Alford (East Lindsey) Crime Rate

Alford (East Lindsey) is a safe and welcoming market town with an overall crime rate of 80.5 per 1,000 people, which is below the UK average of 91.6. The town boasts a high safety score of 83/100, reflecting its secure nature. Most notably, the property crime rate is a very low 15.1 per 1,000, less than half the national average of 32.2. Although the recent trend shows a 5.9% increase in crime year-over-year, the absolute numbers remain small. This analysis provides a detailed look at the types of crime in the area and offers practical advice to help residents maintain the high safety standards that Alford is known for. Understanding these statistics is key to ensuring that Alford remains a secure place to live and work.

In Alford (East Lindsey), anti-social behaviour is the most frequent crime type, representing 36.0% of all recorded incidents (29.0 per 1,000 residents). Violence and sexual offences is the second most common issue at 32.2%, followed by criminal damage and arson at 9.7%.

Property crime overall—which includes burglary, vehicle crime, theft, and criminal damage—occurs at a rate of 15.1 per 1,000 people. Within this category, 'other theft' is a notable concern, representing 4.2% of all crime. Burglary and vehicle crime are very low, making up just 0.7% and 1.4% of reported incidents respectively. For residents, these figures suggest that while the town is very safe from traditional property theft, there is a persistent risk of anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. Maintaining property boundaries and engaging with community safety initiatives are important considerations for mitigating the impact of these more frequent crime types.

The crime trend in Alford is currently increasing, with a 5.9% rise in total offences compared to the previous year. Analysis of the monthly data for 2025 shows that crime rates fluctuated, reaching a peak of 9.5 per 1,000 in June and another high of 8.9 in April and July.

These spring and summer peaks are notable, while the lowest crime rate was recorded in February at just 3.3 per 1,000. Despite the 5.9% year-over-year increase, the overall crime rate remains manageable, ending the year at 6.7 in December. For residents, this increasing trend suggests a need for continued awareness, though the town remains very safe. The upward trajectory indicates that even in secure market towns, crime levels can fluctuate and require ongoing attention from local safety initiatives.

How To Keep Safe in Alford (East Lindsey)

The most common crime in Alford is anti-social behaviour, with violence and sexual offences also being a prominent local concern. To maintain your safety and secure your property in this safe community, consider the following advice:

1. Anti-social behaviour accounts for 36% of local crime; reporting any such incidents to the police helps them to identify and address any emerging issues before they escalate.
2. When out in public during the evening, stay in well-lit areas. Alford is very safe, but maintaining general awareness is always a good practice.
3. Criminal damage and arson represent nearly 10% of total crime. Ensure your property boundaries are well-defined and consider motion-sensor lighting to deter vandals.
4. Given that vehicle crime is most likely to occur at night (21% of night-time offences), ensure your car is parked in a well-lit area or garage overnight.
5. Be mindful of 'other theft' by keeping valuables out of sight and ensuring outbuildings like garages and sheds are securely locked, particularly during the afternoon when theft peaks.

Crime in Alford follows clear temporal cycles, though overall incident numbers are low. The afternoon (12pm-6pm) and evening (6pm-12am) are the most active periods, accounting for a significant portion of total recorded incidents. Anti-social behaviour and theft are particularly common during these hours, coinciding with daily shopping and social activities.

The night-time period (12am-6am) presents a specific risk profile for vehicle crime, which accounts for 21% of all night-time offences. This suggests that cars are most vulnerable when residents are asleep. Evening hours (6pm-12am) see a rise in 'other' crime types (74%), likely related to socialising. Burglary risks are very low but present throughout the day. Understanding these patterns allows residents to be more vigilant during higher-risk periods, ensuring that vehicle security is a priority overnight and personal safety is maintained during busier afternoon and evening hours.

In the local context, Alford's crime rate of 80.5 per 1,000 residents reflects its status as the primary urban hub for its immediate rural surroundings. Nearby villages such as Bilsby, Willoughby (East Lindsey), Huttoft, and Mumby all recorded no crimes (0.0 per 1,000) during the same period. This contrast is typical for market towns, as the concentration of retail, services, and social activity naturally leads to higher reported figures than in purely residential or agricultural villages. While Alford has higher reported figures than these tiny neighbours, its overall safety profile remains strong, especially when compared to larger urban areas across the UK.

In Alford, where property crime is exceptionally low at 15.1 per 1,000, residents still face a specific risk from anti-social behaviour and criminal damage. Traditional security setups, like standard CCTV or DIY doorbell cameras, are often reactive—they record a crime as it happens but do little to stop it. This can be frustrating for homeowners who only receive footage after their property has been violated.

scOS offers a proactive alternative. It is an AI-powered home security operating system designed to prevent crime before it can occur. By using multi-camera intelligence to monitor property boundaries, scOS can detect potential threats in real-time. It can verify vehicles and learn your family's routines, ensuring it only alerts you to genuine concerns. When a threat is detected, scOS can autonomously trigger deterrents like lights and speakers, often stopping an intruder or vandal within the first 60 seconds. For residents of Alford, this professional-grade technology provides active protection that stops property crime at the boundary, rather than just providing footage of the event after the fact.