Billingham Crime Rate September 2024 | Monthly Statistics

September 2024 marked a significant shift in Billingham's crime profile, with the area recording 11.0 crimes per 1,000 residents — 42.9% above the UK average of 7.7. This figure reflects a persistent challenge in maintaining safety within a built-up area of Stockton-on-Tees, where urban density and industrial activity likely intersect with crime patterns. Violence and sexual offences dominated the crime profile, accounting for 32.7% of all reported incidents, followed by anti-social behaviour (13.4%) and vehicle crime (10.5%). These figures align with the seasonal rhythm of September, as the return of students and the transition from summer to autumn may have influenced patterns of public order and property crime. The high rate of vehicle crime (1.2 per 1,000) is 167% above the UK average, suggesting a possible link to the area's industrial infrastructure or commuter traffic. Meanwhile, shoplifting remains a persistent issue, with its rate (0.7 per 1,000) just 3% above the UK average, indicating a broader challenge in retail crime prevention. The data underscores a combination of local demographics, economic activity, and seasonal transitions, all of which may contribute to the area's elevated crime rates compared to national benchmarks.

The most striking month-on-month change was a 150% surge in shoplifting, rising from 10 to 25 incidents. This dramatic increase may be partly explained by the return of university students to the area, as September marks the start of the academic year. Concurrently, vehicle crime jumped 116.7%, from 18 to 39, potentially linked to increased traffic or the presence of unsecured vehicles in industrial zones. In contrast, burglary fell by 30.4%, decreasing from 23 to 16, which could reflect improved security measures or seasonal factors reducing opportunities for break-ins. Anti-social behaviour also declined by 16.7%, from 60 to 50, though this remains 28% above the UK average. The most notable divergence from national trends is the 167% elevation in vehicle crime compared to the UK average, which may indicate a unique vulnerability in Billingham's infrastructure or enforcement priorities. For residents, the sharp rise in shoplifting highlights a specific concern for retailers and local businesses, suggesting the need for targeted interventions in high-traffic areas.

Billingham's crime rate in September 2024 (11.0 per 1,000) represents a 10.0% increase from the previous month's rate of 10.0, reflecting a sustained upward trend. Over the course of the month, this translated to an average of 12 crimes reported each day — a figure that, while locally relevant, lacks a direct UK-wide counterpart. On a monthly exposure basis, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 91 residents, illustrating the frequency of incidents within the town's population of 34,045. This statistic places Billingham's monthly crime experience in stark contrast to the UK average, where the equivalent would be 1-in-124 residents. The town's rate is particularly striking when viewed against the UK average for violent crime, which is 2.6 per 1,000 — Billingham's 3.6 per 1,000 is 37% higher, a gap that suggests local factors such as population density or socio-economic conditions may be amplifying violent crime rates. The comparison also reveals that while vehicle crime is high (167% above UK average), other categories like burglary and anti-social behaviour are also significantly elevated, indicating a broader pattern of concern that extends beyond a single crime type.