Brandon (County Durham) Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Despite August being a peak holiday month in Brandon (County Durham), which typically correlates with increased burglary risk due to empty homes and tourism, the area's burglary rate remains 6% below the UK average. This contrast with seasonal expectations highlights the area's unique crime profile. The overall crime rate for August 2024 stood at 5.4 per 1,000 residents, a figure 34.1% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. Violence and sexual offences accounted for the largest share of crimes (37.9%), followed by public order (13.8%) and anti-social behaviour (12.1%). This distribution suggests a focus on interpersonal conflicts and community-level disturbances rather than property crime, which is lower than national trends. The seasonal context of August—characterised by school holidays, increased tourism, and higher outdoor activity—appears to have had a muted impact on property crime, with burglary and vehicle crime both below UK averages. This could reflect local factors such as community cohesion, effective policing, or the physical layout of the built-up area, which may limit opportunities for certain types of crime. While violence remains a persistent concern, the significant gap between Brandon's rates and the UK average underscores the area's relative safety compared to national benchmarks.

August 2024 saw sharp increases in specific crime categories, including other theft (150% rise), robbery (100% rise), and shoplifting (100% rise), though these remain well below UK averages. Other theft, now at 0.5 per 1,000 residents, is 12% below the UK rate of 0.6 per 1,000, suggesting localised factors may be limiting its scale. Conversely, other crime fell by 33.3% (from 3 to 2 incidents), and vehicle crime decreased by 25% (from 4 to 3), potentially reflecting seasonal shifts in activity or targeted interventions. Violence and sexual offences, the most common category (37.9% of total crimes), are 22% below the UK average, consistent with the area's overall safety profile. Public order offences, however, are 11% above the UK average, indicating a need for closer attention to community-level disturbances. These shifts highlight the dynamic nature of crime patterns, with certain categories responding to seasonal changes while others remain stable. For residents, the 100% increase in robbery—though still a single incident—serves as a reminder to remain vigilant in public spaces.

Brandon's crime rate in August 2024 (5.4 per 1,000) represents a 10.7% decrease from the previous month's rate of 6.1 per 1,000, indicating a downward trend over the summer. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 2 crimes per day in August, a figure that contextualises the pace of criminal activity in a built-up area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 185 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average. This statistic, while specific to Brandon, provides a tangible measure of risk for local residents. The population of 10,739 residents means that each individual's likelihood of being directly affected by crime is significantly lower than in areas with higher rates. The comparison to the previous month also reveals that August's rate is part of a broader trend of declining crime, though this may be influenced by seasonal factors such as the end of the summer holiday period. These figures collectively illustrate a relatively safe community, where crime remains low enough to allow for a population-scaled perspective that prioritises community well-being over individual risk.