Blackwater (Hart) Crime Rate November 2023 | Monthly Statistics

For an area with 7,268 residents, 29 reported crimes in November 2023 equate to 4.0 crimes per 1,000 people — a figure 46.7% below the UK average of 7.5 per 1,000. This places Blackwater (Hart) among the safest built-up areas in the country. The crime profile shows a clear dominance of violent crime, with 16 incidents (55.2% of total) classified as violence and sexual offences. This contrasts with the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000 for this category, indicating Blackwater's violent crime rate is 15% below the national benchmark. Property crimes, including burglary and vehicle theft, account for 44.8% of the total, but remain significantly lower than UK averages for most categories. The seasonal context of November — marked by Bonfire Night, Black Friday shopping, and extended evening darkness — may contribute to patterns observed, though the area's low overall crime rate suggests effective community policing or natural deterrents. The area's violent crime rate is 55.2% of total crimes, a proportion higher than the UK average for violent crime (which is 35% of total UK crimes). This may reflect local factors such as the built-up area's proximity to major transport routes or transient populations, though further analysis would be needed to confirm this hypothesis.

November 2023 saw significant increases in three specific crime categories: criminal damage and arson (up 200% from 1 to 3 incidents), burglary (up 100% from 1 to 2), and other theft (up 100% from 0 to 1). These jumps suggest potential seasonal influences, with Bonfire Night (5 November) possibly contributing to the rise in criminal damage. The violent crime share of total crimes (55.2%) remains higher than the UK average for this category (35% of total UK crimes), though the overall violent crime rate in Blackwater (2.2 per 1,000) is 15% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000. Conversely, drug-related crimes in Blackwater (0.3 per 1,000) are 50% above the UK average of 0.2 per 1,000, though the absolute number (2 incidents) remains low. This anomaly may reflect localized issues or data collection quirks. For residents, the 100% increase in burglary is a concrete data point to consider, particularly as winter approaches and homes may be left unoccupied for extended periods.

The crime rate in November 2023 (4.0 per 1,000) represents a 106.7% increase compared to October 2023's rate of 1.9 per 1,000. This shift raises questions about what might have changed over the month, though can be established from the data alone. On a daily basis, the 29 total crimes translate to roughly one crime per day in Blackwater (Hart), a figure that, while seemingly low, must be contextualized within the area's population of 7,268. Over the course of November, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 251 residents — a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average for most built-up areas. This suggests that, despite the month-on-month increase, Blackwater remains a relatively safe place compared to national benchmarks. The population-scaled perspective is critical: with 7,268 residents, the 29 crimes represent a manageable burden for local services, though the 100% increase in burglary and other theft may warrant closer attention from residents and local authorities. The contrast between the area's low overall crime rate and the spikes in specific categories highlights the need for targeted interventions rather than broad sweeping measures.