Benson Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Benson’s crime rate in December 2025 stood at 1.7 per 1,000 residents, placing it 75.7% below the UK average of 7.0 per 1,000. This stark contrast highlights the area’s relative safety compared to national trends, though the seasonal context of December—marked by extended darkness, festive shopping, and holiday-related absences—offers a nuanced backdrop for understanding these figures. The most prevalent crime category was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 81.8% of all reported incidents (9 cases), followed by other theft (9.1%) and anti-social behaviour (9.1%). Violent crime in Benson was 46% below the UK average (1.4 vs 2.6 per 1,000), while other theft and anti-social behaviour were 62% and 78% below their respective UK benchmarks. The low overall crime rate, despite the typical December pressures of increased social activity and darker evenings, suggests a community with strong social cohesion and effective local policing. However, the concentration of violent crime—particularly in the context of a built-up area within South Oxfordshire—raises questions about targeted interventions. The area’s small population (6,483 residents) and likely rural character may contribute to lower crime rates, though the absence of significant property crime (only 1 incident) contrasts with the higher incidence of violence, indicating potential vulnerabilities in community safety frameworks during high-traffic periods. Seasonal factors such as Christmas shopping and the holiday season, which can exacerbate retail crime, did not manifest in Benson’s data, possibly due to effective community engagement or the area’s limited commercial infrastructure.

December 2025 saw a 59.1% drop in Benson’s crime rate compared to November, with the most significant reductions in violent crime (-10%) and other theft (-50%). This decline in violent offences, despite the festive season’s usual spikes in social conflict and alcohol-related incidents, suggests effective policing or community measures. The breakdown of crimes reveals a striking imbalance: violence and sexual offences dominated (9 cases), accounting for 81.8% of all reported incidents, while property crime remained exceptionally low (1 case). This pattern is consistent with Benson’s status as a built-up area within South Oxfordshire, where social interactions may be more concentrated, but commercial activity is limited. The rate of violence in Benson (1.4 per 1,000) was 46% below the UK average (2.6 per 1,000), indicating a community that may benefit from strong social networks or targeted crime prevention efforts. For residents, the data highlights that while violent crime remains a concern, the overall safety profile of Benson is markedly better than national averages. The sharp decline in other theft (-50%) from 2 to 1 incident may reflect improved security measures or reduced opportunities for petty crime during the holiday season, when homes are often unoccupied. These trends, however, require further analysis to determine whether they represent a sustained shift or a temporary anomaly.

Benson’s December 2025 crime rate of 1.7 per 1,000 residents marked a 59.1% decrease from November’s rate of 4.2 per 1,000, reflecting a significant improvement in local safety. This drop is particularly notable given the seasonal context of December, which typically sees increased social activity and potential for crime due to festive events and extended darkness. On a daily basis, Benson recorded an average of 0 crimes per day in December, a figure that underscores the area’s low crime profile. Over the course of the month, 1 reported crime occurred for roughly every 589 residents, a statistic that, when contextualised within Benson’s population of 6,483, suggests that the vast majority of residents experienced no direct exposure to crime. This monthly exposure rate is exceptionally low compared to national standards, where UK average crime rates are significantly higher. The population-scaled perspective further highlights Benson’s relative safety: even with the typical December pressures of holiday-related absences and increased social gatherings, the area maintained a crime rate that was 75.7% below the UK average. This contrast may be attributed to Benson’s smaller population, which can facilitate more targeted policing, or to its built-up yet possibly low-density character, which may limit opportunities for crime. The comparison with previous months and national averages reinforces the idea that Benson represents an outlier in terms of safety, though the underlying factors driving this trend remain areas for further exploration.