Balderton Crime Rate February 2026 | Monthly Statistics

Balderton's overall crime rate in February 2026 stood at 5.2 per 1,000 residents, placing it 18.8% below the UK average of 6.4 per 1,000. This figure reflects a continued trend of lower-than-average crime levels in the built-up area, which has consistently shown resilience against certain types of criminal activity. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 35.1% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (23.4%) and shoplifting (14.3%). These patterns align with the area's characteristics as a largely residential and commercial zone with limited nightlife infrastructure, which may contribute to lower rates of alcohol-fuelled violence compared to larger urban centres. However, the presence of retail spaces appears to drive shoplifting incidents, a trend consistent with other similar areas in the East Midlands. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with reduced outdoor activity and a pre-spring lull—may also play a role in the overall crime profile, as lower foot traffic in public spaces could deter certain types of opportunistic crime. The rate of violent crime per 1,000 residents (1.8) was 22% below the UK average, suggesting a combination of community policing efforts and the area's demographic makeup, which includes a higher proportion of older residents compared to the national average. This demographic factor may partly explain the lower incidence of violent crime, as older populations tend to report lower rates of such offences. The data also highlights a potential challenge: while anti-social behaviour is 32% above the UK average, this could be influenced by the area's compact built-up nature, where noise complaints and minor disputes are more likely to escalate into formal reports. The overall crime picture, therefore, illustrates a nuanced balance between structural factors and seasonal influences, with the area maintaining a safer profile than the national average but requiring continued attention to specific emerging trends.

February 2026 saw notable shifts in crime patterns across Balderton, with several categories experiencing significant changes. The most striking increase was in 'other crime', which rose by 200% from 2 to 6 incidents—a jump that may reflect underreported or newly emerging types of criminal activity not captured by traditional categories. This surge was accompanied by a 58.8% rise in violence and sexual offences, moving from 17 to 27 cases, a development that contrasts with the overall trend of lower-than-average violent crime rates. This anomaly could be attributed to specific incidents or a shift in reporting behaviour during the month. Conversely, several categories showed marked declines: 'other theft' fell by 71.4% (from 7 to 2), 'criminal damage and arson' dropped 66.7% (from 6 to 2), and 'possession of weapons' decreased by 50% (from 2 to 1). These decreases may be linked to seasonal factors, as the winter months typically see lower rates of property crime and vandalism. The breakdown also reveals a complex relationship with the UK average: while violence and sexual offences were 22% below the national rate, anti-social behaviour was 32% above, and shoplifting was 21% above. This suggests that localised issues such as noise complaints or minor public disturbances are reported in Balderton compared to the UK average. For residents, the most immediate insight is the 200% increase in 'other crime', which may indicate a need for greater clarity in categorisation or increased awareness of emerging threats. The data also highlights a 167% increase in 'other crime' compared to the UK average, a figure that warrants further exploration into what specific activities are being reported under this broad category.

Balderton's crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 in February 2026 was marginally higher than the previous month's rate of 5.1 per 1,000—a 1.4% increase that suggests stability rather than a significant shift. When contextualised against daily crime figures, this equates to approximately 3 crimes reported each day in the built-up area, a figure that remains relatively low compared to larger urban centres. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 194 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is lower than the UK average, which typically sees one crime for every 150 residents. This statistic, when considered alongside the population of 14,905, underscores the area's relatively safe environment compared to national benchmarks. The comparison with the UK average also reveals a stark contrast in certain categories: while violent crime rates are 22% below the UK average, anti-social behaviour is 32% above, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in this specific area. The daily crime context provides a tangible perspective for residents: with an average of 3 crimes reported daily, the likelihood of encountering crime in Balderton is significantly lower than in many comparable areas. This is further reinforced by the fact that property crime rates—such as vehicle crime (71% below UK average) and criminal damage (78% below)—remain well below national levels, suggesting that the area's built-up nature and possibly its community-focused policing strategies are effective in deterring such offences. However, the higher-than-average rates of anti-social behaviour and shoplifting indicate that while Balderton is generally safer than the UK average, certain localised challenges persist that may require tailored approaches to address effectively.