Test Valley Crime Rate January 2025 | Monthly Statistics

Test Valley’s overall crime rate of 4.4 per 1,000 residents in January 2025 places it 38.0% below the UK average of 7.1 per 1,000. This gap reflects a combination of local factors, including a strong emphasis on community policing and the area’s relatively low population density compared to major urban centres. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 41.3% of all reported crimes—significantly lower than the UK average of 2.5 per 1,000. This may partly explain the area’s safer profile, as violence rates in Test Valley are 28% below the national average. Shoplifting followed at 9.5% of total crimes, also 35% below the UK average, potentially linked to the area’s reduced retail footfall during January’s post-holiday period. Public order offences, at 8.7% of total crimes, further contributed to the area’s lower crime profile compared to the UK. Seasonal context suggests that shorter days and colder weather may have limited outdoor activities, which could have reduced opportunities for certain types of crime. However, a direct link between weather patterns and the specific crime types observed. The area’s crime picture remains consistent with its character as a largely rural district with a mix of small towns and open countryside, where community engagement and local initiatives may play a role in maintaining lower crime rates. These findings highlight Test Valley’s position as a relatively safe area within the UK’s broader crime profile.

January 2025 saw significant shifts in crime patterns across Test Valley. Theft from the person increased by 300% compared to December 2024, rising from 1 to 4 incidents. This sharp rise, while still low in absolute terms, may reflect heightened caution among residents during the post-holiday period. Robbery also increased by 50%, from 2 to 3 incidents, though this remains far below the UK average of 0.1 per 1,000. Conversely, drug-related crimes fell by 55.9%, dropping from 34 to 15 incidents—a stark contrast to the UK average of 0.3 per 1,000. This decrease could be attributed to seasonal factors, such as reduced socialising during colder months. Bicycle theft also fell by 50%, from 4 to 2 incidents, linked to fewer outdoor activities in January. The crime mix in Test Valley remained skewed towards violent crimes, which accounted for 41.3% of all reports, compared to 28% of UK crimes. This suggests a unique local dynamic. Anti-social behaviour rates were 69% below the UK average, at 0.3 per 1,000. For residents, the most immediate insight is the sharp rise in theft from the person, which may warrant increased vigilance during January’s post-holiday period.

Test Valley’s crime rate in January 2025 dropped by 14.0% compared to December 2024, falling from 5.2 to 4.4 per 1,000 residents. This decline aligns with the area’s generally lower crime profile compared to the UK average. On a daily basis, Test Valley experienced approximately 19 crimes per day in January, translating to a monthly exposure rate of one crime for every 225 residents. This figure is lower than the UK average when scaled to the population, though direct comparisons are not provided in the data. The area’s population of 135,201 means that the monthly crime rate corresponds to a 1-in-225 chance of being directly affected by a reported crime—a statistic that may be particularly relevant for local residents and community groups. When compared to the UK average, Test Valley’s lower rates are most pronounced in violent crimes and anti-social behaviour, which were 28% and 69% below national figures, respectively. These differences may reflect the area’s rural character and the relative absence of densely populated urban centres where such crimes are more common. The population-scaled perspective also highlights that, despite the absolute number of crimes (600), the rate remains low when distributed across Test Valley’s entire population. This suggests that local initiatives, such as community policing or targeted crime prevention efforts, may be contributing to the area’s safer environment compared to the UK average.