Gillingham (Dorset) Crime Rate May 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 11,325, Gillingham (Dorset) recorded 72 crimes in May 2024, translating to 6.4 crimes per 1,000 residents. This rate is 23.8% below the UK average of 8.4 per 1,000, reflecting a relatively safe environment compared to national trends. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences (23 cases, 31.9% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (14 cases, 19.4%) and shoplifting (10 cases, 13.9%). The seasonal context of May—longer evenings, bank holidays, and increased outdoor socialising—may partly explain the rise in violence and sexual offences, though this category remains 30% below the UK average. Shoplifting, however, saw a sharp increase to 0.9 per 1,000, 41% above the UK average, potentially linked to retail activity in the built-up area. Anti-social behaviour also remained significantly below the UK rate, suggesting community policing efforts or lower population density may contribute to this trend. The balance between property crimes (40%) and violent crimes (32%) indicates a mix of local challenges, with property-related offences slightly outpacing violent crimes. These patterns align with Gillingham’s character as a smaller, rural-adjacent built-up area, where community dynamics and limited urban infrastructure may shape crime profiles differently than larger cities.

May 2024 saw dramatic shifts in crime patterns, with violence and sexual offences surging by 130% (from 10 to 23 cases) compared to April. This increase, though still 30% below the UK average, may be tied to May’s longer evenings and bank holidays, which could extend socialising into later hours. Shoplifting also doubled, rising from 5 to 10 cases, or 0.9 per 1,000 residents—41% above the UK average. This spike suggests potential vulnerabilities in retail security or increased foot traffic during the month. Conversely, vehicle crime and other theft both fell by two-thirds, with vehicle crime dropping from 3 to 1 case. This decline could reflect seasonal changes, such as reduced car usage during warmer weather or fewer opportunities for vehicle-related crimes in a smaller area. Possession of weapons rose from zero to one case—a 100% increase—though this remains just 25% above the UK average. The mix of crimes shifted towards property and violent offences, with property crimes accounting for 40% of total incidents compared to 32% for violent crimes. For residents, the most immediate concern is the sharp rise in violence and sexual offences, which now constitute nearly a third of all reported crimes in the area.

Gillingham’s crime rate in May 2024 (6.4 per 1,000) marked a 63.5% increase from April’s 3.9 per 1,000, reflecting a significant monthly fluctuation. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly 2 crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that may appear high to some residents but remains well below the UK’s broader context. When scaled to the local population, the monthly exposure equates to one reported crime for every 157 residents—a ratio that highlights the relatively low frequency of incidents despite the sharp month-on-month rise. This contrast between daily and monthly metrics underscores the variability in crime reporting, with spikes in specific categories (like violence) temporarily elevating overall rates. Compared to the UK average, Gillingham’s performance is mixed: violence and sexual offences remain 30% below the national rate, while shoplifting and burglary exceed the UK average by 41% and 29% respectively. These discrepancies may reflect the area’s smaller size, where individual incidents have a more pronounced impact on statistics. The 63.5% increase from April, however, suggests that local factors—such as seasonal social activity or specific events in May—may have temporarily influenced crime trends, even as the area continues to perform below the UK average overall.