St Neots Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

St Neots’ crime profile in October 2024 reveals a combination of property and violent crime, with the latter dominating the local landscape. The area’s overall crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 residents — 25.9% below the UK average — highlights a generally safer environment compared to the national benchmark. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 34.9% of all reported crimes, the highest share among categories, while anti-social behaviour (12.4%) and criminal damage and arson (10.1%) followed. This emphasis on violent crime, despite being 21% below the UK average for this category, may reflect the area’s unique socio-demographic profile. St Neots, a built-up area within Huntingdonshire, likely experiences crime patterns influenced by its mix of urban and rural characteristics. The seasonal context of October — with darker evenings and the Halloween period — may have contributed to increased incidents of violence, as lower visibility and higher foot traffic in local areas can create opportunities for such crimes. Meanwhile, property crimes, though lower in overall numbers (90 incidents), saw a notable rise in burglary and shoplifting, which may be linked to the area’s retail presence and seasonal consumer activity. The relatively low rates of vehicle crime (0.3 per 1,000) and anti-social behaviour (0.7 per 1,000) suggest that community-focused initiatives or environmental factors, such as well-lit public spaces, may be mitigating these issues. However, the spike in bicycle theft (0.2 per 1,000, 150% above the UK average) raises questions about local cycling infrastructure or the effectiveness of theft prevention measures in high-traffic areas. These patterns underscore the need for targeted interventions that address both the immediate drivers of violent crime and the specific vulnerabilities of property-related offences.

October 2024 saw significant shifts in crime patterns, with burglary rising by 114.3% (from 7 to 15 incidents) and shoplifting doubling (from 9 to 18). This surge in property-related crimes contrasts with a 35.3% drop in vehicle crime, which fell from 17 to 11. The balance between property and violent crime also shifted: while violence and sexual offences remained the most common category (34.9% of total crimes), their rate was 21% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour, at 0.7 per 1,000, was 46% below the UK average, a trend likely linked to the area’s relatively low population density and community-focused policing efforts. Bicycle theft, though a minor category (3.4% of total crimes), was 150% above the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000 — a figure that may reflect local cycling infrastructure or seasonal factors such as the return of students to the area.

St Neots recorded a crime rate of 6.0 per 1,000 residents in October 2024, marking a 15.5% increase from the previous month’s rate of 5.2. This upward shift, though modest, suggests a fluctuation in local crime dynamics. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 7 crimes per day, translating to a monthly exposure of 1 reported crime for every 168 residents. This figure, while seemingly low, underscores the persistent presence of crime within a community of 35,038 people. When contextualised against the population, the rate indicates that each resident faces a 0.06% chance of being directly affected by crime over the course of the month. This monthly exposure figure, though not directly comparable to national statistics, provides a tangible measure of local risk. The increase in violent crimes relative to property crimes may reflect seasonal factors, such as the darker evenings following the clocks changing in October, which could influence patterns of outdoor activity and visibility.