Cotswold Crime Rate January 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Cotswold's crime rate in January 2026 stood at 4.5 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 33.8% below the UK average of 6.8. This performance highlights the district's consistent success in maintaining public safety, even as seasonal factors like post-holiday periods and reduced retail footfall typically influence crime patterns. The most common crime types were violence and sexual offences (35.7% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (17.6%) and shoplifting (8.8%). The dominance of violent crime, despite the overall low rate, may be partially explained by local demographics and the nature of Cotswold's communities — a mix of historic market towns and rural villages where social interactions can be more concentrated. Seasonal context plays a crucial role: shorter days and colder weather likely contributed to the 65.4% decrease in vehicle crime, as outdoor activity diminishes. However, the 25.9% rise in violence and sexual offences suggests other factors, such as local events or community tensions, may have influenced this category. The area's performance on specific metrics, like anti-social behaviour (14% below UK average) and shoplifting (30% below UK average), reflects effective policing and community engagement strategies. These results, combined with the overall low rate, indicate that Cotswold's approach to crime prevention is yielding tangible benefits for residents, even as challenges like rising violent crime require continued attention.

January 2026 saw significant reductions in several crime categories, with vehicle crime falling 65.4% to 9 incidents — the lowest monthly figure for this category in recent records. Robbery rates also declined sharply, down 66.7% from December's 6 to 2 cases, suggesting improved security measures in high-risk areas. Possession of weapons fell 87.5% to just 1 reported incident, a stark contrast to the previous month's 8. While these decreases are encouraging, some categories saw unexpected increases: violence and sexual offences rose 25.9% to 146 cases, and other crime jumped 100% to 16 incidents. The breakdown reveals that violence and sexual offences remain the most prevalent crime type, accounting for 35.7% of all reported incidents — 36% below the UK average for this category. Anti-social behaviour also remained low, at 14% below the national average, reflecting community efforts to address disruptive conduct. These shifts underscore the combination of local factors and national trends, with Cotswold's unique rural-urban mix likely influencing both declines and isolated increases.

Cotswold's crime rate in January 2026 fell 11.2% compared to December 2025, reflecting a continued downward trend. With 409 crimes reported over 31 days, the local average equates to 13 crimes per day — a figure that places the area well below the UK average when scaled to population size. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 224 residents, a monthly exposure rate that suggests a low baseline of criminal activity relative to the area's population of 91,661. This context is particularly significant for residents, as it translates to a manageable level of risk compared to the national average. While the daily crime count remains a useful metric for understanding local patterns, the monthly exposure rate provides a more comprehensive view of how often residents might encounter crime in their daily lives. The reduction from December's 5.0 to January's 4.5 per 1,000 residents highlights the effectiveness of sustained efforts to maintain public safety, even as seasonal factors like reduced retail footfall influence crime dynamics.