Rural Cotswold Crime Rate

Rural Cotswold Crime Statistics Overview

Rural Cotswold is a highly secure urban settlement with an impressive safety score of 88/100. The area's overall crime rate is 49.8 per 1,000 people per year, which is nearly 50% lower than the UK national average of 93.1. This significant difference highlights the area as a low-crime environment. Recently, the crime trend in Rural Cotswold has been classified as stable, with a minor year-over-year decrease of 3.5%. This indicates a consistent and predictable safety landscape for the 27,564 residents. While the area is statistically very safe, the data provides important insights into the specific types of crime that occur, allowing residents to take informed precautions to protect their homes and families.

Crime Breakdown in Rural Cotswold

In Rural Cotswold, the crime landscape is primarily defined by three categories. Violence and sexual offences are the most frequent, making up 33.0% of all reports with 453 incidents. Anti-social behaviour follows at 17.7%, while burglary is the third most significant concern at 10.5%. The inclusion of burglary in the top three is a notable characteristic of this rural urban settlement, distinguishing it from more densely populated urban centres where shoplifting or public order might rank higher.

Property crime as a whole—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, and various thefts—occurs at a rate of 18.8 per 1,000 residents. This is substantially lower than the UK average of 32.9, but it represents a significant portion of the local crime volume. Specifically, vehicle crime accounts for 7.7% of incidents, and other theft for 9.4%. For residents of Rural Cotswold, these figures highlight that while violence is the most reported category, the combined threat to property is a major factor in the local safety environment. Homeowners should be particularly aware of the burglary rate, which, at 5.2 per 1,000, is a primary driver of local security concerns.

Rural Cotswold Crime Trends and Analysis

The crime trend in Rural Cotswold is currently stable, with a 3.5% year-over-year decrease. This indicates that the area's safety profile is consistent, with no significant escalations in criminal activity. Looking at the monthly data for 2025, the crime rate per 1,000 residents fluctuated within a narrow band, ranging from a low of 3.6 in December 2024 to a peak of 4.8 in August 2025.

The data shows a slight increase in activity during the summer months, specifically July (4.3) and August (4.8), which is a common trend in many UK settlements due to longer daylight hours and increased community movement. However, by September and October, the rate had already begun to subside, returning to 3.9. This stability is a positive sign for residents, suggesting that the community remains a safe environment with predictable patterns. The consistent performance throughout the year reinforces Rural Cotswold's status as a secure residential area.

How To Keep Safe in Rural Cotswold

The highest crime category in Rural Cotswold is violence and sexual offences. While the overall risk remains low, taking proactive steps for personal safety is always recommended in any urban settlement.

1. When walking through the area, especially during evening hours, stay alert and avoid using headphones, which can reduce your awareness of your surroundings.
2. Ensure that your home's exterior is well-lit. Motion-activated lighting can deter anti-social behaviour and opportunistic crime around your property.
3. If you are out late, try to travel with others and stick to well-known, populated routes rather than taking shortcuts through isolated rural paths.
4. Keep your mobile phone charged and consider using a safety app that can alert emergency contacts if you feel unsafe.
5. Report any instances of anti-social behaviour to the local police; community reporting is essential for maintaining the stable, low-crime environment that Rural Cotswold enjoys.

Crime Patterns and Timing in Rural Cotswold

Analysis of crime timing in Rural Cotswold reveals distinct patterns based on the type of offence. Theft-related crimes are most prevalent during the daylight hours, with 41% of morning crimes and 43% of afternoon crimes falling into this category. This likely coincides with periods when residents are away from home or visiting local commercial areas.

As the day transitions into evening and night, the nature of crime shifts. Vehicle crime becomes a significant concern overnight, accounting for 39% of all crimes committed between 12am and 6am. Burglary remains a consistent threat throughout the latter half of the day, peaking at 34% during both the afternoon and night-time periods. Interestingly, while violence and sexual offences are the most common crime overall, they do not show a specific time-of-day peak in this settlement's data, suggesting they may be more sporadic or residential-based. Understanding these windows of vulnerability—particularly the night-time risk to vehicles and the afternoon/night risk of burglary—is crucial for local residents.

Local Context: Comparing Rural Cotswold to Surrounding Areas

Rural Cotswold sits within a region of varying crime intensities. Compared to nearby Cirencester, which has a crime rate of 92.4 per 1,000, Rural Cotswold is significantly safer. It also maintains a lower crime rate than Moreton-in-Marsh (73.4). However, it is slightly more active than smaller settlements like Fairford (30.6), South Cerney (33.9), and Bourton-on-the-Water (41.1). When compared to the exceptionally low rate in Stratton (15.3), Rural Cotswold shows a more typical urban settlement profile. For those seeking a balance between rural living and community safety, Rural Cotswold remains one of the most secure options in the Gloucestershire region, consistently outperforming national safety benchmarks.

Proactive Security for Rural Cotswold Properties

With burglary ranking as the third most common crime in Rural Cotswold and a property crime rate of 18.8 per 1,000, home security is a vital consideration for local residents. Traditional security measures, such as basic alarm systems or recording cameras like Ring or Nest, often fall short because they are reactive. They notify you only after a sensor has been tripped or provide footage of a burglary that has already occurred.

For true protection in Rural Cotswold, a proactive approach is required. The scOS AI-powered security system is designed to prevent crime before it happens. By using multi-camera intelligence, scOS identifies threats at the property boundary. It can distinguish between a delivery person and a potential intruder, and its DVLA vehicle verification can instantly spot suspicious cars. When a threat is detected, scOS doesn't just record; it intervenes autonomously by activating lights and speakers to deter the intruder immediately. In an area where burglary is a top concern, the ability of scOS to stop a break-in before it begins provides a level of security that traditional systems simply cannot match.