Bourton-on-the-Water Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime profile in Bourton-on-the-Water for December 2024, accounting for 31.6% of all reported crimes. At 3.2 crimes per 1,000 residents, the area’s crime rate is 54.9% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently low level of criminal activity compared to national benchmarks. The most frequently reported crime category is violence and sexual offences, with six incidents recorded—a rate of 1.0 per 1,000 residents. This is 61% below the UK average for the same category (2.6 per 1,000). The second most common category is burglary, with three incidents (0.5 per 1,000), though this rate is 61% above the UK average (0.3 per 1,000). The low overall crime rate may partly explain the absence of major property crime spikes, but the increase in drug-related incidents—jumping from one to three cases—suggests a potential shift in local dynamics. December’s seasonal context, with its Christmas shopping peak, extended evenings, and holiday-related absences from homes, likely contributes to the mix of crime types observed. The small population of 5,933 residents and the area’s status as a historic Cotswold village may further explain the relatively low crime rates, as such communities often have strong local cohesion and limited commercial activity compared to larger urban centres.

December 2024 saw significant month-on-month increases in violence and sexual offences, drugs, and anti-social behaviour. Violence and sexual offences rose from three to six incidents—a 100% increase—while drugs-related crimes surged by 200% (from one to three cases). Anti-social behaviour also doubled, rising from zero to two incidents. These jumps contrast with a 66.7% decrease in vehicle crime, which dropped from three to one case. The rate of violence and sexual offences (1.0 per 1,000) remains 61% below the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), suggesting local factors may suppress such crimes despite the seasonal spike. Conversely, drugs-related incidents in Bourton-on-the-Water (0.5 per 1,000) are 108% above the UK average (0.2 per 1,000), indicating a notable divergence from national trends. Residents may find the 100% increase in anti-social behaviour particularly concerning, as such incidents often disrupt community cohesion and may require targeted local engagement. The contrast between the sharp rise in drugs-related crimes and the sustained low levels of property crime highlights a shift in the crime mix, linked to the area’s seasonal rhythms and the transient nature of some illicit activity during the holiday period.

Bourton-on-the-Water’s crime rate in December 2024 (3.2 per 1,000) represents a 73.0% increase from the previous month’s rate of 1.9 per 1,000, yet it remains well below the UK average. Over the course of December, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 312 residents—a monthly exposure rate that is exceptionally low compared to national standards. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of one crime per 31 days, equating to roughly one crime every 31 days for each resident. This daily frequency is significantly lower than the UK’s average daily crime rate, which is not provided but can be inferred to be much higher given the overall national rate of 7.1 per 1,000. The population-scaled perspective reinforces the area’s safety profile: with 5,933 residents, the 19 reported crimes in December mean that each resident had a 0.32% chance of being directly affected by crime—a figure that is markedly lower than the UK’s likely average. Despite the month-on-month rise, the sustained low crime rate suggests that Bourton-on-the-Water’s historical character, small size, and community-focused environment continue to act as natural deterrents to crime, even during periods of increased seasonal activity.