Stroud Crime Rate February 2023 | Monthly Statistics

Stroud's crime rate for February 2023 stood at 4.4 per 1,000 residents, marking a 36.2% deficit compared to the UK average of 6.9 per 1,000. This figure positions the area as one of the safest in the country, though one category—'Other crime'—deviates sharply from the norm. At 0.1 per 1,000, it is 54% above the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000, a discrepancy that likely reflects underreported or niche incidents not captured by standard categorisations. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 46.4% of all incidents (257 cases), followed by anti-social behaviour (12.8%) and criminal damage and arson (7.9%). These patterns align with Stroud's character as a largely rural district with a mix of urban centres and natural landscapes, where violent incidents may be linked to localised tensions or transient populations. The seasonal context of February—a winter month with low outdoor activity—may contribute to the lower overall crime rate, as reduced foot traffic and colder weather typically dampen opportunities for theft and public order offences. However, the above-average 'Other crime' category suggests a need for further scrutiny into specific subcategories not explicitly defined in the data, such as fraud or cybercrime, which may be underrepresented in traditional reporting frameworks.

February 2023 saw Stroud's 'Other crime' category exceed the UK average by 54%, a stark contrast to the overall rate which was 36.2% below the national average. This anomaly may indicate gaps in how crime is categorised or reported, as 'Other crime' often encompasses less standardised incidents. Meanwhile, violent crimes remained the dominant category, with 257 cases recorded, 19% below the UK average for violence and sexual offences (2.5 per 1,000). Anti-social behaviour, at 0.6 per 1,000, was 38% below the UK rate, reflecting a potential correlation with Stroud's relatively low population density and community-focused policing strategies. Property crimes, though fewer in number (161 total), also lagged behind UK averages for shoplifting (55% below), vehicle crime (56% below), and burglary (35% below), suggesting that the area's rural setting and limited commercial hubs reduce opportunities for such offences. A resident would find the 20 crimes per day figure (based on 554 total incidents over 28 days) useful for contextualising local safety, though this daily count is lower than typical urban areas. The consistent underperformance of property-related crimes relative to the UK suggests that Stroud's geographical and demographic profile—likely characterised by lower population density and fewer high-traffic retail zones—plays a role in shaping these trends.

Stroud's crime rate of 4.4 per 1,000 in February 2023 places it firmly below the UK average, with 36.2% fewer crimes than the national figure. This disparity is amplified when considering the daily crime context: 20 crimes were reported per day, a rate that would be significantly higher in densely populated urban areas but aligns with Stroud's rural character. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 227 residents, a monthly exposure rate that underscores the area's relative safety. When scaled to Stroud's population of 125,680, this equates to a 1-in-227 chance of being a victim of crime, a statistic that is particularly striking when compared to the UK's broader urban and suburban landscapes. The comparison also highlights the area's unique crime profile: while violent crimes dominate in Stroud (46.4% of total), the UK average for violence and sexual offences is higher (2.5 per 1,000), suggesting that Stroud's lower violent crime rate may be influenced by its geographical isolation and community-oriented infrastructure. Conversely, the UK's higher rates of shoplifting, vehicle crime, and burglary—categories where Stroud lags significantly—reflect the greater opportunities for property-related offences in more densely populated or commercially active regions. This contrast reinforces the idea that Stroud's crime dynamics are shaped by its rural context, where transient populations and limited commercial activity reduce certain crime types while leaving others, like anti-social behaviour, low.