Bishop's Stortford Crime Rate August 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Bishop's Stortford, 6.3 crimes were reported in August 2023—22.2% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000. This translates to roughly one crime for every 160 residents over the course of the month, a figure that contextualises risk in everyday terms. The most common crimes were anti-social behaviour (26.6% of all crimes), followed by violence and sexual offences (25.8%) and other theft (9.8%). Anti-social behaviour, while lower than the UK average for this category (1.4 per 1,000), remained a significant local concern. The town’s character as a commuter hub and historic market town may contribute to these patterns, with anti-social behaviour potentially linked to high street activity and transient populations. Violence and sexual offences, however, were 39% below the UK average, suggesting effective local policing or community initiatives. Seasonal factors also played a role: August, a peak holiday month, typically increases burglary risks due to empty homes. Yet Bishop's Stortford’s burglary rate (0.2 per 1,000) was 41% below the UK average, reflecting strong property security measures or fewer vacant homes compared to other areas. The balance between property and violent crime also shifted slightly, with property crimes (107) accounting for 39% of total incidents, compared to 25.8% for violence. This contrast may reflect the town’s mix of residential and commercial spaces, where anti-social behaviour and theft are more prevalent than violent crime.

August 2023 saw notable shifts in crime trends, with bicycle theft, drugs, and possession of weapons each increasing by 100% compared to July. This jump in bicycle theft—rising from zero to five incidents—may align with summer cycling activity or holiday-related mobility patterns. Conversely, anti-social behaviour decreased by 11%, potentially reflecting the impact of August’s school holidays reducing local congregation in public spaces. Among UK comparisons, anti-social behaviour (1.7 per 1,000) remained 18% above the UK average, highlighting a persistent local challenge. Meanwhile, violence and sexual offences (1.6 per 1,000) were 39% below the UK average, a stark contrast to national trends. Other categories, like public order offences (0.4 per 1,000), were 33% below the UK average, due to the town’s relatively orderly environment or effective policing. The decrease in criminal damage and arson (from 19 to 13) by 31.6% may indicate seasonal factors, with fewer arson incidents during warmer months. For residents, the 100% increase in drugs-related crimes is a specific concern, suggesting potential shifts in local drug activity that warrant further local monitoring.

Bishop's Stortford’s crime rate in August 2023 (6.3 per 1,000) was stable compared to July’s 6.4 per 1,000, indicating no significant month-on-month change. On a daily basis, the town experienced roughly 9 crimes per day, a figure that provides a tangible sense of local risk. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 160 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is 22.2% below the UK average. This lower rate may reflect the town’s demographic profile as a commuter area with lower population density compared to larger urban centres. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that Bishop’s Stortford’s violent crime rate (1.6 per 1,000) is 39% below the UK average, a disparity that could be attributed to the area’s relatively safe environment or targeted policing efforts. While the daily crime count is a local metric, it underscores that residents face a manageable level of risk compared to national benchmarks. The stability in crime rates also suggests that seasonal fluctuations—such as the impact of August holidays on property crime—were offset by other factors, maintaining a consistent profile for the area.