Dursley Crime Rate December 2025 | Monthly Statistics

December 2025 in Dursley presented a complex crime picture, with the most unexpected development being a 400% surge in criminal damage and arson, a category typically rare in this built-up area. The overall crime rate of 5.4 per 1,000 residents—22.9% below the UK average—reflects a generally safer environment than national benchmarks. Violence and sexual offences dominated, accounting for 40% of all incidents, while anti-social behaviour and criminal damage rose sharply, bucking broader trends. Seasonal factors likely played a role: Christmas shopping and party season may have driven some retail-related crime, but the significant drop in shoplifting (down 66.7%) suggests effective local measures or altered consumer behaviour. Conversely, the absence of a clear link to holiday-related theft highlights the unpredictability of crime in this area. The mix of crime types—violent crimes now slightly outpacing property crimes—contrasts with previous months and points to shifting dynamics. Dursley’s low overall rate, combined with spikes in certain categories, underscores the need for targeted local responses, particularly to address the sudden rise in criminal damage. The area’s character as a small built-up town within Stroud likely influences these patterns, with limited industrial activity and a focus on residential and retail zones potentially shaping the crime profile. While the UK average remains higher, Dursley’s unique context means its challenges cannot be directly compared to larger urban centres.

December 2025 marked a dramatic 400% increase in criminal damage and arson, rising from one to five incidents—a sharp contrast to the usual low levels in this area. This spike, coupled with a 100% rise in 'other crime' (from zero to one), suggests emerging patterns that warrant closer attention. Meanwhile, shoplifting fell by two-thirds (from three to one), possibly linked to seasonal retail strategies or increased security measures. Violent crimes, at 16 incidents, remain 14% below the UK average, but anti-social behaviour rose 40% above the national figure, indicating persistent local tensions. The breakdown reveals a shift in crime dynamics, with property crimes (22.5% of total) now slightly outnumbered by violent crimes (40%), a reversal of earlier trends. For residents, the daily crime count of one per day offers a tangible benchmark for assessing local safety amid these fluctuations.

December 2025 saw a 13.0% decrease in Dursley’s crime rate compared to November 2025, dropping from 6.2 to 5.4 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with the seasonal context of December, where extended evenings and holiday-related activities may reduce opportunities for certain crimes. However, the daily crime count remained steady at approximately one reported crime per day, reflecting a consistent local pattern despite the monthly drop. Over the course of the month, one crime occurred for every 186 residents, a figure that contextualises the rarity of incidents in this area. When compared to the UK average, Dursley’s overall crime rate remains lower, but the shift in crime types—such as the surge in criminal damage and arson—suggests evolving local challenges. This monthly exposure metric, while low, underscores that residents are not immune to spikes in specific categories, even as the broader picture remains safer than national benchmarks.