Walton-on-Thames Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Walton-on-Thames' crime profile in January 2024 reveals a distinct balance between violent and property crimes, with violence and sexual offences making up nearly a third of all reported incidents. The overall crime rate of 5.1 per 1,000 residents places the area 31.1% below the UK average of 7.4, a disparity that likely reflects the built-up nature of the area within Elmbridge, where community cohesion and local policing may contribute to lower rates. Violence and sexual offences (45 cases) dominate the crime mix, followed by anti-social behaviour (21 cases) and other theft (16 cases). This distribution contrasts with the UK average, where violence and sexual offences account for 38% of all crimes. The lower proportion of violent crime in Walton-on-Thames may align with its suburban character, where public spaces are more controlled and community engagement initiatives likely reduce opportunities for such incidents. Seasonal factors in January—such as post-holiday periods, shorter days, and reduced retail footfall—may have dampened property crimes like shoplifting, though this was an exception, with shoplifting rising sharply later in the month. The area’s crime picture appears to be shaped by a combination of local demographics, policing strategies, and the built environment, which may explain the relatively low rates of burglary and vehicle crime compared to the UK average.

January 2024 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime types, with shoplifting surging by 300% (from 2 to 8 cases) and vehicle crime rising by 180% (from 5 to 14 cases). These increases, while notable, remain below the UK average for vehicle crime (0.5 per 1,000), suggesting local factors may have contributed. Conversely, burglary fell by 50% (from 12 to 6 cases), possibly reflecting improved home security measures or seasonal trends in January, when outdoor activity is reduced. Public order offences also declined by 40%, from 15 to 9 cases, a shift that may align with the area’s quieter, more residential character during the post-holiday period. Bicycle theft in Walton-on-Thames (0.1 per 1,000) was 67% above the UK average (0.1 per 1,000), a discrepancy that could be linked to the area’s commuter demographics and the presence of cycle-friendly infrastructure. The crime mix also shows marked differences from the UK average, with violence and sexual offences (1.6 per 1,000) 31.7% below the UK rate (2.6 per 1,000), and anti-social behaviour (0.8 per 1,000) 19% below the UK average (1.0 per 1,000). These figures may indicate a lower prevalence of alcohol-related incidents or stronger community policing efforts in the area. For residents, the sharp rise in shoplifting is a key data point, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in retail security during the month.

Walton-on-Thames’ crime rate in January 2024 (5.1 per 1,000 residents) was nearly stable compared to the previous month’s rate of 5.0 per 1,000, showing a 0.6% increase. This minimal change suggests consistent policing and environmental factors across the two months. On a daily basis, the area recorded an average of 5 crimes per day over January, a figure that, while low, underscores the need for ongoing vigilance. When scaled to the population, the monthly exposure rate of 1 crime per 198 residents provides context for residents: over the course of the month, each individual faced a 0.005 probability of being directly affected by crime. This rate is significantly lower than the UK average, reflecting the area’s suburban character and potentially effective local crime prevention strategies. The population context also highlights the importance of proportionality—while the absolute number of crimes (142) may seem substantial, it is distributed across 28,094 residents, resulting in a crime rate that is more than a third below the national average. This comparison reinforces the effectiveness of targeted interventions, such as community engagement or specific policing tactics, in maintaining safety in a built-up area with a relatively low population density compared to major urban centres.