Downham Market Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Downham Market during September 2023 reveals a distinct profile compared to national trends. Violence and sexual offences, accounting for 34.9% of all crimes, were the most frequently reported category.1 per 1,000 remains 60% below the UK average of 2.7. This suggests a balance between local factors—such as community policing or demographic characteristics—and broader UK patterns. Anti-social behaviour, at 23.3% of total crimes, and other theft, at 16.3%, followed closely, illustrating a focus on interpersonal and minor property crimes rather than more severe or economically driven offences. The seasonal context of September, with the return to school and university freshers, may have influenced this mix. While anti-social behaviour and violence declined, possibly due to structured routines associated with the academic term, the low rates of shoplifting and vehicle crime—82% and 79% below UK averages, respectively—suggest that retail and transport hubs are not major contributors to local crime. This aligns with the area’s likely character as a smaller, rural or semi-rural built-up zone, where commercial activity is limited and community engagement may reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. The overall crime rate of 3.1 per 1,000, 61.3% below the UK average, further reinforces this interpretation, pointing to a safety profile that diverges from more densely populated or urban centres.

September 2023 saw notable shifts in Downham Market’s crime mix, with violence and sexual offences declining by 37.5% compared to the previous month, while anti-social behaviour remained the second most common category. This reduction in violent crime may be linked to the start of the academic term, as back-to-school routines could have reduced opportunities for such incidents. Conversely, vehicle crime and theft from the person both rose by 100%, though these remain rare, with only one incident each recorded. Other theft increased by 75%, reflecting seasonal activity or targeted retail practices. The area’s violence rate of 1.1 per 1,000 is 60% below the UK average of 2.7, while anti-social behaviour stands at 0.7 per 1,000, 48% below the UK figure. These disparities highlight a crime profile shaped by local factors, such as community dynamics and the area’s lower population density, which may limit exposure to more common urban crime types.

In September 2023, Downham Market recorded a crime rate of 3.1 per 1,000 residents, a 36.7% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 4.9. This decline suggests a possible seasonal shift, with the start of the academic term potentially reducing opportunities for certain types of crime. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day, a figure that, while local to Downham Market, underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents compared to broader UK trends. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 322 residents, highlighting the low monthly exposure to crime in this built-up area. When contextualised against the UK average of 8.0 per 1,000, the 61.3% deficit in Downham Market’s rate becomes even more pronounced, reflecting a safety profile that diverges significantly from national patterns. This contrast may be attributed to the area’s character as a smaller, rural or semi-rural built-up zone, where community cohesion and lower population density could contribute to reduced crime rates.