Test Valley Crime Rate September 2025 | Monthly Statistics

For every 1,000 residents in Test Valley, 4.9 crimes were reported in September 2025 — a rate 33.8% below the UK average of 7.4 per 1,000. This translates to roughly one reported crime for every 204 residents over the course of the month. The most prevalent crime type was violence and sexual offences, accounting for 35.5% of all incidents, followed by other theft (11.9%) and anti-social behaviour (11.5%). These figures align with the seasonal context of September, when back-to-school activities and university freshers' week create a unique social dynamic. The spike in violence and sexual offences — though still below the UK average — may partly reflect increased social interactions in areas with high student populations. Conversely, property crime rates in Test Valley were consistently lower than the UK average, with shoplifting (34% below UK levels) and vehicle crime (25% below) showing particular strength. This contrast with national trends suggests that local factors, such as community policing efforts or the character of retail spaces, may contribute to this divergence. The area's relatively low violent crime rate compared to the UK average also indicates a possible combination of demographic composition, economic stability, and effective local crime prevention strategies.

September 2025 saw dramatic shifts in crime patterns compared to August, with public order offences surging by 226.7% (from 15 to 49 incidents). This increase, coupled with a 100% rise in shoplifting (from 0 to 51) and a 100% increase in drug-related crimes (from 0 to 20), highlights a sharp uptick in specific categories. Violence and sexual offences dropped by 60.6% (from 599 to 236), a change that may reflect seasonal patterns as university term starts and social activities shift. Meanwhile, possession of weapons fell by 82.4% (from 34 to 6), suggesting a possible reduction in targeted incidents. These fluctuations underscore the importance of context-specific analysis: while public order offences in Test Valley remain 26% below the UK average, the month-on-month increase in this category raises questions about local triggers. For residents, the daily crime rate of 22 incidents provides a tangible reference point — though this number is lower than the UK average of 23 per day. The stark contrast between property crime trends (e.g. shoplifting 34% below UK levels) and violent crime trends (violence 30% below UK levels) illustrates how crime profiles can vary significantly between areas, even within the same national context.

Test Valley's crime rate in September 2025 (4.9 per 1,000) was 2.5% higher than the previous month's rate of 4.8 per 1,000, though still comfortably below the UK average. On a daily basis, the area experienced approximately 22 crimes per day — a figure that, while specific to Test Valley, offers a concrete sense of local risk. Over the course of the month, one reported crime occurred for roughly every 204 residents, a monthly exposure rate that is significantly lower than the UK average of 1 in 138 residents. This disparity reflects broader demographic and geographic factors, such as Test Valley's mix of rural and urban areas, which may contribute to lower crime concentrations compared to more densely populated regions. When compared to UK averages, Test Valley's anti-social behaviour rate (0.6 per 1,000) is 49% below the national figure of 1.2 per 1,000, a gap that may be attributed to local community engagement initiatives or the area's overall lower population density. However, other theft (0.6 per 1,000) is 20% above the UK average of 0.5 per 1,000, suggesting that specific retail environments or economic conditions in Test Valley could be driving this category. These comparisons highlight the importance of considering both absolute rates and local context when assessing crime trends.