Benson Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For an area of 6,483 residents, Benson recorded 18 crimes in October 2025, equating to 2.8 crimes per 1,000 population. This rate is 63.6% below the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000, marking Benson as one of the safest built-up areas in the country. The crime profile shows a clear dominance of violent crime, with violence and sexual offences accounting for 8 incidents (44.4% of total crimes), followed by other theft (16.7%) and other crime (11.1%). This pattern contrasts with the UK average, where violence and sexual offences make up 55% of all crimes, suggesting Benson's crime mix is more skewed towards violence. Seasonal factors likely play a role: October's darker evenings, combined with Halloween activities, may have influenced patterns. The area's character as a built-up part of South Oxfordshire—likely a mix of residential and commercial zones with limited nightlife—could explain the relatively high proportion of violent crime compared to the UK average. Property crimes, while lower in absolute terms, still account for 33% of all crimes, consistent with typical urban patterns where theft and burglary are more common in areas with higher foot traffic. The data also shows no major spikes in anti-social behaviour or public order offences, which may reflect effective community policing or the area's relatively quiet nature during October.

October 2025 saw a 38.5% decrease in violence and sexual offences, falling from 13 to 8 incidents—a significant drop that may reflect the impact of recent policing initiatives or seasonal lulls in activity. However, three categories experienced sharp increases: theft from the person, other crime, and anti-social behaviour, each rising by 100% from zero to one incident. This shift in crime mix suggests a potential reallocation of criminal activity, though the small numbers mean caution is needed in interpreting these changes. Violence and sexual offences remain below the UK average (2.7 vs 2.7 per 1,000), while theft from the person (0.2 per 1,000) is 43% above the UK rate of 0.1 per 1,000—a discrepancy that may reflect Benson's proximity to transport hubs or tourist routes. The rise in 'other crime' (0.3 per 1,000) is 76% above the UK average (0.2 per 1,000), indicating a need for further investigation into what constitutes this category in local reporting. Residents may find the 100% increase in anti-social behaviour particularly noteworthy, as it suggests a potential uptick in minor disturbances that could affect community cohesion.

Benson's crime rate of 2.8 per 1,000 in October 2025 represents an 18.0% decrease from the previous month's rate of 3.4 per 1,000, indicating a consistent downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately one crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that, while low, highlights the persistent nature of criminal activity even in historically safe areas. When scaled to the population, this equates to one reported crime for roughly every 360 residents over the course of the month—a ratio that places Benson firmly in the lower quartile of UK crime statistics. This monthly exposure rate is particularly striking when compared to the UK average, where residents face roughly one crime for every 130 people annually. The area's built-up character within South Oxfordshire likely contributes to this disparity, as smaller, more cohesive communities often report lower crime rates due to stronger social networks and higher levels of informal surveillance. While the overall rate remains low, the 100% increase in anti-social behaviour and theft from the person underscores the need for targeted interventions, even in areas with otherwise robust safety records.