Tadworth and Epsom Downs Crime Rate September 2023 | Monthly Statistics

September 2023 marked a significant shift in Tadworth and Epsom Downs’ crime profile, driven by an unexpected surge in burglary and a sharp decline in shoplifting. The area’s overall crime rate of 5.0 per 1,000 residents was 37.5% below the UK average of 8.0, a disparity that underscores the effectiveness of local policing or the area’s demographic characteristics. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime mix, accounting for 36.3% of all reported incidents, though this category was 34% below the UK average. Anti-social behaviour, another major category, decreased by 10.7%, potentially linked to the return of students to schools and universities, which may have reduced disruptive activity in public spaces. Seasonal factors, such as the start of the academic year and shorter evenings, may have influenced these trends, though the 250% spike in burglary remains an outlier requiring further analysis. The relatively low levels of vehicle crime and theft from the person suggest that the area’s built-up character—with secure housing and limited commercial zones—may contribute to its lower crime rates. However, the burglary increase highlights vulnerabilities in residential security that warrant attention. Overall, the data illustrates a combination of local conditions and broader national trends, with Tadworth and Epsom Downs maintaining a crime profile that is safer than the UK average but not immune to sudden fluctuations.

The most dramatic month-on-month shift was the 250% increase in burglary, rising from two to seven incidents. This spike, though still low in absolute terms, contrasts with the 66.7% decline in shoplifting, which fell from three to one. Violence and sexual offences remained the most prevalent category, accounting for 36.3% of all crimes, but they were 34% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000. Anti-social behaviour also saw a 10.7% reduction, potentially linked to seasonal factors such as the start of the academic year. Vehicle crime was 4% above the UK average, a small but consistent deviation that may reflect local traffic patterns or parking habits. For residents, the sharp drop in shoplifting could indicate improved retail security measures or reduced foot traffic during the early school term.

The crime rate in Tadworth and Epsom Downs rose by 17.3% from 4.3 per 1,000 in August to 5.0 per 1,000 in September, reflecting a slight upward trend. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 199 residents, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure for local residents. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately four crimes per day, a rate that remains significantly lower than the UK average when scaled to population size. This daily figure, while modest, highlights the consistency of crime patterns in a built-up area where community engagement and local policing may play a role in mitigating incidents. The population-scaled perspective underscores that the area’s crime profile remains well below the national average, suggesting that broader socioeconomic or geographic factors—such as proximity to urban centres or commuter routes—may contribute to this disparity.