Kingsbridge Crime Rate November 2024 | Monthly Statistics

November 2024 saw an unexpected spike in possession of weapons in Kingsbridge, a built-up area within South Hams, marking a stark contrast to the broader decline in violent crimes. The area's overall crime rate of 4.9 per 1,000 residents placed it 35.5% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000, a position reinforced by the 47% deficit in criminal damage and arson compared to national figures. However, the 100% increase in weapons possession—rising from zero to one case—defied expectations, possibly linked to the season's dark evenings and Bonfire Night events. Violent crimes, while still the most prevalent category (13 cases, 41.9% of total), fell by 13.3% from October, suggesting a potential seasonal dip in aggression during November's shorter days. Anti-social behaviour remained a local concern, with 8 cases (25.8% of total) exceeding the UK average by 17%. This category's prominence may reflect the area's social dynamics, with community interactions intensifying during the month's festive and commercial periods, such as Black Friday shopping. The low property crime rate (3 cases, 9.7% of total) contrasts with the UK average, due to the area's compact size and limited commercial activity outside the town centre. Seasonal factors—including the transition to darker evenings and the absence of summer tourist activity—likely contributed to the shifting crime profile, though further analysis would be needed to confirm this hypothesis. Overall, Kingsbridge's crime picture in November 2024 illustrates a combination of local patterns and national trends, with unexpected spikes underscoring the need for continued monitoring.

The most striking shift in November 2024 was the 100% increase in possession of weapons, rising from zero to one reported incident. This spike, though small in absolute terms, contrasts sharply with the 13.3% decline in violence and sexual offences, which fell from 15 to 13 cases. The crime mix also shifted significantly: violent crimes now account for 41.9% of all incidents, up from October's 44.5%, while property crimes dropped to 9.7% from 12.6%. Anti-social behaviour, at 25.8% of total crimes, remains higher than the UK average (1.1 per 1,000 vs 1.3 per 1,000 locally). Residents may find the 17% surplus in anti-social behaviour particularly relevant, as this category often overlaps with local tensions during events like Bonfire Night. Meanwhile, other crime—primarily related to unclassified incidents—surpassed the UK average by 194%, though this category's small absolute count (three cases) limits its impact on overall trends.

Kingsbridge's crime rate in November 2024 rose 19.1% from the previous month's 4.1 per 1,000 to 4.9 per 1,000, marking the first increase in a series of months with declining rates. This shift is reflected in the daily crime count: 31 crimes over 30 days equate to roughly one crime per day, a figure that may seem high but is contextually manageable for a small built-up area. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 203 residents, a metric that contextualises the scale of incidents relative to the local population of 6,298. While this monthly exposure rate is lower than the UK average when scaled up, the specific crime mix here shows stark differences. For instance, anti-social behaviour in Kingsbridge is 17% above the UK average, a contrast to the 47% deficit in criminal damage and arson. These variations suggest local factors—such as community dynamics or seasonal events—play a role in shaping the crime profile, distinct from national trends.