Buntingford Crime Rate September 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For a population of 9,164, Buntingford saw 38 crimes reported in September 2024, translating to a crime rate of 4.2 per 1,000 residents—45.5% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000. This places Buntingford well within the lower end of the UK's crime distribution, a pattern consistent with smaller built-up areas where community cohesion and lower population density often correlate with reduced crime rates. The most common crimes were violence and sexual offences (15 cases, 39.5% of total), followed by anti-social behaviour (7 cases, 18.4%) and shoplifting (5 cases, 13.2%). These figures align with the seasonal context of September, a time when back-to-school activities and the start of university term for nearby institutions may contribute to shifts in public behaviour, particularly in anti-social behaviour and violence. Violent crime rates in Buntingford are 39% below the UK average for this category (2.6 per 1,000), suggesting that local factors—such as strong community policing or a low incidence of alcohol-fuelled incidents in public spaces—may play a role. However, the exact reasons for this discrepancy, as seasonal transitions and local initiatives remain unquantified. The overall crime rate, while low, reflects a balance between property and violent crime, with property crimes accounting for 36.8% of the total (14 cases). This mix is consistent with smaller towns where retail areas may drive shoplifting but are less prone to large-scale property crime compared to urban centres. The relatively low rate of vehicle crime (0.2 per 1,000) may also reflect limited commuter traffic or fewer parking areas for vehicles, factors that could reduce opportunities for vehicle-related offences.

September 2024 saw a dramatic 300% increase in burglary cases, rising from 1 to 4, a shift that may reflect seasonal vulnerabilities such as increased home occupancy during the school term or unsecured properties during the night. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson cases doubled, moving from 0 to 3—a spike that could be linked to the start of the academic year, with students or local groups engaging in vandalism. However, vehicle crime dropped by 66.7%, from 6 to 2, due to reduced commuter traffic as the month progressed or improved parking security measures. Anti-social behaviour also declined by 41.7%, from 12 to 7, influenced by local authorities intensifying efforts in public spaces during the early part of the month. The crime mix in Buntingford remained skewed toward violent offences, with 39.5% of all crimes falling into this category—significantly higher than the UK average for property crime, which is typically more dominant in larger urban areas. The rate of violence and sexual offences in Buntingford (1.6 per 1,000) is 39% below the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), a gap that may partly explain the town's overall low crime rate. Residents might find the daily crime count (1 crime per day) particularly relevant, as it provides a concrete measure of the frequency of incidents in their local area.

Buntingford's crime rate in September 2024 (4.2 per 1,000) was 4.8% lower than the previous month's rate of 4.4 per 1,000, marking a modest but consistent downward trend. On a daily basis, this translates to roughly 1 crime per day across the town, a figure that, while seemingly low, underscores the relative safety of the area compared to larger UK cities. Over the course of the month, the crime rate equated to 1 reported crime for every 241 residents—a statistic that, when contextualised against the town's population of 9,164, highlights the rarity of incidents in Buntingford. This monthly exposure is lower than the UK average, which would typically see a higher frequency of crimes per resident. For a small built-up area, the combination of low population density and a community-focused environment may contribute to this disparity. However, the direct influence of these factors, as local initiatives or demographic characteristics remain unquantified. The comparison also reveals that Buntingford's violent crime rate (1.6 per 1,000) is 39% below the UK average, a gap that could reflect the town's lower levels of alcohol-fuelled violence or a stronger focus on community policing. These figures, when viewed through a population-scaled lens, offer residents a tangible understanding of how their local crime rate stacks up against national benchmarks.