Bourne Crime Rate October 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile in Bourne during October 2023, accounting for nearly half of all reported incidents. With an overall crime rate of 4.4 per 1,000 residents—45% below the UK average of 8.0—the area continues to demonstrate a generally safer profile compared to national benchmarks. The breakdown of crimes reveals a stark contrast between violent offences, which remain the most prevalent category, and property-related incidents, which collectively make up the remaining 53.6% of cases. This imbalance may be influenced by local demographics and the area's character as a semi-rural built-up district, where interpersonal conflicts and targeted violence could be more pronounced than in urban centres. Seasonal factors, including the transition to darker evenings and the Halloween period, likely contributed to the spike in certain offences, though the overall stability in the crime rate suggests no abrupt shifts in underlying patterns. Anti-social behaviour, shoplifting, and criminal damage and arson followed as the next most common categories, each showing substantial gaps between Bourne's rates and UK averages. The relatively low incidence of vehicle crime and bicycle theft, coupled with the absence of reported theft from the person, further reinforces the area's distinct crime profile compared to more densely populated or tourist-heavy regions.

October 2023 saw a 150% increase in burglary cases, rising from 2 to 5 incidents. This surge, though still low in absolute terms, may partly explain the heightened focus on property crime in local discussions. Concurrently, drug-related offences doubled from zero to five cases, a shift that could reflect seasonal patterns or changes in community dynamics. Bicycle theft also rose sharply, with one reported incident—a stark contrast to the previous month's zero cases. On the other hand, public order offences fell by 77.8%, dropping from nine to two, likely influenced by the transition to darker evenings and Halloween activities. Vehicle crime decreased by 66.7%, aligning with broader trends in property crime reduction. Drug-related crimes in Bourne were 50% above the UK average, a discrepancy that could signal localised challenges requiring targeted interventions.

Bourne's crime rate remained stable in October 2023, matching the previous month's rate of 4.4 per 1,000 residents. This consistency suggests no significant short-term fluctuations in local crime patterns. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately three reported crimes each day over the 31-day period, a figure that provides a tangible sense of the frequency of incidents in everyday life. When considering the monthly exposure, one crime occurred for roughly every 230 residents, a statistic that contextualises the scale of criminal activity relative to the population. With a population of 19,291, this translates to a low level of personal risk, though the distribution of crime types—particularly the dominance of violent offences—may warrant closer attention from local authorities. The comparison to UK averages further highlights Bourne's relatively safer environment, though specific categories like drug-related crimes show notable deviations that could indicate emerging trends.