Reigate and Banstead Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

In December 2024, Reigate and Banstead recorded a crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents, placing it 23.9% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This figure reflects a continuation of the area’s generally lower crime profile compared to the national average, though the balance between crime types reveals notable patterns. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 41.2% of all reported crimes, followed by anti-social behaviour (11.7%) and public order offences (9.6%). This stark contrast between violent crime prevalence and property crime rates—351 violent crimes versus 256 property crimes—suggests a shift in criminal activity dynamics. The seasonal context of December, with its extended evenings, holiday shopping, and empty homes, may contribute to this imbalance. While property crime rates remain lower than the UK average for categories like shoplifting (12% below) and burglary (35% below), the higher proportion of violent crime compared to the national average for violence and sexual offences (14% below) indicates a combination of local demographics and environmental factors. The area’s relatively low overall crime rate, combined with its higher proportion of violent crime, may reflect the presence of community spaces or public areas that see increased foot traffic during the festive season, creating conditions where personal safety concerns become more pronounced. This balance of crime types could also be influenced by the district’s mix of urban and suburban characteristics, where retail hubs and social venues coexist with quieter residential zones.

December 2024 saw a 7.7% increase in violence and sexual offences, rising from 326 to 351 incidents, a trend that may align with the heightened social activity typical of the festive season. This rise was accompanied by a 17.9% increase in burglary, from 28 to 33 cases, possibly linked to holiday-related property vulnerabilities such as empty homes or reduced household presence. Conversely, bicycle theft plummeted by 70%, from 10 to 3 incidents, a drop that could reflect seasonal inactivity or targeted community initiatives. The category of 'other crime' also rose by 26.7%, from 30 to 38 cases, suggesting emerging patterns or unclassified incidents warranting further attention. The rate of violence and sexual offences in Reigate and Banstead (2.2 per 1,000) remains 14% below the UK average, highlighting the area’s relatively safer performance in this category despite the month-on-month increase. This contrast with the 11% above UK average for public order offences underscores the need for tailored strategies to address specific local challenges, such as managing public spaces during peak social hours.

Reigate and Banstead’s December 2024 crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 represents a 10.4% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 6.0 per 1,000, a decline consistent with seasonal patterns observed in similar areas. This reduction, though modest, may reflect the natural ebb of crime during the winter months when certain activities, such as outdoor events or tourism, are less frequent. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 28 crimes per day in December, a figure that, while providing a concrete sense of local crime exposure, remains lower than many urban counterparts. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 187 residents, a monthly exposure rate that contextualises the scale of crime within the district’s population of 159,134. This statistic, when viewed alongside the 23.9% reduction in the overall crime rate compared to the UK average, illustrates the area’s effectiveness in maintaining public safety despite its unique demographic and geographic characteristics. The population-scaled perspective also highlights the importance of localised initiatives in sustaining this lower rate, particularly in managing the higher proportion of violent crime relative to property crime—a balance that requires continued focus to ensure safety across all community sectors.