Dorking Crime Rate April 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Dorking’s crime rate in April 2023 stood at 5.7 per 1,000 residents, placing the area 24% below the UK average of 7.5. This performance underscores Dorking’s position as a relatively safe built-up area within the rural Mole Valley district. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 36.8% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (21.1%) and public order offences (13.7%). While the overall rate remains well below the national benchmark, the breakdown reveals a mixed picture: violence and sexual offences are 19% below the UK average, yet anti-social behaviour and public order offences are above the national figures by 2% and 25%, respectively. These discrepancies may reflect the area’s unique characteristics, such as the presence of a town centre with high foot traffic, which could contribute to anti-social behaviour, or the influence of seasonal factors like the Easter holiday period, which often sees increased outdoor activity and associated incidents. The relatively low burglary rate—0.2 per 1,000, 33% below the UK average—suggests effective local security measures or a lower density of high-risk properties. However, the 100% increase in burglary compared to March raises questions about potential changes in criminal activity patterns. April’s spring weather and the Easter period likely played a role in shaping these trends, with increased outdoor activity driving public order offences while holidays may have temporarily reduced opportunities for theft. The data highlights the importance of continued monitoring and targeted interventions to address specific rising categories while maintaining the overall low crime environment.

April 2023 saw significant fluctuations in specific crime categories. Burglary increased by 100% compared to March, rising from zero to four incidents—a stark shift that may reflect seasonal patterns or changes in local security measures. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson rose by 57.1%, indicating a potential link to increased outdoor activity during spring. Violence and sexual offences also surged by 45.8%, with 35 incidents recorded, a figure 19% below the UK average for this category. This contrast highlights the combination of local dynamics and national trends. Conversely, bicycle theft and vehicle crime both fell by 50%, possibly due to reduced theft opportunities during the Easter holiday period or improved anti-theft measures. Other theft also decreased by 37.5%, though this category remains 46% below the UK average. These shifts suggest that while certain crimes are rising, others are declining, pointing to the need for targeted interventions in areas like burglary and criminal damage.

Dorking's crime rate in April 2023 rose by 3.2% compared to March 2023, from 5.6 to 5.7 per 1,000 residents. This slight increase, though modest, reflects ongoing fluctuations in local crime patterns. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 174 residents, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure for Dorking’s population of 16,544. Daily crime counts averaged three incidents per day, a figure that, while low, underscores the need for consistent community vigilance. When scaled to the local population, the 5.7 per 1,000 rate means that for every 1,000 residents, fewer than six crimes were reported. This places Dorking well below the UK average, yet the month-on-month rise suggests that local factors—such as seasonal shifts or temporary spikes in specific crime types—may be influencing trends. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Dorking’s residents face a lower risk of victimisation compared to the national average, though the small increase in April warrants attention to underlying dynamics.