modest, underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and targeted interventions in high-risk areas.