Oakham Crime Rate December 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated Oakham's crime profile in December 2024, accounting for 38.2% of all reported crimes. This category, at 1.8 per 1,000 residents, remained 30% below the UK average of 2.6 per 1,000—a significant divergence that may reflect the area's smaller, more cohesive community structure. With an overall crime rate of 4.6 per 1,000, Oakham's statistics are 35.2% below the UK average of 7.1, illustrating a consistently lower-risk environment compared to the national picture. Anti-social behaviour and public order offences formed the second and third most common categories, contributing 17.7% and 11.8% respectively. This mix suggests a focus on interpersonal and community-level issues, which may be influenced by Oakham's status as a built-up area within Rutland, where social interactions are frequent but not densely concentrated. The December timeframe, marked by Christmas shopping, extended evenings, and holiday-related activity, likely amplified certain crime types. For instance, the prominence of violence and sexual offences could be tied to increased socialising during the festive period, while the relatively low rates of property crime—such as shoplifting and vehicle crime—may indicate effective local deterrents or retail security measures. This pattern contrasts with larger urban centres, where property crime often dominates, and highlights how Oakham's unique demographic and geographic characteristics shape its crime profile.

December 2024 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with theft from the person doubling from zero to one incident—a 100% increase. Vehicle crime also rose sharply, jumping from zero to three reported cases. These increases align with seasonal factors, as Christmas shopping and festive celebrations likely contributed to higher opportunities for opportunistic theft. Conversely, criminal damage and arson fell by 80% (from five to one), possibly reflecting reduced activity during the holiday season when homes are vacated. Shoplifting, a traditionally high-volume category, decreased by 41.7% (from 12 to seven), which may indicate increased policing presence or retail measures during the festive period. Violence and sexual offences remained 30% below the UK average at 1.8 per 1,000, despite accounting for 38.2% of all crimes in Oakham. This suggests that while violent crime is a dominant category locally, its rate is significantly lower than the national trend, a contrast that may be attributed to Oakham's smaller, more closely-knit community structure.

Oakham's crime rate in December 2024 fell to 4.6 per 1,000 residents, a 2.7% drop from the previous month's 4.8. This slight decline contrasts with the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000, highlighting Oakham's consistently lower crime profile. Over the course of December, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 216 residents, a figure that contextualises the monthly exposure for local households. Daily crime statistics show an average of two incidents per day, a manageable frequency for a built-up area of 14,664 residents. While the overall rate remains stable, the shift in crime type distribution—particularly the rise in theft from the person and vehicle crime—suggests evolving patterns that may reflect seasonal dynamics, such as increased foot traffic during the Christmas shopping period. These figures, when viewed alongside the population-scaled perspective, illustrate that Oakham's residents face a crime environment markedly different from the national average, with local factors likely contributing to this divergence.