Harleston Crime Rate August 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Harleston's crime rate in August 2024 stood at 2.1 per 1,000 residents, placing it 74.4% below the UK average of 8.2 per 1,000. This figure positions the built-up area within South Norfolk as one of the safest regions in the country, a trend consistent with historical data. The breakdown of crimes revealed a clear dominance of violent offences, which accounted for 54.6% of all incidents. Violence and sexual offences (6 cases) were particularly notable, with their rate (1.1 per 1,000) 59% below the UK average. Property crimes, though fewer in number (2 cases), were not the most significant category by volume, highlighting the area's lower prevalence of theft and burglary compared to national trends. Seasonal factors likely contribute to these patterns: August, as a peak holiday month, may influence local crime dynamics. The low number of property crimes could be partly explained by Harleston's character as a smaller built-up area with limited retail density, reducing opportunities for shoplifting and other theft-related offences. Meanwhile, the relatively high proportion of violent crimes may reflect the area's demographic profile and the impact of summer tourism on local interactions. The 74.4% deficit to the UK average underscores a broader trend that Harleston has maintained for years, suggesting systemic factors—such as strong community policing or low population density—play a role in sustaining this safety record.

August 2024 saw three crime categories surge by 100% compared to July: criminal damage and arson, other theft, and public order offences. This spike, though small in absolute terms, suggests a shift in criminal activity during the summer months. Violent crimes, which accounted for 54.6% of all incidents, remained 59% below the UK average of 2.7 per 1,000, illustrating Harleston's continued safety profile despite the increase. The breakdown reveals a stark contrast in local crime patterns: while violence and sexual offences dominated, categories like anti-social behaviour (9.1% of total crimes) were 86% below the UK average. For residents, the most tangible insight is the low prevalence of violent crime—only 6 incidents in a population of over 5,000—suggesting that Harleston's built-up area remains a relatively secure environment for daily life.

Harleston's crime rate in August 2024 rose 21.6% from 1.7 to 2.1 per 1,000 residents compared to July. This increase, though modest, reflects a shift in crime patterns during the summer months. On a daily basis, the area saw an average of 0 crimes per day over the 31-day period, highlighting the low frequency of incidents despite the month-on-month rise. When scaled to the population of 5,276, the monthly exposure translates to one reported crime for every 480 residents—a figure that underscores the relatively low level of criminal activity in Harleston compared to the UK average. While this statistic is a monthly aggregate and not a daily rate, it provides context for residents: over the course of a typical month, the likelihood of encountering a crime is minimal. The population-scaled perspective also reveals that Harleston's crime rate remains 74.4% below the UK average, a consistent trend that positions the area as one of the safer built-up regions in the country.