Diss Crime Rate January 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Diss, a built-up area within South Norfolk, recorded a crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents in January 2024 — 44.6% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This marked improvement reflects a broader trend of reduced crime activity, particularly in anti-social behaviour and property-related offences. Violence and sexual offences accounted for 45% of all crimes, yet remained 31% below the UK average. Other theft and anti-social behaviour followed closely, with both categories showing significant gaps compared to national benchmarks. The seasonal context of January, characterised by post-holiday lulls, shorter daylight hours, and reduced retail footfall, likely contributed to the overall decline. Diss's relatively low crime rates align with its rural-adjacent character, where community cohesion and lower population density may reduce opportunities for certain types of crime. However, the persistent presence of violent crime underscores the need for targeted interventions in high-risk areas. The breakdown of crimes highlights a stark contrast between Diss and the UK average, with categories such as criminal damage and arson reporting rates 47% below national levels. This suggests that local factors — such as strong community policing or lower socioeconomic pressures — may be playing a role. While direct causal links, the seasonal timing of the drop in anti-social behaviour aligns with the end of holiday periods, which often see spikes in such incidents. The overall picture illustrates a relatively safe area with a crime profile shaped by both geographic and temporal factors, though vigilance around violent crime remains necessary.

January 2024 saw a sharp 76.9% decline in anti-social behaviour, dropping from 13 incidents in December to just 3. This significant decrease may reflect the impact of holiday-related disruptions in December, which often see elevated anti-social activity. Meanwhile, violent crimes remained stable, accounting for 45% of all reported incidents — 31% below the UK average. Bicycle theft surged by 100%, with two incidents reported in January compared to none in December. This increase, though small in absolute terms, raises questions about seasonal patterns in theft from personal property, possibly linked to colder weather driving more indoor activity and fewer outdoor theft opportunities. Conversely, vehicle crime doubled in the same period, a 100% increase from one to two incidents. This could indicate heightened vulnerability in Diss’s limited vehicle parking areas during winter months, though further data would be needed to confirm. The breakdown of crime types also reveals a stark contrast with the UK average: Diss’s rate of violence and sexual offences is 31% below the national figure, while burglary and public order offences are 44% and 58% below, respectively. These discrepancies highlight the area’s unique characteristics — likely a combination of its rural-adjacent setting, lower population density, and strong local community networks that may deter certain types of crime. For residents, the sharp drop in anti-social behaviour offers a tangible indicator of improved public safety, though the small rise in bicycle theft and vehicle crime suggests vigilance is still required.

Diss’s January 2024 crime rate of 4.1 per 1,000 residents marks a 29.8% decrease from December’s rate of 5.8 per 1,000 — a substantial improvement that positions the area as one of the safest in the UK. On a daily basis, the area experienced roughly one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that translates to a monthly exposure of one crime for every 247 residents. This rate is exceptionally low compared to the UK average, where residents face one crime for every 138 residents. The population-scaled perspective further underscores Diss’s safety: with 9,876 residents, the area’s crime statistics suggest that most residents are unlikely to encounter crime during their daily lives. This is particularly evident in categories such as anti-social behaviour and criminal damage, which are 70% and 47% below UK averages, respectively. However, the comparison also reveals nuances — for instance, bicycle theft in Diss is 233% above the UK average, a discrepancy that may reflect local factors such as cycling infrastructure or seasonal patterns. While the overall decline in crime is encouraging, the persistent gap in violent crime (31% below the UK average) suggests that Diss’s safety is not uniform across all categories. Residents may find the daily crime figure most useful: at one incident per day, the likelihood of encountering crime in Diss remains significantly lower than in many other parts of the UK, reinforcing the area’s reputation as a relatively secure community.