Mid Suffolk Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Mid Suffolk's overall crime rate for August 2024 stood at 3.4 per 1,000 residents, marking a significant 58.5% reduction compared to the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This performance underscores the area’s consistently lower crime profile relative to national benchmarks. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 42.6% of all reported crimes (158 incidents), followed by criminal damage and arson (10.2%) and shoplifting (8.1%). These patterns align with Mid Suffolk’s character as a largely rural district with limited urban density, where property crimes and public order issues are less concentrated than in metropolitan areas. Seasonal factors may have influenced some trends, as August’s peak holiday season typically increases burglary risks through empty homes. However, the area’s crime profile remained stable, with no sharp spikes in violent incidents despite summer activity. The persistent gap between Mid Suffolk’s rates and the UK average suggests a combination of geographic isolation, lower population density, and effective local policing strategies. The rate of violence in Mid Suffolk (1.4 per 1,000) is 48% below the UK average, a disparity consistent with rural areas where violent crime is less common than in urban centres.

August 2024 saw several notable shifts in crime patterns across Mid Suffolk. Theft from the person fell sharply by 75% compared to July, decreasing from 4 incidents to 1. This decline may reflect heightened public awareness during the summer months or increased police presence in high-traffic areas. Conversely, drug-related crimes surged by 1,100%, rising from 1 to 12 incidents—a dramatic increase that warrants further scrutiny. This spike, though small in absolute terms, could signal emerging local issues or improved reporting mechanisms. Shoplifting also rose by 76.5%, jumping from 17 to 30 incidents, likely driven by increased retail activity during the summer season. Meanwhile, vehicle crime decreased by 46.7% (15 to 8), linked to reduced car usage during holidays or more effective anti-theft measures. Mid Suffolk’s rates for key categories remain well below UK averages: violence is 48% below, criminal damage is 52% below, and anti-social behaviour is 86% below the national figures. These disparities highlight the area’s lower exposure to urban crime drivers such as overcrowding and nightlife activity. Residents may find the 86% UK gap in anti-social behaviour particularly reassuring, as this category often correlates with public safety concerns in densely populated regions.

Mid Suffolk’s crime rate in August 2024 rose slightly by 2.8% compared to July’s 3.3 per 1,000, though this increase remains modest in the context of the area’s historically low rates. On a daily basis, the district recorded approximately 12 crimes per day in August—a figure that, while consistent with prior months, reflects the small absolute numbers typical of rural areas. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 299 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is exceptionally low compared to the UK average. With a population of 110,775, this means fewer than 400 crimes were reported across the entire district—a stark contrast to larger urban centres where crime rates are often measured in hundreds per day. The 2.8% increase from July is unlikely to signal a meaningful trend, as such fluctuations are common in low-crime areas with small absolute numbers. For residents, this means the likelihood of encountering crime remains minimal, with the most significant risks concentrated in specific categories like drug-related incidents. The population-scaled perspective reinforces that Mid Suffolk’s safety profile is among the best in the UK, with crime levels that are consistently far below national averages despite the slight month-on-month rise.