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

Bourton-on-the-Water’s crime rate in February 2024 stood at 2.9 per 1,000, a figure 59.2% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This stark contrast underscores the area’s position as a consistently low-crime environment, shaped by its historic, tourist-driven character and limited urban density. The top crime types in the month were violence and sexual offences (29.4% of total incidents), shoplifting (23.5%), and criminal damage and arson (23.5%). Violence and sexual offences, at 0.8 per 1,000, were 68% below the UK average, a reflection of the area’s low population density and strong community policing presence. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with low outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—likely contributed to the overall low crime rate, though the sudden surge in shoplifting and property damage suggests localized factors may have influenced specific categories. The area’s small population and reliance on tourism, combined with its picturesque setting in the Cotswolds, likely reinforce the subdued crime environment, though the rise in shoplifting may indicate targeted retail activity during the month.

February 2024 marked a stark shift in crime patterns, with shoplifting surging by 300% from one to four incidents. This jump, though still below the UK average for the category, highlights a potential seasonal anomaly in retail-focused areas. Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences fell by 58.3% compared to January, from 12 to five cases, a decline consistent with the area’s winter lull. Vehicle crime also rose sharply, doubling from zero to one incident—a figure 55% below the UK average but notable for the sudden change. The breakdown also reveals that criminal damage and arson increased by 33.3%, a 30% rise above the UK average, suggesting heightened activity in property-related offences. These shifts, though small in absolute terms, offer insight into local dynamics: shoplifting may reflect pre-spring retail activity, while the drop in violence aligns with reduced tourism and lower foot traffic during colder months.

Bourton-on-the-Water’s crime rate in February 2024 fell 22.6% compared to January’s 3.7 per 1,000, now standing at 2.9 per 1,000. This decline aligns with the area’s seasonal rhythm, as winter months typically see reduced foot traffic in the historic town centre. On a daily basis, the area recorded one crime per day in February, a figure that reflects the built-up area’s low baseline activity. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 349 residents, a rate that, when scaled to the population of 5,933, underscores the area’s consistently low exposure to crime. This monthly exposure is 59.2% below the UK average, reinforcing Bourton-on-the-Water’s status as one of the safest places in the country. The population context further highlights the rarity of crime in this small Cotswold town, where community cohesion and limited urban density likely contribute to the sustained low rate.