Maldon Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

The crime mix in Maldon during December 2024 reveals a distinct profile shaped by local dynamics and seasonal factors. Violence and sexual offences dominated with 101 incidents, making up 42.4% of all crimes reported, a share that exceeds their proportion in the UK average (41%). This concentration may reflect the area's demographic makeup or the influence of seasonal pressures, such as the heightened activity in public spaces during the festive period. Property crimes, including shoplifting and other theft, accounted for 34.9% of total incidents, with rates for these categories consistently below UK averages. For instance, shoplifting occurred at 0.3 per 1,000 residents, 47% below the national rate, suggesting that local retail environments or community engagement efforts may contribute to this trend. The overall crime rate of 3.4 per 1,000 residents places Maldon 52.1% below the UK average of 7.1, a gap that underscores the area's relatively low crime environment. Seasonal context in December—characterised by Christmas shopping, extended dark evenings, and the potential for empty homes during holidays—may have influenced patterns, though the data shows no sharp spikes in property crimes despite these factors. The balance between violent and property crimes, coupled with the area's consistently lower-than-average rates for most categories, indicates a community where crime prevention measures and local characteristics likely play a significant role in maintaining safety.

December 2024 saw a marked shift in crime trends, with burglary rates dropping by 57.9% compared to the previous month, falling from 19 to 8 incidents. This steep decline could be linked to seasonal factors such as reduced foot traffic in residential areas during the holiday period or increased home security measures. Conversely, other theft increased by 11.1%, rising from 18 to 20 incidents, a trend that may align with the surge in Christmas shopping activity and the associated opportunities for petty theft. The crime mix also showed a stark contrast with national averages, as anti-social behaviour occurred at 0.2 per 1,000 residents—79% below the UK average of 0.9. This discrepancy could reflect the area's smaller population density or community-focused initiatives that mitigate disruptive behaviour. Violence and sexual offences, while the most common category, still occurred at a rate (1.5 per 1,000) that was 41% below the UK average, highlighting a combination of local conditions and national trends. Residents may find the drop in burglary particularly significant, as it suggests a reduction in targeted property crimes during a time when homes are often unoccupied, due to heightened community vigilance or temporary deterrents such as holiday lighting and decorations.

Maldon's crime rate in December 2024 stood at 3.4 per 1,000 residents, a 13.6% decrease from the previous month's rate of 4.0. This decline places the area in a favourable position relative to its own historical trends, though it remains significantly below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly 8 crimes per day in December, a figure that, when contextualised against the local population of 69,131, translates to a monthly exposure rate of one reported crime for every 290 residents. This statistic provides a tangible measure of risk for individuals living or working in the area, offering a benchmark against which residents can assess their personal safety. The comparison to the UK average is particularly striking, as Maldon's overall crime rate is nearly half that of the national figure, a disparity that may be attributed to the area's unique characteristics, such as its smaller population size, lower urban density, or effective local policing strategies. While direct causes for these differences, the sustained gap between Maldon and the UK average suggests that local factors—whether demographic, economic, or environmental—are likely playing a consistent role in shaping the area's crime profile.