Rural South Derbyshire Crime Rate

Rural South Derbyshire is a vast and secure area encompassing numerous villages and hamlets, currently holding a high safety score of 82/100. Its overall crime rate of 69.0 per 1,000 residents is significantly lower than the UK average of 93.1, making it a very safe region for homeowners and families. The crime trend is remarkably stable, with a minor year-over-year decrease of 0.5%, indicating a consistent and predictable safety environment. While the area is safe, it experiences a mix of interpersonal incidents and property-related crime, with vehicle crime being a notable factor. Understanding the local safety landscape is key to maintaining this high standard of security. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of crime types, monthly trends, and time-based patterns across Rural South Derbyshire.

Crime Breakdown in Rural South Derbyshire

Rural South Derbyshire experiences a crime profile led by violence and sexual offences, which account for 45.8% of all recorded incidents, with a rate of 31.6 per 1,000 residents. Anti-social behaviour (11.4%) and vehicle crime (8.4%) are the next most significant categories. Public order offences and "other theft" also feature prominently, each making up around 7-8% of the total. These figures suggest that while the area is safe overall, it experiences a diverse range of crime types typical of a large rural district with multiple small settlements.

Property crime in Rural South Derbyshire, which includes burglary, theft, vehicle crime, and criminal damage, results in a combined rate of 19.0 per 1,000 people. Within this category, vehicle crime is the most frequent, followed by "other theft" and criminal damage. Burglary is relatively less common, accounting for 3.3% of total crime. For residents and homeowners, the data indicates that vehicle security and general theft prevention are the most critical areas for property protection, especially as vehicle crime peaks significantly during the night-time hours, accounting for 57% of night-time offences.

Rural South Derbyshire Crime Trends

The crime rate in Rural South Derbyshire has remained remarkably stable over the past twelve months, with a minor decrease of 0.5% year-over-year. This consistency is a very positive indicator for the community, showing that crime levels are being effectively managed and are not experiencing the growth seen in some other parts of the region. Monthly data from late 2024 to late 2025 shows some minor fluctuations.

The highest crime rate was recorded in April 2025 at 8.0 per 1,000 residents, followed by August at 7.3. The safest months were September and November 2024, both with rates around 4.4 to 5.0. Throughout 2025, the rate has fluctuated mostly between 4.4 and 6.8 per 1,000, with October settling at 5.1. This pattern of stable, moderate figures confirms that Rural South Derbyshire is a consistently secure environment. For residents, this stability means that while standard precautions are always wise, the area does not have any rapidly emerging crime problems.

How To Keep Safe in Rural South Derbyshire

The most common crime in Rural South Derbyshire is violence and sexual offences, followed by anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. While the area is very safe, these practical tips can help you stay secure.

1. Be Aware of Your Surroundings: When walking through rural areas or villages, especially in the evening, stick to well-lit main roads. Staying alert is the best way to maintain personal safety.
2. Vehicle Security is Essential: With vehicle crime being a major factor at night, always park in a garage or a well-lit driveway. Use a steering wheel lock as a visible deterrent and never leave valuables on display inside the car.
3. Secure Outdoor Items: With "other theft" being a significant crime type, don't leave garden tools, bicycles, or expensive outdoor furniture unsecured. Use high-quality locks for sheds and outbuildings.
4. Home Lighting: As burglary risk peaks in the afternoon and night, use timer lights to make your home look occupied when you are out. Motion-sensor lighting around the perimeter of your house is also highly effective.
5. Report Suspicious Activity: The area’s stable trend is a great asset—help maintain it by reporting any unusual behaviour or suspicious vehicles to the police. Community vigilance is a powerful deterrent against opportunistic crime in rural areas.

Rural South Derbyshire Crime Time Patterns

Crime in Rural South Derbyshire follows a distinct pattern throughout the day, particularly for property-related offences. Theft-related incidents are most common during the daylight hours, peaking in the morning (50%) and especially the afternoon (58%). This suggests that opportunistic thieves are most active when residents are away from their homes or visiting local towns.

As the day transitions into evening and night, the nature of crime shifts. Vehicle crime becomes the most significant concern during the night (12am - 6am), where it accounts for a staggering 57% of all recorded incidents. This highlights that cars are the primary target for criminals operating under the cover of darkness in rural areas. Burglary risk also shows a peak in the afternoon and night periods. Overall, the intensity of crime in Rural South Derbyshire builds through the day, peaking in the late afternoon for theft and remaining high throughout the night for vehicle-related offences. Early morning (3am - 6am) is the quietest time for all crime types except vehicle crime.

Rural South Derbyshire offers a high level of safety compared to the wider region. Its crime rate of 69.0 per 1,000 people is notably lower than the national average and many surrounding urban centres. While individual villages like Findern (10.4) and Etwall (38.6) have even lower rates, the overall rural district provides a very secure environment. Compared to nearby urban hubs, the rural area is a much safer residential choice. For those seeking a balance of countryside living and high security, Rural South Derbyshire remains one of the top locations in the county, providing a peaceful environment that is rare in more densely populated parts of the UK.

Protecting Your Property in Rural South Derbyshire

Rural South Derbyshire’s property crime rate of 19.0 per 1,000 residents and its stable -0.5% crime trend are positive indicators for homeowners. However, the fact that vehicle crime accounts for a significant 57% of all night-time offences highlights a specific area of concern. While burglary is relatively rare (3.3% of total crime), opportunistic theft during the day is more frequent, with theft-related incidents making up 58% of afternoon offences.

Traditional security systems, such as basic alarms or recording cameras, are reactive; they notify you after a crime has happened. For residents in Rural South Derbyshire, a proactive solution like scOS is much more effective. scOS uses AI-powered multi-camera intelligence to monitor your property’s boundaries in real-time. It can identify unauthorised individuals near your home or vehicles and autonomously activate deterrents like lights or audio warnings before a crime occurs. This destroys the element of surprise and forces opportunistic criminals to move on. By shifting from reactive recording to proactive AI detection, scOS ensures your property is actively defended, providing professional-grade security that matches the needs of rural communities and protects against the specific patterns of local property crime.