Bourton-on-the-Water Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime picture in Bourton-on-the-Water for December 2025, accounting for 30% of all reported crimes. With a total crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents, the area remains significantly safer than the UK average of 7.0 per 1,000, a gap of 51.4%. This stark contrast underscores the town’s unique character as a historic Cotswold village with limited urban density and strong community cohesion. While property crimes (burglary, shoplifting) and anti-social behaviour make up the remainder of the crime profile, the most pressing concern remains the 6 incidents of violence and sexual offences, which are 61% below the UK average for this category. Seasonal factors likely contribute to the pattern: December’s short days and holiday-related movements may heighten vulnerability in quieter parts of the town, though the overall low crime rate suggests robust local policing and community engagement. The breakdown also reveals that criminal damage and arson (25% of crimes) is 54% above the UK average, a figure that may reflect the area’s architectural heritage and the potential for vandalism targeting historic buildings. This anomaly highlights the need for targeted measures in preserving the town’s physical assets, even as overall safety remains a strength.

December 2025 saw significant fluctuations in crime types compared to November. Burglary rates doubled from 1 to 2 incidents, marking a 100% increase, while other crime categories also rose by 100% (from 0 to 1). This surge in property-related offences may be linked to the holiday season, when homes are more likely to be unoccupied. Conversely, shoplifting dropped by 33.3% (from 3 to 2), potentially due to increased foot traffic in retail areas deterring opportunistic theft. The most notable UK comparison lies in criminal damage and arson, which is 54% above the national average. This discrepancy could stem from the area’s high concentration of listed buildings, which may attract vandals seeking to target historic structures. Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences fell by 25% (from 8 to 6), aligning with the broader trend of lower crime rates in the area. For residents, the 30% share of violence and sexual offences is a key indicator: despite the decline, these incidents remain the most common category, emphasizing the need for continued focus on community safety initiatives. The data also shows that anti-social behaviour and public order offences are both 68% and 55% below UK averages, suggesting effective local management of disruptive activities.

December 2025’s crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents marks a 4.8% decline from November’s 3.5, reflecting a slight but consistent trend of reduced crime in the area. On a daily basis, the town recorded an average of 1 crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that would be of little concern to most residents given the area’s small population of 5,933. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 297 residents, a ratio that illustrates the low likelihood of encountering crime in this built-up Cotswold community. This monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average, which would see one crime for every 143 residents (based on the UK rate of 7.0 per 1,000). The population-scaled perspective further reinforces Bourton-on-the-Water’s status as a relatively safe area, with crime concentrated in specific categories rather than widespread. For context, the UK’s average daily crime rate is approximately 2.5 per 1,000 residents, but this figure is not directly comparable to Bourton-on-the-Water’s unique profile. The town’s low population density and strong local governance likely contribute to its ability to maintain such a low crime rate, even during the busy holiday season.