Bishop's Stortford Crime Rate December 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Bishop’s Stortford’s crime rate in December 2023 stood at 5.0 per 1,000 residents, placing it 30.6% below the UK average of 7.2. This performance positions the town as one of the safer built-up areas in England, though the data reveals a combination of crime types and seasonal influences. Violence and sexual offences accounted for the largest share of incidents (28%), followed by anti-social behaviour (20.6%) and shoplifting (14.2%). The seasonal context of December—marked by Christmas shopping, extended evenings, and the potential for empty homes during the holiday period—likely contributes to the patterns observed. While violent crime remains a concern, its rate is 47% below the UK average, suggesting that local factors such as community cohesion or policing strategies may be effective. Anti-social behaviour, however, is slightly above the UK average, potentially reflecting the challenges of managing public spaces during the festive season. Shoplifting, though rising slightly, remains below the UK average, due to the town’s retail environment being less targeted than larger urban centres. The overall crime profile illustrates a balance between local-specific issues and broader national trends, with Bishop’s Stortford’s built-up area characteristics—likely a commuter hub with a mix of residential and retail zones—playing a role in shaping its crime profile.

December 2023 saw a sharp increase in 'other crime', rising by 233.3% from 3 to 10 incidents, a category that includes non-specific offences not easily classified. This spike, while significant, remains relatively low in absolute terms. Shoplifting also rose slightly by 6.9%, from 29 to 31 incidents, potentially linked to the Christmas shopping peak, though the rate remains below the UK average. Conversely, robbery fell by 85.7% as the number of incidents dropped from 7 to 1, a stark contrast that may reflect heightened security measures during the festive period. Violence and sexual offences, at 61 incidents, remained the most common category, but their rate of 1.4 per 1,000 was 47% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour, at 45 incidents, was the second-highest category but slightly above the UK average, highlighting local challenges in managing public order. For residents, the 33.3% rise in bicycle theft—now 4 incidents—offers a tangible insight into how seasonal factors might influence specific crime types.

Bishop's Stortford's crime rate in December 2023 fell by 20.5% compared to the previous month, dropping from 6.2 to 5.0 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with typical seasonal patterns, as the area tends to see lower crime rates during winter months when fewer people are out of their homes. On a daily basis, the town recorded roughly 7 crimes per day in December, a figure that reflects the relatively low overall rate compared to the UK average. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 202 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the town’s position as one of the safer areas in the country. When scaled to the population of 44,015, the 5.0 per 1,000 rate highlights how infrequent crime is in Bishop’s Stortford relative to the UK’s broader context. This population-scaled perspective suggests that residents are less likely to encounter crime than those in areas with higher rates, though the rise in certain categories—such as other crime and bicycle theft—deserves closer attention.