Cotswold Crime Rate April 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 91,661, 416 crimes in April 2025 equate to 0.45 incidents per resident—a rate of 4.5 per 1,000 people. This figure is 41.6% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000, reflecting a consistently lower crime profile in Cotswold compared to the national picture. The most prevalent crimes were violence and sexual offences (34.9% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (21.6%) and other theft (7.5%). Seasonal factors in April, including the Easter holiday and the onset of spring, may influence these patterns. Increased outdoor activity during this period could contribute to higher reports of violence and anti-social behaviour. Conversely, the significant drop in shoplifting (42.9% year-on-year) might align with reduced foot traffic in retail areas during the Easter break. The low rates of burglary and vehicle crime compared to UK averages suggest Cotswold's rural character and lower population density may mitigate certain types of criminal activity.

April 2025 saw notable shifts in crime trends, with possession of weapons rising 100% (3 to 6 incidents) and bicycle theft doubling (0 to 2). These increases may reflect heightened awareness or reporting around Easter, though no direct link to seasonal factors is confirmed. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 42.9% (21 to 12), potentially tied to reduced retail activity during the holiday. Violence and sexual offences remained the most frequent category, but their rate of 1.6 per 1,000 was 39% below the UK average, indicating a persistent safety advantage in Cotswold. Anti-social behaviour, at 1.0 per 1,000, was 25% below the national rate, a pattern consistent with the area’s lower population density and community-oriented policing. The sharp decline in criminal damage and arson (35.3% drop) could signal improved local initiatives or seasonal inactivity, though no specific programmes are referenced in the data. Residents may find the 100% increase in bicycle theft particularly relevant, as it highlights a vulnerability in personal property security during peak outdoor activity periods.

April 2025’s crime rate of 4.5 per 1,000 represents a 9.4% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 5.0, continuing a downward trend that has defined Cotswold’s recent crime profile. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 14 crimes per day in April—a figure that, while low in absolute terms, underscores the need for vigilance in high-traffic areas. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 220 residents, a ratio that, when scaled to Cotswold’s population of 91,661, illustrates the relatively low frequency of incidents compared to larger urban centres. This monthly exposure is 41.6% below the UK average, a gap that has narrowed slightly in recent years but remains substantial. The disparity is most pronounced in violent crime, where Cotswold’s rate of 1.6 per 1,000 is 39% below the UK average, and in anti-social behaviour, which is 25% below. These figures suggest that Cotswold’s rural infrastructure and community engagement may play a role in mitigating certain types of crime, though this is not explicitly confirmed by the data. The comparison also highlights the area’s strengths in reducing property-related crimes, with shoplifting and vehicle crime both well below national levels.