Henley-on-Thames Crime Rate April 2024 | Monthly Statistics

Henley-on-Thames, a built-up area within South Oxfordshire, continues to demonstrate a crime rate significantly lower than the UK average. In April 2024, the area recorded 5.6 crimes per 1,000 residents, placing it 27.3% below the national average of 7.7 per 1,000. This performance aligns with the characteristics of a relatively affluent and low-density urban environment, where community cohesion and lower socioeconomic deprivation may contribute to reduced crime rates. The most prevalent crime types were violence and sexual offences (27.5% of total), followed by shoplifting (23.2%) and anti-social behaviour (15.9%). Shoplifting rates in Henley-on-Thames were 94% higher than the UK average of 0.7 per 1,000, a figure that may reflect the area’s retail presence along the Thames and its appeal to visitors. Meanwhile, violent crime rates stood at 1.6 per 1,000, 38% below the UK average, suggesting a lower incidence of serious offences compared to other parts of the country. The seasonal context of April—marked by Easter, spring weather, and increased outdoor activity—may have influenced patterns, with shoplifting rising due to higher foot traffic in local businesses. These findings underscore the combination of local geography, economic factors, and seasonal rhythms in shaping crime profiles, even within areas that generally perform well against national benchmarks.

April 2024 saw notable shifts in crime patterns, with other theft increasing by 400% (from 1 to 5 incidents) and theft from the person rising by 200% (from 1 to 3). These spikes, though small in absolute terms, highlight vulnerabilities in personal security and may be linked to increased outdoor activity during the Easter period. Conversely, public order offences dropped by 80% (from 10 to 2), burglary fell by 71.4% (from 7 to 2), and vehicle crime declined by the same proportion, suggesting a possible seasonal lull in incidents typically associated with nightlife or transient populations. The breakdown of crime types reveals a stark contrast between local and national trends: while shoplifting rates were 94% above the UK average, violent crime and anti-social behaviour were both significantly below national levels. This divergence may reflect Henley-on-Thames’ unique character as a historic market town with a strong retail sector but relatively low levels of social disorder. Residents may find the sharp rise in other thefts particularly concerning, as it indicates a need for heightened vigilance in securing personal belongings during peak hours. The data also shows that drug-related offences remained stable at 0.2 per 1,000, matching the UK average, suggesting no significant changes in this category.

Henley-on-Thames’ crime rate in April 2024 (5.6 per 1,000) marked a 25.0% decrease from the previous month’s rate of 7.5 per 1,000, reflecting a clear downward trend. On a daily basis, the area experienced an average of 2 crimes per day over the month, a figure that translates to a local monthly exposure of one reported crime for every 177 residents. This rate, while low by UK standards, provides context for residents: over the course of a year, an individual in Henley-on-Thames would statistically encounter approximately 2 crimes. The population-scaled perspective further underscores the area’s safety, with its crime rate being 27.3% below the UK average. This contrast becomes even more pronounced when comparing specific categories, such as anti-social behaviour (26% below UK average) and criminal damage (49% below), which may be attributed to the area’s strong community networks and lower levels of socioeconomic deprivation. However, the sharp rise in shoplifting—a category where Henley-on-Thames is 94% above the UK average—suggests that local retail environments remain vulnerable to opportunistic theft, particularly during periods of high foot traffic like Easter. These figures, when contextualised against the UK average, illustrate both the strengths and potential blind spots in Henley-on-Thames’ approach to crime prevention.