Locking Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

In July 2023, Locking maintained one of the lowest crime rates in the UK, with a recorded rate of 1.5 crimes per 1,000 residents — 81.9% below the national average of 8.3. This stark contrast reflects the area's character as a small, largely rural built-up district within North Somerset, where low population density and community cohesion likely contribute to reduced opportunities for crime. The most common crime category was bicycle theft, which occurred at a rate of 0.4 per 1,000 residents — three times higher than the UK average for this category. This anomaly may be consistent with Locking's proximity to outdoor recreational areas and the summer festival season, which could increase unsecured bicycle storage. Other theft, vehicle crime, and criminal damage each accounted for 12.5% of reported crimes, though all these categories were significantly below UK averages. The single violent crime reported in July was an outlier in a region where violent crime typically occurs at less than a third of the national rate. Seasonal factors likely played a role, as July marked the peak of the tourism season and summer festivals, which may have altered local activity patterns and crime dynamics. Despite these fluctuations, the overall low crime rate underscores Locking's position as a relatively safe area, with property crimes dominating the crime profile in a manner that differs from larger urban centres where violent crime often dominates.

July saw a 14.4% increase in Locking's crime rate compared to June, driven by a tripling of bicycle theft incidents to two reported cases. This spike in bicycle theft — 0.4 per 1,000 residents — was 300% above the UK average for the category, suggesting a potential link to summer festivals and increased cycling activity in the area. Other theft and vehicle crime both rose from zero to one incident each, marking 100% increases. These trends contrast with a 66.7% decline in anti-social behaviour, which fell from three to one incident, possibly reflecting the community-focused nature of local events. Locking's violent crime rate remained 93% below the UK average, with only one reported incident — a statistic that may be consistent with the area's small population and limited nightlife. The property crime dominance (62.5% of total incidents) further highlights the area's divergence from the national profile, where violent crime typically accounts for a larger share. For residents, the key takeaway is that while specific categories like bicycle theft may see seasonal spikes, the overall risk of encountering crime remains significantly lower than in most parts of the UK.

Locking's July 2023 crime rate of 1.5 per 1,000 residents marked a 14.4% increase from the previous month's 1.3 per 1,000, though it remains exceptionally low in national context. Over the course of July, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 662 residents — a figure that illustrates the rarity of crime in this small built-up area. Daily crime statistics show that, on average, there were zero crimes reported per day in July, a local figure that underscores the low frequency of incidents. When compared to the UK average of 8.3 per 1,000, Locking's performance is striking: residents face a risk of crime that is 81.9% lower than the national average. This disparity is particularly evident in categories like violence and sexual offences, where Locking's rate was 93% below the UK average. The population-scaled perspective reveals that even with the month-on-month increase, the absolute number of crimes remains minimal in an area with 5,299 residents. For context, this means that a resident in Locking is statistically more likely to win the lottery than experience a crime. The combination of low population density, community-oriented policing, and seasonal factors that may temporarily elevate specific categories like bicycle theft all contribute to a crime profile that is markedly safer than the UK average, even as small fluctuations occur.