Chinnor Crime Rate

Chinnor presents as an exceptionally safe urban settlement within South Oxfordshire. With an overall crime rate of 38.1 per 1,000 people, it sits well below the UK average of 93.1. This is reflected in its impressive safety score of 91/100, significantly outperforming the national average of 78. While the statistics are generally positive, there has been a recent increasing trend in reported incidents, with a 9.3% rise year-over-year. This context provides a balanced view for residents, highlighting that while Chinnor remains a secure community, localized vigilance is still warranted as patterns shift.

Crime in Chinnor

The crime landscape in Chinnor is predominantly shaped by violence and sexual offences, which account for 117 incidents, representing nearly 40% of all recorded crime. This is followed by anti-social behaviour (16.3%) and criminal damage and arson (11.9%). While these figures are significant, it is important to note that Chinnor remains a low-crime area relative to national benchmarks.

Property-related crime, which encompasses burglary, robbery, theft from the person, vehicle crime, and various other thefts, occurs at a rate of 12.2 per 1,000 people. This is substantially lower than the UK average of 32.9. For residents, this suggests that while standard precautions are necessary, the risk of property loss or damage is comparatively low. Homeowners should remain vigilant regarding 'other theft' and vehicle crime, which are the most frequent sub-types within this category locally.

Chinnor Crime Trends

The overall crime rate in Chinnor has seen a 9.3% increase year-over-year. Analysis of the monthly trend data shows that the crime rate remained relatively stable and low during the winter months, with a rate of 1.8 in November 2024 and 2.3 in January 2025. However, a noticeable uptick occurred in the spring and summer.

Specifically, the crime rate jumped to 3.5 in April 2025 and peaked at 4.9 in May 2025. The rate remained elevated throughout the summer, hovering around 4.0 to 4.1, before beginning to subside in September and October 2025 (3.1). This seasonal pattern suggests that warmer weather and longer daylight hours may correlate with increased activity and reported incidents in the area. For residents, this indicates that while the annual average is low, the summer months require a higher degree of situational awareness.

How To Keep Safe in Chinnor

Violence and sexual offences are the most frequently recorded crime type in Chinnor. To enhance your personal safety and contribute to a secure environment, consider the following advice.

Firstly, stay aware of your surroundings when walking alone, particularly during the evening hours; stick to well-lit, familiar routes wherever possible. Secondly, engage with local community watch groups or social media safety pages to stay informed about any specific areas of concern or recent incidents. Thirdly, if you witness anti-social behaviour or suspicious activity, report it promptly to the police via non-emergency channels to help them map and address local issues. Finally, ensure that your home's exterior is well-lit to deter opportunistic loitering or criminal damage, which often correlates with areas of low visibility.

Crime Timing in Chinnor

Crime in Chinnor follows distinct temporal patterns throughout the day. The morning hours (6am - 12pm) are primarily characterised by theft-related offences, which account for nearly half of all crimes during this window. This trend intensifies in the afternoon (12pm - 6pm), where theft rises to 57%, likely coinciding with peak activity in local commercial and residential areas.

As evening approaches (6pm - 12am), the focus shifts significantly. Theft drops to 22%, while 'other' crimes, which include anti-social behaviour and public order offences, surge to 62%. During the night (12am - 6am), vehicle crime becomes a prominent concern, accounting for 34% of incidents. This suggests that while daytime risks are largely related to opportunistic theft, the night-time hours present a higher risk to unattended property and vehicles.

Local Context and Comparisons

When examining the wider region, Chinnor's crime rate of 38.1 per 1,000 people is notably higher than several immediate neighbours. The nearby settlements of Kingston Blount, Sydenham, Aston Rowant, and Towersey all recorded a crime rate of 0.0 per 1,000 people during the same period. This suggests that while Chinnor is very safe by national standards, it acts as a small urban hub where activity—and consequently reported crime—is more concentrated than in the extremely quiet surrounding rural hamlets. This is a common pattern where larger settlements naturally draw more reported incidents than their smaller, purely residential neighbours.

Proactive Security in Chinnor

With property crime in Chinnor sitting at 12.2 per 1,000 residents, the risk to your home is lower than in many parts of the UK, but the 9.3% increase in local crime trends suggests that security should not be overlooked. Traditional security measures, such as basic CCTV or doorbell cameras, are reactive; they provide footage of a crime after it has already occurred. In a community like Chinnor, where safety is highly valued, a more sophisticated approach is often preferred by homeowners.

The scOS operating system offers a proactive alternative by using AI-powered intelligence to detect threats at your property boundary before a break-in occurs. By watching all cameras simultaneously and learning your family’s routines, scOS avoids the nuisance of false alerts while remaining ready to engage autonomous responses, such as activating lights or speakers, if a genuine threat is detected. This visible, intelligent deterrence often convinces opportunistic criminals to move on within the first 60 seconds of arrival, ensuring your home remains a sanctuary rather than a crime scene.