Cirencester Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Cirencester’s crime rate in January 2024 stood at 8.8 per 1,000 residents, placing it 18.9% above the UK average of 7.4. This marks a stark departure from the previous month, though the seasonal context of January—post-holiday, shorter days, and reduced retail activity—may partly explain the pattern. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 41.7% of all reported incidents (65 cases), significantly exceeding the UK average for this category (2.6 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour (14.7%) and shoplifting (10.9%) followed, both of which also outpaced national benchmarks. The spike in violent crime contrasts with the UK’s generally lower rate for this category, which may reflect local factors such as the area’s mix of urban and rural characteristics, where concentrated populations in the town centre could contribute to higher incidents of conflict. Shoplifting, meanwhile, aligns with typical patterns in market towns, where retail premises attract opportunistic theft, though the 75% excess over the UK average suggests a particularly pronounced issue here. The seasonal dip in outdoor activity, coupled with the closure of Christmas markets, may have inadvertently shifted criminal focus toward indoor spaces, including private residences and commercial premises. This data invites further scrutiny into how local policing strategies and community engagement initiatives might address these trends in the coming months.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift in January 2024 was the 400% increase in burglary, rising from one to five incidents. This surge, though still a small absolute number, suggests a potential shift in criminal focus toward residential properties, possibly linked to the post-holiday period when households may be less vigilant or unoccupied. Concurrently, vehicle crime jumped 300% (1 to 4), likely reflecting the same seasonal factors—such as increased vehicle idling in colder weather or more frequent use of private vehicles during the holiday season. Other crime also surged by 200%, with three incidents reported, a figure that may include unclassified or transient offences. In contrast, criminal damage and arson fell by 38.5% (from 13 to 8), due to the reduced outdoor activity typical of January. Violence and sexual offences remained the most significant category, with a rate of 3.7 per 1,000—42% above the UK average. This could be tied to Cirencester’s status as a market town with a mix of permanent and transient populations, where social interactions in public spaces may heighten the risk of such crimes. Shoplifting, at 1.0 per 1,000, was 75% above the UK average, highlighting a specific challenge for local retailers. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions, such as enhanced CCTV coverage in high-traffic areas or community outreach to address the root causes of violent crime.

Cirencester’s crime rate in January 2024 (8.8 per 1,000) represented an 81.5% increase from the previous month’s rate of 4.9 per 1,000, a jump that would translate to roughly five crimes reported daily in the built-up area. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 113 residents—a figure that, while seemingly low, reflects the concentrated nature of criminal activity in a relatively small population base. This monthly exposure rate is particularly notable when compared to the UK average, which, while not directly comparable due to the absence of a national monthly exposure figure, contextualises the localised impact of crime on Cirencester’s community. The population-scaled perspective also highlights the disparity between Cirencester’s rates and the UK average: with 17,646 residents, the area’s 156 reported crimes equate to a per capita burden that is both statistically significant and potentially concerning for residents. The contrast with the previous month is stark, with the 8.8 rate nearly doubling the 4.9 figure, a change that may be attributed to seasonal shifts or unaddressed underlying factors. Residents should be aware that while the overall rate remains within a range typical for similar-sized towns, the sharp increase in certain categories—particularly burglary and violent crime—demands closer attention from local authorities and community leaders.