Oakham Crime Rate July 2023 | Monthly Statistics

The most striking shift in Oakham's July 2023 crime profile was the 400% surge in vehicle crime and other theft, reversing a previous downward trend. This unexpected rise contrasts with the area's overall safety profile, which remains 48.2% below the UK average at 4.3 crimes per 1,000 residents. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime picture, accounting for 44.4% of all reported incidents, followed by public order offences at 20.6%. This aligns with Oakham's character as a small built-up area within Rutland, where seasonal peaks in tourism and local festivals likely contribute to heightened public order challenges. The sharp drop in shoplifting—81.8% compared to June—suggests that the absence of school holidays during July may have reduced opportunities for such crimes. However, the significant increase in vehicle crime could reflect increased traffic during summer events or a shift in criminal activity patterns tied to warmer weather. The overall crime rate, while low compared to national averages, highlights the complex relationship between local geography and crime dynamics, with Rutland's rural context likely playing a role in maintaining lower overall rates despite specific category fluctuations.

July 2023 saw dramatic swings in specific crime categories, with vehicle crime and other theft both jumping by 400% compared to June, moving from 1 to 5 incidents each. This sharp rise, while puzzling, may be linked to increased outdoor activity during peak summer months or changes in local event scheduling. Conversely, shoplifting fell by 81.8%, dropping from 11 to 2 incidents, potentially reflecting the absence of school holidays which often correlate with higher retail theft. The breakdown also revealed that public order offences were 45% above the UK average, a striking contrast to other categories that were significantly below national levels. For instance, anti-social behaviour was 86% below the UK average, and burglary was 70% below. These disparities suggest that Oakham's community policing efforts and the area's compact size may contribute to lower rates of property crime, while the town's seasonal events likely drive public order challenges. Residents may find the 400% increase in vehicle crime particularly noteworthy, as it represents a major shift in local crime patterns that could warrant closer monitoring.

Oakham's July 2023 crime rate of 4.3 per 1,000 residents marked a 9.9% decrease from the previous month's rate of 4.8, indicating a slight improvement in local safety. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly 2 crimes per day over the 31-day period, a figure that contextualizes the overall rate in practical terms. When considering the monthly exposure, one reported crime occurred for every 233 residents, a statistic that underscores the relatively low frequency of incidents in this built-up area. This is particularly notable given Rutland's status as a rural county, where crime rates are generally lower than in larger urban centres. The population-scaled perspective reveals that Oakham's safety profile is markedly better than the UK average, with the overall rate being nearly half the national figure. However, the 400% increase in vehicle crime compared to June highlights the volatility of specific categories, even within an otherwise stable overall trend. For residents, the 1-in-233 monthly exposure figure provides a tangible sense of the likelihood of encountering crime, reinforcing the area's reputation as a relatively safe place to live despite the fluctuations in certain offence types.