Cheltenham Crime Rate May 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Cheltenham’s crime rate in May 2025 was 8.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 8.6% above the UK average of 8.1. This positioning highlights a distinct regional profile compared to national trends, particularly in the distribution of crime types. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 27.7% of all recorded crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (22.7%) and shoplifting (14.5%). These figures align with Cheltenham’s character as a spa town and tourist destination, where high foot traffic and social activity may contribute to certain crime patterns. The prominence of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting could be linked to the town’s retail and hospitality sectors, which thrive during the spring season. Meanwhile, the relatively low rate of drug-related crimes (0.1 per 1,000) contrasts with the UK average, suggesting effective local policing or community initiatives. Seasonal factors such as longer evenings and increased outdoor socialising may have influenced the rise in violence and anti-social behaviour, though the exact causal links remain speculative. The data also reveals a significant imbalance in crime types compared to the UK, with shoplifting and anti-social behaviour far exceeding national averages. This divergence underscores the need for targeted strategies to address local vulnerabilities while maintaining broader public safety measures.

May 2025 saw sharp increases in specific crime categories, most theft from the person, which rose by 600% (from 1 to 7 incidents). This surge, though small in absolute terms, could reflect heightened outdoor activity during longer evenings or targeted opportunistic behaviour. Simultaneously, possession of weapons increased by 100%, from 4 to 8 cases, a spike that may be linked to seasonal social gatherings or unexplained factors. Other theft also rose by 46.8%, from 47 to 69 incidents, driven by increased foot traffic in retail and tourist areas. Conversely, vehicle crime dropped by 64.1% (from 117 to 42), likely due to reduced parking congestion or improved security measures. Drug-related incidents fell by 45.5%, from 22 to 12, a decline that may align with seasonal patterns or local enforcement efforts. These shifts underscore the combination of crime types and local conditions.

Cheltenham’s crime rate in May 2025 stood at 8.8 per 1,000 residents, a slight 1.6% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 8.9 per 1,000. This stability suggests no significant shift in overall crime trends. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 35 crimes per day over the month, a figure that reflects both the town’s population density and its unique social dynamics. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure rate reveals that one crime occurred for roughly every 114 residents, a measure that contextualises the frequency of incidents within the local community. While this rate is marginally higher than the UK average, the daily figure provides a more immediate sense of how crime manifests in everyday life. For residents, this means that while Cheltenham is not uniquely unsafe compared to national standards, the distribution of crime types and their seasonal fluctuations warrant attention.