Hersham Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Hersham’s crime rate in August 2024 stood at 4.0 per 1,000 residents, placing it 51.2% below the UK average of 8.2. This stark contrast underscores the area’s relative safety, though the composition of crimes reveals a nuanced picture. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 42.9% of all reported crimes, a category where Hersham’s rate (1.7 per 1,000) was 37% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour followed closely at 12.5%, with a rate 65% below the national figure. These patterns may reflect Hersham’s character as a semi-rural built-up area within Elmbridge, where community cohesion and lower population density could contribute to reduced violent incidents. Seasonal factors also appear to play a role: August, a peak holiday month, typically sees increased tourism and empty homes, which may elevate burglary risks. However, the data shows no such increase in property crimes, suggesting that local enforcement or demographic factors may be mitigating these risks. The dominance of violent crimes over property crimes is notable, as property-related offences (theft, criminal damage, etc.) collectively accounted for just 38.3% of all incidents. This imbalance may be linked to Hersham’s proximity to larger urban centres, where violent crime rates tend to be higher, or to local social dynamics that influence reporting patterns. While the overall rate remains low, the sharp rise in shoplifting — a category that saw a 100% increase — introduces an unexpected anomaly, hinting at potential shifts in retail activity or enforcement priorities that warrant further examination.

The most striking shift in August 2024 was the 100% increase in shoplifting, with incidents rising from 1 to 2. This anomaly contrasts sharply with the 86% UK average for shoplifting, which was 0.7 per 1,000 — a figure Hersham was already 86% below. The increase may reflect localized factors, such as changes in retail activity or enforcement patterns. Meanwhile, vehicle crime plummeted by two-thirds, from 3 to 1, a drop consistent with reduced traffic during the summer holiday season. Anti-social behaviour also fell by 42.9%, aligning with the broader trend of lower property-related crimes. However, the rise in possession of weapons by 100% (from 0 to 1) introduces an unusual data point, though the UK average for this category was 0.1 per 1,000, indicating Hersham’s rate was still slightly above the national level. These fluctuations suggest that while overall crime remains low, certain categories warrant closer attention.

Hersham’s crime rate in August 2024 fell 29.1% from 5.6 to 4.0 per 1,000 residents, marking a notable decline compared to the previous month. On a daily basis, the area recorded approximately 2 crimes per day across 31 days, a figure that reflects the relatively low overall rate. When scaled to the population of 14,003, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 250 residents — a ratio that underscores the area’s comparative safety. This contrast becomes starker when considering the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000, which highlights Hersham’s position as significantly below the national benchmark. While the daily crime count may seem frequent to some, the monthly aggregate suggests that the likelihood of experiencing a crime remains low for most residents. The drop in vehicle crime by two-thirds and a 66.7% reduction in criminal damage and arson further reinforce this trend, indicating that environmental factors or seasonal patterns may be influencing crime dynamics in the area.