Melton Crime Rate

Crime statistics for Melton, a built-up area within East Suffolk, reveal a concerning picture. Over the period of Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, the area recorded a crime rate of 52.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. This is significantly lower than the UK average of 91.6 per 1,000, suggesting Melton generally enjoys a higher level of safety compared to the national average. However, the recent trend of increasing crime, up 19.2% year-on-year, warrants attention and a closer examination of the factors contributing to this rise.

The crime landscape in Melton reveals a concerning prevalence of violence and sexual offences, accounting for 48.4% of reported crimes. Vehicle crime poses another significant challenge, representing 12.9% of incidents. Other forms of theft, including shoplifting, contribute 8.6% to the overall crime picture, while criminal damage and arson represent a further 8.6%. Anti-social behaviour accounts for 6.5% of recorded crimes. The distribution of these crimes highlights a need for targeted interventions addressing the root causes of violence, vehicle theft, and property-related offences within the community.

The recent data indicates a concerning upward trend in crime rates within Melton. From January 2025 to December 2025, crime has increased by 19.2% year-on-year. Monthly data reveals fluctuations throughout the year, with a peak in February 2025 (6.8 per 1,000/month) and a relative lull in October 2025 (2.3 per 1,000/month). However, the overall trajectory demonstrates a sustained increase, highlighting the need for proactive measures and community engagement to address the underlying factors driving this trend.

How To Keep Safe in Melton

Given the prevalence of violence and sexual offences, it's crucial to be aware of your surroundings, especially when walking alone at night. Vehicle crime is also a concern; always lock your car and remove valuables. Due to the increase in criminal damage and arson, be mindful of leaving flammable materials accessible. Consider joining a neighbourhood watch scheme to foster community vigilance and support. Finally, ensure your home is well-lit and secure to deter opportunistic criminals.

Crime patterns in Melton reveal a notable trend. Burglaries are relatively infrequent across all periods, accounting for a small percentage of incidents in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night. However, theft, vehicle crime, and other crimes exhibit different temporal distributions. During the afternoon, theft is most prevalent, while vehicle crime is more common in the evening and significantly peaks during the night. This suggests a correlation between increased pedestrian traffic and commercial activity during the afternoon and a higher risk of vehicle-related crime during the darker hours.

Compared to neighbouring villages, Melton’s crime rate presents a mixed picture. Areas like Ufford and Bromeswell boast remarkably low crime rates, with zero recorded incidents. Woodbridge, however, shares a similar crime rate of 50.6 per 1,000, indicating that Melton’s crime levels are not drastically different from other populated areas in East Suffolk. This suggests that factors influencing crime are likely shared across the region, requiring coordinated strategies for prevention and intervention.

Traditional CCTV systems often provide recordings after a burglary has occurred. While valuable for evidence, they offer little in the way of proactive protection. scOS, an AI-powered home security operating system, represents a fundamentally different approach. It uses multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property boundary, proactively identifying and responding to potential threats before they escalate. DVLA vehicle verification instantly flags suspicious vehicles, while pattern learning distinguishes between family members, deliveries, and genuine threats. The visible deterrence of scOS, with its autonomous lighting and speaker system, can be enough to make potential burglars move on within those crucial first 60 seconds – the timeframe in which many decisions are made. Considering Melton's rising crime statistics, this level of proactive protection offers a significant upgrade over reactive security systems.