Beccles Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In January 2024, Beccles recorded a crime rate of 6.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 17.6% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This overall rate masks a combination of property and violent crime, with both categories contributing nearly equally to the total. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 37.1% of all reported crimes, with 23 incidents recorded—slightly below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. This lower rate may reflect the area’s demographic profile, with a relatively stable population and fewer transient residents compared to larger urban centres. Burglary, however, emerged as a significant concern, with 9 incidents (0.9 per 1,000) representing a 150% increase over the UK average. This discrepancy could be linked to Beccles’ built-up area status, where older housing stock and limited surveillance infrastructure may create vulnerabilities. Public order offences also rose above national levels by 46%, suggesting that local social dynamics or environmental factors—such as the presence of public spaces with limited oversight—could contribute to this trend. Seasonal context further shapes the crime picture: January’s post-holiday period, reduced retail footfall, and shorter days may have dampened opportunities for certain crimes, though they also created conditions for others, such as anti-social behaviour, to persist. The balance between property and violent crime underscores the need for targeted interventions that address both categories without overemphasizing either, ensuring that resources are allocated where they are most needed.

January 2024 saw a 90% drop in vehicle crime, with incidents falling from 10 to 1, a shift that may reflect seasonal changes in vehicle usage or increased security measures. Conversely, anti-social behaviour increased by 20%, rising from 5 to 6 incidents, a trend that could indicate heightened tensions during the post-holiday period. The balance between property and violent crime remained nearly equal, with 24 property crimes and 23 violent crimes reported—though this contrasted with the UK average, where violent crime rates are typically lower. Burglary, at 0.9 per 1,000, was 150% above the UK average, a stark anomaly that may relate to Beccles’ built-up area characteristics, such as older housing stock or limited surveillance infrastructure. This divergence highlights the importance of localized factors in shaping crime patterns, even within regions with otherwise comparable statistics.

Beccles' crime rate in January 2024 (6.1 per 1,000 residents) marks a 30.4% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 8.8 per 1,000. This decline aligns with typical January patterns in built-up areas of East Suffolk, where reduced retail activity and shorter daylight hours may contribute to lower outdoor crime. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 2 crimes per day, a figure that reflects the relatively low overall rate compared to larger urban centres. When scaled to the population of 10,095, this translates to one reported crime for every 163 residents over the course of the month. This monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average, which suggests that Beccles’ residents may experience a more stable crime environment relative to other areas. However, the population-scaled perspective also highlights that even small shifts in crime patterns can have measurable impacts on local communities, particularly in categories like burglary, which remain significantly elevated compared to national benchmarks.