Benson Crime Rate March 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Benson’s crime rate in March 2023 was 3.6 per 1,000 residents, a figure that places the built-up area in South Oxfordshire 52.6% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000. This consistent trend of lower-than-average crime levels may reflect the area’s character as a relatively small, tightly knit community within a rural region, where local policing and community engagement are likely to play a significant role in maintaining safety. The breakdown of crimes in March revealed that violence and sexual offences accounted for 47.8% of all incidents, a proportion that aligns with typical patterns in urban areas but remains a priority for local authorities. Criminal damage and arson, public order offences, and burglary were all significantly below the UK average, with the latter three categories falling by 50% or more. This suggests that the built-up nature of Benson, combined with its location in South Oxfordshire, may contribute to a crime profile that is less prone to property-related incidents but more focused on interpersonal and public order issues. The seasonal context of March—transitioning to spring, with longer evenings and the change in clocks—may have influenced the timing and nature of incidents, though the small number of cases limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions. The low overall rate of crime, coupled with the area’s population size, indicates that Benson remains a relatively safe place to live, though the data also highlights specific areas for targeted intervention, such as addressing the elevated rate of bicycle theft.

March 2023 saw a notable shift in crime types, with bicycle theft emerging as a category that significantly exceeded the UK average by 186%, despite a very low overall number of incidents. This anomaly highlights a specific vulnerability in the area, potentially linked to the presence of cycling infrastructure or local demographics that may include a higher proportion of cyclists. Concurrently, violent crimes accounted for 47.8% of all reported incidents, a proportion that, while not unusual for an urban setting, remains a key focus for local authorities. The data also reveals that several categories, including criminal damage and arson, public order offences, and burglary, were below the UK average by more than 50%, suggesting that Benson's built-up environment may foster a different crime profile compared to larger urban areas. Residents might find the low daily crime count of approximately one incident per day particularly reassuring, though the elevated rate of bicycle theft serves as a reminder that targeted measures may be needed to address this specific issue.

Benson's crime rate in March 2023 stood at 3.6 per 1,000 residents, a figure that places the area 52.6% below the UK average of 7.6 per 1,000. When compared to previous months, this rate reflects a consistent trend of lower crime levels, though specific month-on-month data is not available for this report. On a daily basis, Benson experienced approximately one reported crime per day in March, a figure that, while low, underscores the need for ongoing vigilance in maintaining community safety. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 282 residents, a statistic that provides context for the frequency of incidents in a localised timeframe. With a population of 6,483, Benson's crime profile demonstrates that the area remains significantly safer than the national average, though the small number of incidents means that each case carries particular weight for residents. The low overall rate, combined with the area’s character as a built-up region within South Oxfordshire, suggests that factors such as community cohesion and local policing strategies may contribute to this outcome.