Stratton St Margaret Crime Rate October 2024 | Monthly Statistics

For an area with nearly 20,000 residents, Stratton St Margaret recorded 117 crimes in October 2024, equating to a crime rate of 5.9 per 1,000 people. This figure places the built-up area within Swindon 27.2 percentage points below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000, highlighting its position as a largely rural district where crime patterns differ from more densely populated regions. The most common crime types were violence and sexual offences (31 incidents, 26.5% of total), followed by shoplifting (24 incidents, 20.5%) and anti-social behaviour (17 incidents, 14.5%). These figures reflect the area’s unique characteristics: while property crimes (53 incidents, 45.3% of total) make up the largest share, violent crime rates are 40% below the UK average. This divergence may be influenced by the area’s limited commercial activity and sparse population, factors that typically correlate with lower rates of violent incidents but higher rates of property-related crimes. Seasonal context also plays a role, as October’s shorter days and Halloween-related activity may have contributed to fluctuations in anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. However, the overall crime rate remains consistent with historical trends, suggesting that the area’s safety profile is relatively stable despite the month-on-month increase.

October 2024 saw a dramatic surge in drug-related crimes, which rose by 600% from one to seven incidents, marking a sharp departure from previous trends. This spike may partly explain the broader rise in property crimes, which accounted for 53 of the 117 total incidents, or 45.3% of all reported crimes. Concurrently, criminal damage and arson increased by 150%, rising from four to ten incidents, a shift that may be linked to local events or property-related tensions. Robbery rates also doubled, with two incidents reported compared to one in September, though this remains a small number in the context of the area’s overall crime profile. Violence and sexual offences decreased by 6.1%, from 33 to 31 incidents, a modest but statistically significant decline that could indicate the effectiveness of local policing or community initiatives. Meanwhile, shoplifting remained a persistent issue, with a rate 67% above the UK average, suggesting ongoing challenges in retail security within the area’s built-up environment. This contrast between rising drug-related crimes and falling violent crime highlights the complex dynamics shaping Stratton St Margaret’s monthly crime picture.

The crime rate in Stratton St Margaret rose to 5.9 per 1,000 residents in October 2024, a 31.5% increase from the previous month’s 4.5 per 1,000. This shift, while notable, must be contextualised within the area’s demographic and geographic profile. With a population of nearly 20,000, the daily crime count of approximately four incidents remains modest, reflecting the built-up area’s low population density and limited commercial activity compared to urban centres. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for every 171 residents, a figure that underscores the relatively infrequent nature of incidents in a largely rural district within Swindon. This consistency with historical trends suggests that the area’s overall safety profile remains stable despite the month-on-month fluctuation. The rate of 5.9 per 1,000 residents is still 27.2% below the UK average of 8.1 per 1,000, a disparity that reflects Stratton St Margaret’s position as a sparsely populated area with fewer high-traffic zones or major infrastructure. The absence of large retail hubs or commuter networks likely contributes to this sustained gap relative to national benchmarks, as such factors are often correlated with higher crime rates in other regions.