Stratton St Margaret Crime Rate

Introduction to Crime in Stratton St Margaret

Stratton St Margaret, a built-up area with a population of 19,998, records an overall crime rate of 73.2 per 1,000 residents per year. This figure is notably lower than the national average UK crime rate of 93.4 per 1,000, indicating a generally safer environment. The area boasts an impressive safety score of 84 out of 100, which is well above the UK average safety score of 78. Crime trends in Stratton St Margaret have shown stability over the past year, with a slight decrease of 3.0% year-over-year. This positive trend provides a reassuring context for the detailed crime statistics and patterns discussed in the following sections.

Crime Breakdown in Stratton St Margaret

An analysis of crime types in Stratton St Margaret reveals that violence and sexual offences are the most prevalent, accounting for 513 crimes, or 35.0% of the total, at a rate of 25.6 per 1,000 residents. Shoplifting is the second most common issue, with 257 reported incidents, making up 17.6% of all crimes at 12.8 per 1,000 people. Anti-social behaviour ranks as the third highest crime type, with 211 cases, representing 14.4% of the total and a rate of 10.6 per 1,000 residents.

Focusing on property-related crime, which directly impacts residents and homeowners, Stratton St Margaret records a rate of 27.6 per 1,000 people per year. This category includes burglary (32 crimes), other theft (62 crimes), vehicle crime (57 crimes), criminal damage and arson (114 crimes), bicycle theft (16 crimes), robbery (7 crimes), and theft from the person (8 crimes). While this property crime rate is below the UK average of 33.2 per 1,000, the presence of shoplifting as a top crime highlights the importance of vigilance for businesses and residents alike. Homeowners are encouraged to review their security measures, particularly in light of these prevalent property-related offences.

Crime Trends in Stratton St Margaret

Over the last year, Stratton St Margaret has experienced a stable crime trend, marked by a welcome year-over-year decrease of 3.0%. This positive shift indicates an improving crime landscape for residents. Examining the monthly trend data provides a more detailed picture of these changes. Crime rates per 1,000 residents started at 5.9 in October 2024, dipping to 4.5 in November before rising to 5.6 in December and further to 6.1 in January 2025. Rates then remained relatively consistent through February (5.9) and March (6.3), reaching a peak of 7.8 in June. Following this, a notable drop occurred in August, down to 4.5, before a slight rise to 5.6 in September. This pattern suggests some seasonal fluctuations, with higher activity in the spring/early summer and a significant reduction in late summer. For residents, this overall decreasing trend is encouraging, but awareness of seasonal variations remains valuable for personal and property security.

Crime Time Patterns in Stratton St Margaret

Crime patterns in Stratton St Margaret reveal specific characteristics across different periods of the day. During the morning hours (6am - 12pm), theft is the most significant crime type, accounting for 39% of incidents, followed by vehicle crime at 16% and burglary at 8%. The afternoon period (12pm - 6pm) sees theft remaining dominant at 43%, with burglary increasing to 14% and vehicle crime at 6%. As the day progresses into the evening (6pm - 12am), theft significantly decreases to 17%, while 'other' crimes become more prevalent at 57%, and vehicle crime stands at 15%. Night-time hours (12am - 6am) are marked by a substantial increase in vehicle crime to 37% and burglary at 14%, while theft drops to 8%. These temporal patterns highlight the need for targeted security measures, particularly focusing on property protection during daytime and overnight, and general vigilance during evenings.

Crime in Nearby Areas

To offer a broader perspective on local safety, Stratton St Margaret's crime statistics can be compared with its adjacent built-up areas. These include South Marston, Blunsdon St Andrew, Swindon (Swindon), and Broad Blunsdon. Stratton St Margaret's overall crime rate of 73.2 per 1,000 is considerably lower than the UK average, and its safety score of 84/100 is significantly higher than the national benchmark. This positions Stratton St Margaret as one of the safer areas within the wider Swindon local authority. Examining these comparisons provides residents with valuable regional context, helping them understand how their community's safety profile compares to its immediate neighbours.

Home Security and Protection

Given Stratton St Margaret's property crime rate of 27.6 per 1,000 residents, it is prudent for homeowners to consider robust security solutions. While this rate is below the UK average, the emphasis should always be on preventing crime rather than simply reacting to it. Conventional security cameras, such as Ring or Nest, primarily serve to record a burglary, providing footage after the event has occurred. Similarly, most DIY systems will only alert you once an intruder is already on your property, leaving you in a reactive position.

For those seeking genuine peace of mind, AI-powered systems like scOS offer a proactive alternative. scOS is designed to detect and deter threats at your property's boundary, stopping intruders before they can cause damage or gain entry. Its multi-camera intelligence ensures comprehensive surveillance, while pattern learning distinguishes between familiar activities and genuine threats, reducing false alarms. This advanced, professional-grade security aims to destroy the element of surprise, which is crucial as burglars typically decide within 60 seconds whether to proceed. By activating lights and engaging speakers autonomously, scOS makes your property a less appealing target, offering a superior level of prevention compared to systems that merely record incidents.