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

Violence and sexual offences dominate the crime profile in Brandon (County Durham) for January 2024, accounting for 45% of all reported crimes. At 7.5 per 1,000 residents, the area’s overall crime rate is 1.4% above the UK average of 7.4, reflecting a persistent challenge in managing violent incidents. This category’s rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents is 31% higher than the UK average for the same category, suggesting local factors—such as the town’s mix of residential and commercial spaces—may contribute to elevated levels of violence. Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage also feature prominently, with rates 1% and 23% above UK averages respectively, indicating a pattern of community-level disturbances. Seasonal context suggests that the post-holiday period in January, combined with shorter days and reduced retail activity, likely limits opportunities for certain crimes like shoplifting, which fell to 2.5% of total incidents (66.7% below the UK average). However, the prominence of violent crime contrasts with lower rates of theft from the person and public order offences, which may reflect the area’s character as a smaller built-up area with fewer concentrated nightlife hubs. The balance between property and violent crime shifts here: 45% of incidents are violent, compared to 55% property-related, a departure from the UK’s broader trend where property crimes typically dominate. This suggests that local social dynamics or environmental factors—such as proximity to transport routes or community tensions—could be shaping the crime picture. While January’s seasonal lull in retail activity may temper some property crimes, the sustained focus on violence indicates a need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas or times.

January 2024 saw dramatic shifts in crime patterns, with vehicle crime surging by 400% (from 1 to 5 incidents) and burglary doubling (3 to 6). These increases, though still modest in absolute terms, highlight vulnerabilities in vehicle security and residential areas. Conversely, shoplifting dropped by two-thirds (6 to 2), aligning with reduced foot traffic during the post-holiday period. Public order offences also fell by 60% (5 to 2), possibly due to colder weather limiting outdoor gatherings. Violence and sexual offences remain high: their rate of 3.4 per 1,000 is 31% above the UK average, a gap wider than any other category. Burglary’s 67% above UK average rate (0.6 vs 0.4 per 1,000) and criminal damage’s 23% excess (0.7 vs 0.6) suggest specific local risks, such as older housing stock or transient populations. The sharp rise in bicycle theft (100% increase) may reflect seasonal shifts in commuting patterns or unsecured bike storage. For residents, the most immediately relevant finding is the 19.4% jump in overall crime rate from December’s 6.2 to January’s 7.5 per 1,000—a shift that, while modest in percentage terms, translates to 8 additional crimes in a population of 10,739. This underscores the need for community awareness around personal safety, especially during the early evening hours when violent incidents are more likely to occur.

Brandon’s crime rate in January 2024 rose 19.4% from December’s 6.2 per 1,000 to 7.5 per 1,000, marking the first monthly increase after a period of relative stability. On a daily basis, this equates to roughly 3 crimes per day over the 31-day month, a figure that, while low in absolute terms, reflects the area’s small population of 10,739. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure rate—1 crime per 134 residents—places Brandon in the context of a built-up area where crime is relatively evenly distributed across the population. This contrasts with larger urban centres where crime is often concentrated in specific neighbourhoods. The 1.4% above UK average rate (7.5 vs 7.4) is statistically narrow but significant, driven primarily by violent crime’s 31% excess over national averages. For local residents, this means that while Brandon is not exceptionally unsafe compared to the UK as a whole, the elevated rates of violence and property crime (especially burglary) suggest targeted risks. The previous month’s rate of 6.2 per 1,000 indicates a recent upward trend, though the absolute number of crimes (80 in January) remains low enough that individual residents are unlikely to encounter crime frequently. This balance between a slightly elevated rate and manageable absolute numbers highlights the importance of context in interpreting local crime statistics.