Wallingford Crime Rate October 2025 | Monthly Statistics

The crime profile in Wallingford during October 2025 reveals a distinct balance between property-related offences and violent incidents, shaped by the area’s character as a built-up district within South Oxfordshire. With a total crime rate of 5.2 per 1,000 residents, the area remains safer than the UK average of 7.7 per 1,000, a gap of 32.5%. This lower-than-average rate is underpinned by a mix of crime types that diverge from national trends. Property crimes dominate, accounting for 53% of all reported incidents (24 out of 45), with criminal damage and arson making up 22.2% of the total. This contrasts sharply with the UK average of 0.6 per 1,000 for criminal damage, where Wallingford’s rate is 114% higher. The prominence of property crimes may reflect the town’s historical buildings, which could be more vulnerable to vandalism, and its compact urban layout, which may limit opportunities for violent crime. Violent crimes, while lower in absolute numbers (9 incidents), still constitute 20% of the total, a figure that is 59% below the UK average for this category. This suggests a relatively stable social environment, though the presence of anti-social behaviour (6 incidents, 13.3% of total) indicates ongoing challenges in maintaining community cohesion. Seasonal factors may also play a role, as October’s darker evenings and the proximity to Halloween could contribute to increased anti-social behaviour and vandalism. The data illustrates a combination of local characteristics and broader national trends, with Wallingford’s crime picture reflecting both its unique urban fabric and its position within a region with generally lower crime rates.

October 2025 saw significant shifts in crime patterns, with three categories—burglary, other theft, and public order offences—each surging by 400% compared to the previous month. This leap from one incident to five in each category suggests a sudden spike in activity. Burglary, in particular, rose sharply, potentially linked to seasonal factors such as the return of university students or increased home occupancy during the autumn term. Meanwhile, shoplifting dropped by 57.1%, from seven to three incidents, a decline that may be tied to Halloween preparations, which could have shifted focus away from retail theft. Violence and sexual offences also fell by 47.1%, from 17 to nine incidents, a reduction that could reflect the effectiveness of local policing efforts or the impact of seasonal transitions on community dynamics. These fluctuations highlight the volatility of crime trends, even within a relatively low-crime area. Wallingford’s rate of criminal damage and arson (1.2 per 1,000) is 114% above the UK average, suggesting that this category may be a particular concern for local residents. This discrepancy could stem from the town’s historic architecture, which may be more susceptible to deliberate damage, or from unaddressed tensions in specific neighbourhoods. Conversely, vehicle crime and shoplifting are both below the UK average, indicating that Wallingford’s compact urban layout and strong community networks may act as natural deterrents to these types of offences.

Wallingford’s crime rate in October 2025 rose by 7.2% compared to the previous month, increasing from 4.9 to 5.2 per 1,000 residents. This upward trend, though modest, is significant in an area that typically maintains a low crime profile. On a daily basis, the town experienced an average of one reported crime per day over the 31-day period, a figure that provides a tangible sense of the frequency of incidents for local residents. When scaled to the population of 8,606, this translates to one reported crime for every 191 residents over the course of the month—a rate that underscores the relatively low risk of experiencing crime in Wallingford. However, this aggregate statistic does not account for the uneven distribution of crime types, with certain categories such as criminal damage and arson affecting the town compared to the UK average. The population-scaled perspective also highlights the importance of local context: while the overall rate is low, the specific types of crime that occur may have more pronounced impacts on community safety. For example, the high rate of criminal damage could be more disruptive in a historic town like Wallingford, where preservation of heritage sites is a priority. The comparison to the previous month serves as a reminder that even in areas with generally stable crime rates, fluctuations can occur, necessitating ongoing vigilance and community engagement to address emerging trends.